48881 Water and Environmental Design
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particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): (48362 Hydraulics and Hydrology AND 48821 Principles of Environmental Engineering AND (144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10061 Bachelor of Engineering Diploma Engineering Practice OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10062 Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Arts International Studies Diploma Engineering Practice OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10063 Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Arts International Studies OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10065 Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Business OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10066 Bachelor of Engineering Science OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10067 Bachelor of Engineering OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10068 Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Business Diploma Engineering Practice OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10073 Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Science OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10074 Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Science Diploma Engineering Practice OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10075 Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Medical Science OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10076 Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Medical Science Diploma Engineering Practice OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10078 Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Biotechnology OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10079 Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Biotechnology Diploma Engineering Practice OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09067 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Diploma Professional Engineering Practice OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09069 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Bachelor of Arts International Studies Diploma Professional Engineering Practice OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09068 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Bachelor of Arts International Studies OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09070 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Bachelor of Business OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09066 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09071 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Bachelor of Business Diploma Professional Engineering Practice OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09072 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Bachelor of Science OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09073 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Bachelor of Science Diploma Professional Engineering Practice OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09074 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Bachelor of Medical Science))
Description
This is a project-based subject where delivery is designed to simulate the real world of work and professional environment for students to experience. Students have the opportunity to apply fundamental knowledge acquired during their degree covering water/wastewater (chemistry, fluid mechanics, hydrology), land (soil chemistry, mechanics, and geology), mathematics (modelling, analytical and predictive) including the application of established engineering methods, the identification and management of parameter uncertainty, and utilisation of research skills to manage unknowns to design and implement a land development project. The project consists of a proposal to upgrade an existing wastewater treatment plant and the design of an effluent irrigation system for water reuse. Students experience a full journey of project preparation akin to the systems practiced in the industry. They include understanding the knowledge and expertise required for this project, processes involved in the project development such as team building, project scoping and planning, stakeholder consultations, project outcomes and milestones. Most development projects can have a significant impact on the environment including cultural values. Students are provided with an opportunity to undertake cultural impact assessment of a project outcome of which will determine the technical design of an upgraded design of a wastewater treatment plant and land-based effluent irrigation system. This therefore involves integrating the knowledge and findings of the community’s culture and traditions with a view to reduce the projects adverse impact on the environment. The subject is delivered through a combination of flipped learning using online materials, pre-recorded lectures, industry guest lectures, collaborative team work, planner board, design journals, continuous feedback and reflection.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Integrate the knowledge and findings of a community’s Indigenous culture and heritage with a view to reduce its adverse impact from a proposed project by exploring engineering options. (A.1) |
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| 2. | Apply established engineering models and commercial software to design and simulate system performances. (C.1) |
| 3. | Apply fundamental knowledge of engineering concepts to problem solving approaches. (D.1) |
| 4. | Communicate design outcomes to all stakeholders at each stage of the design process in a professionally relevant way. (E.1) |
| 5. | Reflect on own learning journey, shifted perspectives and on collaborations throughout engineering project design. (F.1) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Indigenous Professional Capability: FEIT graduates are culturally and historically well informed, able to co-design projects as respectful professionals when working in and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. (A.1)
- Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to develop components, systems and processes to meet specified requirements. (C.1)
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply abstraction, mathematics and discipline fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to evaluate, implement and operate systems. (D.1)
- Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)
- Reflective: FEIT graduates critically self-review their performance to improve themselves, their teams, and the broader community and society. (F.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies
This subject contributes to the development of the following Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies:
- 1.3. In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
- 2.2. Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.
- 2.3. Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes.
- 3.2. Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.
- 3.5. Orderly management of self, and professional conduct.
Teaching and learning strategies
Teaching and learning sessions are organised into in-class and out-of-class activities. In-class activity is delivered in three Blocks, with each block delivered over 2 days (4 hours on the first day and 6 hours in the second day).
This subject is designed to include problem-oriented activities with the aim to produce two professional reports as a final product portfolio and one recorded presentation.
The students will be presented with a project problem from start of the semester. The students must complete the pre-work provided in Canvas consisting of reading materials and pre-recorded video lectures to develop technical knowledge relevant to the given project problem. Completion of pre-work is compulsory before coming to the in-class workshop and will be assessed online and through in-class activities. All required lectures are pre-recorded and hence lectures will not be repeated in-class. In-class activities will include workshops, group activities, industry guest lectures and training in the use of design software to enhance technical competency in solving complex engineering problems in preparation for the two project reports. Students will collaborate in teams (groups of three to four students each) and the report will be assessed as group work for task 1 and as individual for tasks 2 and 3. Students will have multiple opportunities for feedback: seek and obtain feedback from the team members and supervisors, conduct peer review of other reports to provide feedback and address peer feedback received from others for the individual’s own learning progress.
Content (topics)
The content/knowledge/skills in this subject will include: Technical content; Technical knowledge on the following:
- Cultural and heritage and their significance
- Indigenous cultural and spiritual values of water
- Cultural and heritage impact assessment (CHIA)
- Water quality, wastewater treatment processes and process designs
- Application of a professional process design software BioWin
- Effluent irrigation design (principles, design models, design spreadsheets)
- Elements of professional design report
- Multimedia communication
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Cultural and Heritage Impact Assessment Report
| Intent: | To achieve technical competency in the impact assessment of a project on the Indigenous, cultural and spiritual values of water and demonstrate how this consultative assessment determines the engineering design outcomes for Task 2. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): A.1, E.1 and F.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Group, group assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | Maximum 3,000 words. |
Assessment task 2: Technical Design Report
| Intent: | To achieve technical competency in the process design of a wastewater treatment plant and land-based effluent irrigation design based on the recommendations in the CHIA report in Task 1 and present it in the form of professional technical design report. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1, D.1 and E.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 45% |
| Length: | Maximum 4,500 words. |
Assessment task 3: Project Reflective Presentation
| Intent: | Ability to document and communicate the full learning journey of the subject including the iterative learning progress to achieve goals and to make recommendations. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): E.1 and F.1 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 25% |
| Length: | Multimedia presentation is limited to no more than10 minutes total in video length |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.
References
There is no specific text book prescribed for this subject. Learner Resource Materials have been developed which has some key multimedia information. The LRM will be provided in Canvas.