49049 Air and Noise Pollution
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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:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor’s Degree OR 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor’s Combined Degree OR 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor’s Combined Honours Degree OR 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor’s Honours Embedded Degree
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Description
This subject introduces students to the theory, knowledge and skills that are required to successfully undertake air and noise pollution investigations that may be required as part of their professional engineering practice. Students learn about the key role that engineering plays in understanding the sources and impacts of air and noise pollution, and implementing methods of control. The subject objectives are met by enabling students to master underpinning theory, develop problem-solving and communication skills, undertake research work independently and in a team, and complete laboratory investigations.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Apply the theory of air and noise pollution to practical engineering situations. (C.1) |
|---|---|
| 2. | Use engineering instrumentation and software to undertake laboratory investigations in both air and noise pollution that are representative of typical industry practices. (D.1) |
| 3. | Evaluate global air and noise pollution issues such as climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion. (B.1) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, and influence stakeholders, and apply expert judgment establishing and managing constraints, conflicts and uncertainties within a hazards and risk framework to define system requirements and interactivity. (B.1)
- Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design thinking and decision-making methodologies in new contexts or to novel problems, to explore, test, analyse and synthesise complex ideas, theories or concepts. (C.1)
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply theoretical, conceptual, software and physical tools and advanced discipline knowledge to research, evaluate and predict future performance of systems characterised by complexity. (D.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.
- 1.4. Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline.
- 1.6. Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline.
- 2.1. Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving.
- 2.2. Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.
- 2.4. Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects.
- 3.4. Professional use and management of information.
Teaching and learning strategies
Students will learn in this subject through a combination of seminars, workshops, laboratories and independent learning activities.
Independent learning activities: Preparatory study before attending each session is essential. Students should aim to spend 2 hours studying subject materials for each hour spent in the classroom. Independent reading and learning resource material will be provided within Canvas for students to complete in advance of their attendance at a session. Based on their independent study of subject materials, students bring knowledge to class that can be shared and critiqued and used as a basis for problem solving activities. Written feedback will be provided for both formative and summative assessment tasks.
Laboratories: Successful deployment of appropriate monitoring instrumentation and use of modelling software is essential for successfully undertaking air and noise pollution investigations in professional engineering practice. To develop these skills, students undertake two laboratory practical sessions (one each for both the air and noise pollution components of this course) as well as a three-hour laboratory in contaminant dispersion modelling. These activities give students practical experience with relevant technologies used in air and noise pollution assessments. After completing the three laboratory sessions, students prepare an individual report (on the topic of their choice) outlining the aims of the investigation, the experimental and mathematical tools they used to meet the specified objectives, as well as presenting and discussing their results along with any limitations of their approach.
Seminars: A primary means of knowledge transfer in this subject will be through seminars. Seminars will provide students with a logical framework for conducting air and noise pollution investigations, as well as build on the analytical skills students would have acquired in other subjects at UTS.
Workshops: A significant fraction of class time within each session will be devoted to whole-of-class and group-based problem-solving activities. After completing workshops, students will not only obtain a strong understanding of the relevant theory that underpins air and noise pollution but will be able to collaboratively apply these principles in practical engineering situations. Workshop sessions will also equip students with the skills they need to undertake problem-based research work both independently and as part of a team and to communicate their results in written and oral formats. Students will receive feedback on their progress with the group report whilst working in their groups during workshop sessions.
Content (topics)
The main topics that will be covered in this subject are:
• Air pollution effects on human health and the environment
• Key pollutants and their sources
• Effect of meteorology on the dispersion of pollutants
• Air pollution measurement
• Air pollution control
• Indoor air quality
• Air pollution and global climate change
• Acoustic principles
• Effects of noise on human health
• Environment related noise
• Workplace related noise
• Aircraft related noise
• Pubs and clubs related noise
• Noise control engineering
• Vibration control
• Noise measurement
• Noise-induced hearing loss
• Traffic noise
The actual content delivered in this subject may vary in any particular teaching session based on the professional experience and prior learning obtained by students.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Group Project Proposal
| Intent: | In this assessment task, students draft a group project proposal on a topic of their choice in air and noise pollution. The feedback provided from this assessment task is intended to be used as a guide for groups to successfully undertake their projects (See Assessment Task 3). |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1 and C.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Group, group assessed |
| Weight: | Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark |
| Length: | No more than 1,000 words in length. |
Assessment task 2: Air and Noise Pollution Laboratory Investigation
| Intent: | In this assessment task, students write a laboratory report on either an air or noise pollution laboratory investigation. This task is intended to authentically reflect the approach that a consultant would undertake for a client; such as performing an experimental or computational investigation, followed by expert reporting on the methods used, the results found and the conclusions drawn. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1 and 2 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | No more than 3,000 words in length. |
Assessment task 3: Group Project on Air and Noise Pollution
| Intent: | In this assessment task, students undertake a group project in air and/or noise pollution to develop their research skills in their chosen topic areas. This assessment task is intended to mirror the approach that a consulting team would take in researching an engineering problem for a client. A group project report (task 3a), and peer assessment activity (task 3b) are required for this assessment task. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1 and C.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | No more than 3,000 words in length excluding references. |
Assessment task 4: Exercise Set
| Intent: | In this assessment task, students demonstrate their ability to explain concepts relevant to air and noise pollution engineering, apply their knowledge of air and noise pollution to engineering problems and communicate technical engineering concepts in a clear and concise manner. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1 and C.1 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | Typically the homework answers varies from 7-10 pages in length, however it is the quality of the responses not the pages which are assessed |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.
Required texts
There is no required text for this subject.
Recommended texts
Wang, Lawrence K., Norman C. Pereira, and Yung-Tse Hung, eds. Advanced air and noise pollution control. Vol. 2. Totowa, NJ, USA: Humana Press, 2005.
https://link-springer-com.ezproxy.lib.uts.edu.au/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-1-59259-779-6.pdf (Links to an external site).
Other resources
This subject will make use of Canvas (http://canvas.uts.edu.au/) as a means of communication between teaching staff and students. You should be registered automatically if you have enrolled correctly. If you do not want to receive emails at your default UTS email account then you should forward emails to your preferred email address.
Students need to familiarise themselves with Canvas. Announcements will be made using this facility. Students are expected to regularly check the announcements page for information.