49125 Environmental Risk Assessment
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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 spk(s): C10061 Bachelor of Engineering Diploma Engineering Practice OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10066 Bachelor of Engineering Science OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10067 Bachelor of Engineering OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09067 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Diploma Professional Engineering Practice OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09066 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Description
It is increasingly important that societal decisions are based on critical and honest assessment of the state of the relevant knowledge. This is particularly the case in environmental risk assessment which can be highly complex, involving multiple parties with no easy answers. This subject aims to teach students to conduct risk assessment in relation to environmental issues, by using relevant knowledge and tools in risk identification, risk assessment, risk management and risk communication. Students are able to use the knowledge to implement science-based decision-making in solving complex risk problems in their professional practice.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Elaborate environmental risk assessment framework, and risk assessment tools and applications. (D.1) |
|---|---|
| 2. | Conduct risk characterisation, risk assessment and risk management critically and in depth. (D.1) |
| 3. | Use effectively complex data to support a reasoned discussion in order to minimise environmental risk. (B.1) |
| 4. | Communicate convincingly key findings from environmental risk assessment in written report. (E.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)
- 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)
- Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating autonomously within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
Students are asked to complete on-line quiz before the 1st teaching block. Lecture material will be available through Canvas. Students are required to read the lecture materials before lectures. Real world environmental risk problems are included in the lecture notes and students need to identify the problems and gaps. Classroom teaching will be by powerpoint presentation and zoom. Students will be taught how to apply risk assessment principles to address those real world problems, using a range of scientific tools and principles. Regular in-class exercises and workshops are an interactive part of the learning process where environmental risk problems are worked through by students individually as well as in groups. These classes are designed so that students are enabled to learn from each other through discussion and peer and tutor feedback.
The subject is taught in Block Mode whereby the students are expected to attend all three (3) blocks of one and a half (1½) days. There is approximately 5 weeks between blocks.
Problem based learning activities are performed in this subject as most case studies and examples are extracted from real world consultancy/research projects.
Students are expected to undertake study outside the classroom, which must be at least the equivalent in hours to those spent in the classroom. Students are encouraged to work together for their assignments through group discussion and peer review, but their submitted reports should be completed individually.
Feedback will be provided timely, in writing for assessed individual or group work. Verbal feedback will be given for online quiz and in-class exercises, together with peer review.
Content (topics)
- Introduction to environmental risk
- The process of risk assessment
- Exposure assessment
- Dose response and other risk tools
- Statistics
- Probability
- Contaminated site risk assessment
- Risk analysis and evaluation
- Risk models
- Ecological risk assessment
- Assess and manage risk
- Standards and processes
- Risk management
- Communicating risk
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Assignment 1
| Intent: | This assessment designed to evaluate students' knowledge in risk assessment tools, risk ranking and risk assessment approaches, in a real world context. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): D.1 and E.1 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
Assessment task 2: Authentic assessment
| Intent: | This assessment is to get you focused on the learning process, the relevant risk assessment tools, and critical thinking and evaluation. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 10% |
| Criteria: | This assignment will be assessed by problem statement, problem formulation and problem solving. |
Assessment task 3: Assignment 2
| Intent: | This assessment is to examine students' capability of applying environmental risk assessment principles/standards to solve real world problems, using a range of tools. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): D.1 and E.1 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Criteria: | The assignment will be assessed by problem statement, problem formulation, and problem solving. |
Assessment task 4: Final report
| Intent: | Students will be required to apply risk assessment knowledge and tools, together with engineering standards in addressing real world problems (e.g. potential hazards). |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1 and E.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.
References
Recommended reading
Benjamin, S.L. and Belluck, D.A. (eds.), 2001. A Practical Guide to Understanding, Managing, and Reviewing Environmental Risk Assessment Reports. CRC Press, Boca Raton, USA. ISBN: 9781566704489.
Gerrard, S., Turner, R.K. and Bateman, I.J., 2001. Environmental Risk Planning and Management. Edward Elgar Publisher, Cheltenham UK. ISBN: 9781840642186.
Goldstein, I.F. and Goldstein, M., 2002. How Much Risk? A Guide to Understanding Environmental Health Hazards. Oxford University Press, UK. ISBN: 9780195139945.
Kapusta, L.A. and Landis, W.G. (eds.), 2010. Environmental risk assessment and management from a landscape perspective. John Wiley and Sons Inc., New Jersey, USA. ISBN: 9780470089972.
Sidaway, R., 2005. Resolving Environmental Disputes: From Conflict to Consensus. Earthscan, Oxford, UK. ISBN: 9781844070145.
Simon, T., 2014. Environmental Risk Assessment: A Toxicological Approach. CRC Press, Boca Raton, USA. ISBN: 9781466598294.
Other resources
Further reading
It is important and highly beneficial to read relevant journal articles on the subjects covered. Many academic journals can be accessed from the university library and online. For example, sciencedirect (www.sciencedirect.com) has more than 2000 journals on science and engineering.