GSE2001

Engineering activity and biological systems

L Soste (Engineering) and staff from the School of Applied Science.

4 points · 26 hours of lectures, 13 hours of supported self-learning, 13 hours of seminars and discussion groups · First semester · Gippsland/ Distance (2000)

Objectives To provide students with an understanding of (a) basic biology in relation to aquatic, atmospheric and terrestrial ecosystems, and human health; (b) the spectrum of scientific and medical personnel who specialise in these areas; (c) the ways in which engineering works impact on these systems, and the issues which need to be addressed in conjunction with other specialist staff; (d) the range of monitoring and control measures (including legislation) available to manage these impacts.

Synopsis (a) Fundamentals of biological systems: Introduction to microbiology, human and animal physiology, plant physiology, and ecology. (b) Human health: Industrial environments and their effects on human health: air conditioning systems, gases, particulates and their impact on the respiratory tract, water and wastewater treatment and the digestive tract, immune responses, skin absorption and penetration, effects of noise, various forms of electro-magnetic radiation, and medication. Monitoring systems available. Introduction to OHS legislation. Case studies. (c) Aquatic ecosystems: Engineering context: typical engineering discharges to, or modifications of, the aquatic environment, extent and stability of downstream effects. Aquatic science: population types, reproductive requirements, population interdependencies. Eco-system response to changes in flow and temperature regimes, chemical quality focussing on the impact of nutrients, issues of light penetration, etc. Monitoring of aquatic health: environmental indicators, physico-chemical parameters. Introduction to legislative control mechanisms. Case studies. (d) The atmosphere: Engineering context: discharges to air from various sources. Atmospheric science: local, regional and global atmospheric circulation, dispersion and settling of particulates, dispersion of gases and possible global warming, chemical interactions and their impacts on acid rain and the ozone layer. Case studies. (e) Terrestrial ecosystems: Engineering context: linear development (roads, pipelines, powerlines), local and broad-scale land-use change. Science: population types, reproductive requirements, population interdependencies. Land-use change and terrestrial ecosystem response. Monitoring and control systems.

Assessment Preparation and presentation of three seminar papers throughout the semester: 45% · Contribution to class discussions,:5% · Examination (open book, 3 hours): 50%

Recommended texts

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