Course abbreviation: BEnvEng
Environmental engineering is a rapidly growing, multidisciplinary branch of
engineering, concerned with the implementation and management of engineering
solutions and programs that accord with the principles of sustainable
development. Thus while the traditional engineering skills of design,
construction and management remain an essential component, the focus of this
branch of engineering is to ensure that such activities are carried out in a
manner that minimises or eliminates adverse impact on the environment, and are
socially, economically and ecologically sustainable.
Historically based in the still major areas of water resource management and
water and wastewater treatment, the scope of application of environmental
engineering principles now embraces all of the air, water and soil
environments, and the interactions between them. Environmental engineers work
closely together with a range of other environmental professionals, and the
community. Their professional skills might be used to ensure clean water
supplies, reduce catchment soil erosion and salinity, develop and implement
cleaner production technologies to minimise industrial pollution, recycle waste
materials into new products, develop or rehabilitate landfill sites, develop
building and transport systems in harmony with the environment and, very
importantly, to evaluate and minimise the environmental impact of engineering
projects both large and small.
Career paths for environmental engineers are diverse, expanding and
challenging, with the pressures of increasing population and desires for
improved standards of living providing local and international opportunities.
Such opportunities are readily identified in all areas of industry, in
government planning and regulatory control, with regional and municipal
authorities, consultants and contracting engineers, research and development
organisations, and in education and technology transfer.
The environmental engineering course has been designed to be multidisciplinary,
to provide broad-based capability for the solution, implementation and
management of engineering activities in an environmental context. Thus core
engineering knowledge and skills are complemented by units from science,
economics, arts and law. The selection of one major elective stream, or two
minor elective streams, provides for in-depth treatment of one or more specific
areas of application of environmental engineering principles. The elective
streams are: water and land management; environmental process engineering; and
transport and the built environment.
Level 1 of the course provides a broad base of science, mathematics,
introductory engineering and environment units designed to form the basis of a
multidisciplinary engineering education.
Level 2 increases the engineering content, which is a mixture of core
engineering units and more environmentally directed units. Mathematics is
continued. Environmental policy and communications are introduced, the former
unit being used to begin to integrate the content gained from the other
units.
Level 3 introduces more environmentally focused engineering units. It builds
upon the core units of level 2, provides units that address environmental
impact and management systems, and sees the commencement of the selected
elective stream(s).
Level 4 seeks to integrate and provide application for much of the earlier
knowledge and skills developed by way of substantial engineering design and
project work within the various specific elective streams. These units are
complemented by further in-depth elective units, and interdisciplinary units
from environmental law, economics and policy areas.
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