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Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Intermediate

Former School/College

Former School of Environment, Science and Engineering

Pre-requisites

ENS00203 - Earth Systems II: The Hydrosphere

Unit aim

Explores ecological engineering solutions that assist in creating water and wastewater infrastructure for human settlements. The movement and fate of water, carbon and nutrient pollutants are examined, particularly at the household, small settlement and larger settlement levels. The unit introduces engineering modelling techniques and draws on practical local examples of the eco-engineering craft.

Unit content

The following topics are explored in this unit (the listed topic numbers referring to chapters in the Study Guide).

The application of the ecological engineering approach (Topic 1)

Human settlements: energy and material flows (Topic 1)

The integrated urban water cycle and water sensitive urban design (Topic 2)

Designing localised water supply systems (especially rainwater tanks) and managing potable demand (Topic 2)

The use of models and spreadsheets as design tools (Topics 1-9)

Wastewater treatment trains including sedimentation tanks, ponds, wetlands and vertical flow devices (Topics 3- 5)

Hydraulic issues in water cycle design (Topic 6)

The design of innovative on-site wastewater management systems to comply with current regulatory requirements (Topics 3-9)

Miscellaneous secondary wastewater treatment devices (Topic 7)

Application of treated wastewater to land (Topic 8)

Ecological sanitation (Topic 9)

Managing nitrogen in the modified water cycle (Topic 9)

Factors affecting the adoption of ecotechnologies (Topic 10)

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 analyse flows of water and nutrients through human settlements and perform calculations relating to: a) the design of efficient water supply systems b) natural domestic waste and wastewater treatment systems including elements such as ponds, constructed wetlands, packed bed filters and ecological sanitation systems.
2 use standard engineering design techniques (including codes and computer based models) to design elements of water supply and wastewater treatment systems
3 adopt an engineering approach when communicating in a professional practice context
4 design on-site wastewater management systems in accordance with NSW and Australian regulatory requirements.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. analyse flows of water and nutrients through human settlements and perform calculations relating to: a) the design of efficient water supply systems b) natural domestic waste and wastewater treatment systems including elements such as ponds, constructed wetlands, packed bed filters and ecological sanitation systems.
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  2. use standard engineering design techniques (including codes and computer based models) to design elements of water supply and wastewater treatment systems
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  3. adopt an engineering approach when communicating in a professional practice context
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  4. design on-site wastewater management systems in accordance with NSW and Australian regulatory requirements.
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4: