EVE - Environmental Engineering

Introduction to basic biology concepts used in environmental engineering. Topics include biochemistry, cell biology, metabolism, molecular biology, cell growth, and nutrition that are applicable to water and wastewater design as well as remediation of contaminated soil and water. Particular focus on microbial growth, including aerobic and anaerobic microbes.

This course is organized into three main sections in which chemical topics relevant to the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and terrestrial environments are discussed. The course also addresses anthropogenic effects on the environment, toxicology, risk assessment, environmental analysis, computer modeling, and the political and sociological aspects of environmental topics.

This course will consider how environmental problems arise, looking at how a progression of natural and human circumstances becomes an "environmental problem." It will survey the law, politics, and institutions that manage pollution. The course will also look closely at a handful of environmental policy issues, particularly in the Columbia River, and the interplay of science, risk, and uncertainty.

This course investigates environmental applications of multispectral remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS). RS topics include sensor systems, digital image processing, and automated information extraction. GIS topics include spatial database management systems, data analysis, and environmental modeling. Emphasis is placed on biological applications including vegetation mapping, habitat identification and field data mapping.

The course investigates the sources, distribution and impacts of atmospheric pollutants. Specifically, the role of air pollution in climate change, human health, and environmental impacts will be covered in detail. The course will also discuss the natural background chemistry of the atmosphere, photochemistry, and urban air pollution.

This course applies the principles of sustainable design to building design, urban planning, stormwater management, water usage, energy usage, and product design. Life cycle assessments will be used to evaluate materials usage and waste minimization for a variety of applications. The class culminates in a final group project evaluating the sustainability of similar products or materials.

Introduction to surface water modeling in both undeveloped and urban catchments. Topics include watershed delineation with GIS, lumped and distributed systems, calibration, and validation. Computer programming for water resources applications such as water supply and demand. Theoretical topics followed by hands-on applications of concepts and models, including group projects.

Students learn how to design lined or rigid boundary ("engineered") channels, unlined or erodible ("natural") channels, weirs, spillways, stilling basins, culverts, and other hydraulic structures. Students will also learn how to determine the water surface profile for gradually varied flow conditions. Principles of hydraulic analysis, including specific energy, momentum, critical depth, and uniform flow, will be applied.

Study of the fundamental concepts required to design and operate processes used for drinking water treatment and distribution and wastewater collection and disposal. Design of physical, chemical, and biological processes for water treatment and wastewater disposal. Design of water supply and wastewater collection infrastructure.

Analysis and design necessary to plan and specify equipment for heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning systems. Includes heat transfer analysis of the structure, psychrometric analysis of inside and ventilating air, and thermodynamic and economic analysis of the necessary equipment.