ENVT3021-1 : Tools for measuring environmental parameters : atmosphere

Study Programmes 2015-2016

ENVT3021-1

Tools for measuring environmental parameters : atmosphere

Part 1 : Ambient air quality
Part 2 : Odors from the environment
Part 3 : Noise
Part 4 : Ionizing and non ionizing radiations

Duration :

Part 1 : Ambient air quality : 24h Th, 12h Pr
Part 2 : Odors from the environment : 16h Th, 8h Pr
Part 3 : Noise : 16h Th, 8h Pr
Part 4 : Ionizing and non ionizing radiations : 16h Th, 8h Pr

Number of credits :

Master in environmental science and management (120 ECTS)		7
Master in environmental science and management (120 ECTS)		7
Master in environmental science and management (60 ECTS)		7

Lecturer :

Part 1 : Ambient air quality : Anne-Claude Romain
Part 2 : Odors from the environment : Anne-Claude Romain
Part 3 : Noise : Jean-Jacques Embrechts
Part 4 : Ionizing and non ionizing radiations : Véronique Beauvois, Anne-Sophie Carnoy (Gramme)

Coordinator :

Anne-Claude Romain

Language(s) of instruction :

French language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Course contents :

Part 1 : Ambient air quality

The first part presents atmospheric pollution -composition, structure and chemistry of atmosphere -main pollutants, their origin and their impacts, associated vocabulary, regulation, measurement network in Belgium, standards
The second part presents major measurement techniques of gaseous pollutants -operating principle (chemical sensors, spectroscopy, detectors) -instrument selection according to different criteria

Part 2 : Odors from the environment

definition and dimensions of odor Sampling and determination of odor flow methods (sampling fireplace, per room flow ...) methods for measuring various features of the odor nuisance (sensory methods, instrumental sensory, physico-chemical, citizen approach

Part 3 : Noise

Course description : The basic principles of applied acoustics are presented and explained. The course explains how to evaluate discomfort and annoyance by specific indicators and how to measure these indicators. Contents : Fundamentals of acoustics, psychoacoustics and sound level measurements, evaluation of discomfort and annoyance, environmental regulations, traffic noise (airport).

Part 4 : Ionizing and non ionizing radiations

Different kinds of ionizing and non ionizing radiations (natural or artificial): X rays, radioactivity and electromagnetic fields of low frequency (50 Hz) and high frequency (radio waves...).
Interaction of those radiations with matter.
Detectors performing those radiations measurement (+ Laboratory).
Risks and regulations.

Learning outcomes of the course :

Part 1 : Ambient air quality

The student will be able to understand the air pollution problematic, the operating procedure of instruments, to select the measurement technique in regards to the various variables of the problematic and to discuss the results in the context of environmental regulation

Part 2 : Odors from the environment

At the end of the course, the student will be able 1) to show his understanding of the theoretical concepts seen in the course; 2) to develop a methodology to perform measurments of envionmental odours 3) to explain-interpret the measurement results

Part 3 : Noise

At the end of the course, it is intended that the student will be able to: - understand the basics of sound propagation and its different modes, - evaluate and measure sound levels in decibels and combine the contribution of several sound sources, - understand the basics of psychoacoustics and the origin of the dBA, - understand and apply some noise indicators describing discomfort, in particular equivalent noise levels, - apply the method of expertise ISO 1996 and the environmental noise regulation used in Wallonia, - understand the typical phenomena in outdoor sound propagation, - compute the attenuation of noise barriers in simple situations, - understand the problems of noise created by airport activities.

Part 4 : Ionizing and non ionizing radiations

Ionizing radiations:

Classify the different kinds of ionizing radiations: radioactivity (a, b, g)) and X rays.
Describe the interaction of those different radiations with matter.
Describe the operating system of standard detectors: gas-filled detectors, scintillation detectors.
Use of detector measurements: estimate the accuracy on numbers; get acquainted with spectra shapes in gamma spectroscopy.
Identify the dangers related to each radiation, and the regulation rules.

Non ionizing radiations:

Classify the different kinds of non ionizing radiations.
Describe the interaction of those different radiations with matter.
Know the most used detectors and their operating mode.
Understand the measurement done with those detectors.
Identify the risks related to each type of radiation, and the regulation rules, on the Belgian and European levels.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills :

Part 1 : Ambient air quality

Bachelor degree including a course of basic chemistry.

Part 2 : Odors from the environment

fundamentals in science (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics)

Part 3 : Noise

Basics mathematics and physics.

Part 4 : Ionizing and non ionizing radiations

No prerequisites.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

Part 1 : Ambient air quality

The course is based on 'ex-cathedra' lectures and on practical exercises.
A visit of a laboratory followed by a seminar concerning the air pollution measurment in industrial stacks is organised.

Part 2 : Odors from the environment

ex cathedra lecturers+ practical exercises

Part 3 : Noise

First of all, this course is organised in modules, each of them consisting in a general presentation ex cathedra, followed by applications and exercices with the teacher. It is intended to organize some labo demonstrations.
It is recommended that the students actively participate to the general presentation by answering questions and formulate critics. Also during the exercices, the students must be equipped with a calculator.
It is also recommended to read and understand the theory and exercices of the previous lesson before assisting to the next one. Additional exercices will also be proposed: it is strongly recommended that the students try to solve them by themselves and ask the teacher to evaluate their solution.

Part 4 : Ionizing and non ionizing radiations

lecture and laboratory

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

Part 1 : Ambient air quality

Face-to-face lectures

Part 2 : Odors from the environment

face - to -face

Part 3 : Noise

Face-to-face learning.

Part 4 : Ionizing and non ionizing radiations

Face-to-face