Duration
30h Th, 30h Proj., 1d FW
Number of credits
| Bachelor in engineering | 4 crédits |
Lecturer
Coordinator
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
Learning unit contents
The purpose of this course is to make the student acquainted with the assessment of interactions between engineering and the environment. Beyond identification of environmental impacts, the focus is set on measures and strategies to prevent, control and mitigate them. The course is taught by several teachers from different fields of engineering (geology, hydraulics and chemistry), providing a cross-disciplinary perspective perfectly in line with the multidisciplinary nature of most environmental issues. Through a common methodological framework (Drivers Pressures State Impact Response - DPSIR), the course includes numerous real examples from various engineering fields.
The following topics are studied:
- potential and vulnerability of the underground environment, mineral and energy geo-resources, groundwater flow and contaminants, natural and induced geological hazards, principles of geothermy and underground storages;
- hydropower, sustainable management of reservoirs, hydrological impacts of climate change, flood risk and low flows, hydromorphological equilibrium of rivers and river restoration;
- air pollution, water pollution, integrated and additive protection of the environment, life cycle assessment.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
After this course, the student will be able to understand and develop on its own a range of analysis concerning environmental impacts of materials, processes, structures and anthropogenic activities. The student will be able to evaluate and develop strategies to mitigate environmental impacts of engineering actions in simple situations.
The student will become acquainted with several conceptual frameworks, including the DPSIR approach of the European Environment Agency, cost-benefit analysis, risk analysis and life cycle assessment. Based on the knowledge of these concepts, the student will be able to better structure his arguments not only in the environmental field, but also in other scientific and technological disciplines.
The student will also master a number of basic concepts in environmental geology, hydrology and hydraulics as well as chemistry of water and the atmosphere.
Finally, the compulsory reading of reference documents will stimulate the student's ability to understand technical and scientific texts in English in these fields.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
The course relies on basic concepts in physics and chemistry.
Since part of the course material is provided in English, the student should have reading skills in English corresponding at least to the course taught in Bachelor 1 (LANG0038-1)
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course is based on lectures (30h) and on the compulsory reading of a limited number of documents in English. These two sources of information are complementary and only the combination of both makes the course fully consistent.
Since the course focuses more on a deep understanding of the concepts, the student is requested to take part actively in the lessons, during which the teachers interact with the audience.
A discussion forum is available on eCampus, enabling the student to ask questions related to the course.
The course includes a visit in a company that is mandatory for all students.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
Face-to-face lectures.
Recommended or required readings
Slides used during the lectures may be downloaded from eCampus.
In addition, each teacher provides the students with a text in English of up to 20 pages, the reading of which is compulsory. Both the topic and the level of these texts are in line with the course content. The exam includes questions concerning these texts. During the course, the teachers may recommend the optional reading of additional documents. All documents are available on eCampus.
Assessment methods and criteria
A written exam takes place in January and September.
Based on open questions, the evaluation focuses on the deep understanding of the course rather than on rote learning. Nonetheless, knowing and mastering a number of fundamental concepts remains necessary for the student to be able to develop and structure both accurate and relevant responses.
Equal weight is given to the three parts of the course (geology, hydraulics and chemical engineering). No partial exemption is granted.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Lectures take place on Tuesday afternoon during the first semester. The exact schedule is available on eCampus.
Contacts
Prof. Alain DASSARGUES
Hydrogéologie & Géologie de l'environnement, B52/3
Tél. 04/366.23.76
Alain.Dassargues@ulg.ac.be
Prof. Benjamin DEWALS
Hydraulics in Environmental and Civil Engineering (HECE), B52/3
Tél. 04/366.92.83
B.Dewals@ulg.ac.be
Prof. Angélique LEONARD
Dpt of Chemical Engineering
PEPs - Products, Environment, Processes
B5a/1.51
Tél. 04/366.44.36
A.Leonard@ulg.ac.be