Syllabus: Fall 2008
Instructor
Benoit Cushman-Roisin
134 Cummings Hall
Telephone: 1-603-646-3248
Email: Benoit.Cushman.Roisin@dartmouth.edu
Teaching Assistants
Caitlin Johnson, Kara Pydynkowski, Chris Polashenski, Swetha Sampathgiri
Course description
A survey of the sources, measurement techniques, and treatment technologies relating to environmental pollution resulting from human activities. The course is technology-focused but also touches on topics related to the implementation of technology in the real world such as public perception, policy and legislation, and choosing between technological alternatives. Topics include water pollution, air pollution, solid wastes, fate and transport of pollutants in the environment, and pollution prevention. Consideration of each area includes general background and key concepts, detailed design examples, and case studies/current topics. The course includes guest lectures and a visit to the local wastewater treatment plant.
Web address
http://thayer.dartmouth.edu/~cushman/courses/engs37.html
Textbook: (required)
Environmental Engineering Science
by William W. Nazaroff and Lisa Alvarez-Cohen
John Wiley & Sons, 2001
Course Objectives
- Knowledge of the main forms of air, water and land pollution,
- Ability to perform a mass balance for an open system,
- Ability to design scrubbers, cyclones and electrostatic precipitators, and ability to select the technology appropriate to the application,
- Understanding how a wastewater treatment plant works,
- Knowledge of methods of pollution prevention inside a manufacturing plant,
- A basic understanding of risk assessment,
- Knowledge of what an environmental engineer is and does.
Course Format
- Lectures by instructor (Zaleski Auditorium, B01 MacLean, MWF, 10:00-11:05)
- Weekly graded homeworks (Friday to Friday)
- Occasional repetitions at X-hours (Zaleski Auditorium, B01 MacLean, Thursdays, 12:00-12:50)
- Take-home mid-term examination (3 days, open books)
- Final Examination (several days, open books)
Grading
- 40% Homeworks
- 30% Mid-term exam
- 30% Final exam
Honor Code
As always, students are expected to observe all aspects of the Academic Honor Principle, discussed on pages 45-48 of the Organization, Regulations and Courses. In this course, collaboration is allowed during homework preparation, although students have to turn in their individual answers. No collaboration whatsoever is allowed during the mid-term and final examinations. During those assignments, questions can only be directed to the instructor.
Dartmouth College policy requires that any apparent violation of the Honor Code be reported to the Committee on Standards. The professor does not have another choice, regardless of how he/she may feel.
Note to students with disabilities
Students with any type of disability are encouraged to contact the instructor to discuss their needs and what accommodations are necessary. Such contact should be made at the beginning of the term or, in the case of a new condition, as soon as it occurs.
Note on email communications
Email communications with the instructor are most welcome at any time as long as they deal with questions on the materials taught in class or absences from class. But, students are asked to refrain from using email to set up appointments. To see the instructor, simply drop by his office. Anytime is a good time.
Scheduling
| Week of | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Sept. | - | - | Introduction - Forms of pollution | - | Concentrations Balances Stoichiometry |
| 29 Sept. | Environmental chemistry (part 1) |
- | Environmental chemistry (part 2) |
- | Transport phenomena |
| 6 Oct. | Issues in air quality | - | Dust control: Cyclones | - | Dust control: Electrostatic precipitators |
| 13 Oct. | Gas treatment: Scrubbers | - | Gas treatment: Scrubbers (cont'd) |
- | Issues in water quality |
| 20 Oct. | Water purification | - | Physical water treatment | - | Wastewater treatment plants |
| 27 Oct. | Wastewater treatment plants (cont'd) | Mid-term exam assigned (at 10am) |
Disinfection - Anaerobic digestion | Mid-term exam due (at 5pm) |
Dr. John Todd Ecological Design |
| 3 Nov. | Tour 1 of wastewater treatment plant | - | Risk assessment | Tour 2 of wastewater treatment plant | Sustainable Engineering |
| 10 Nov. | Industrial Ecology Eco-parks |
- | Pollution prevention & Recycling | Energy issues Solar design |
Design for Environment |
| 17 Nov. | Life-cycle assessment | - | No class Professor away |
- | No class Professor away |
| 24 Nov. | Photovoltaic cells | - | No class Thanksgiving Recess |
No class Thanksgiving Recess |
No class Thanksgiving Recess |
| 1 Dec. | Fuel cells & Windmills | - | To be decided | - | Final exam assigned (at 10am) |
| 8 Dec. | - | Final exam due (at 5pm) |
- | - | - |
