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2.6. Environmental Systems Engineering (ESE)
This knowledge area covers the principles and applications of environmental engineering for the protection of public health and natural ecosystems. It focuses on the design of systems for water supply, wastewater treatment, air pollution control, solid waste management, and environmental impact assessment within a sustainable and resilient framework.
2.6.1. ESE/Water and Wastewater Treatment Process Design (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top
Principles, design, and operation of physical, chemical, and biological unit processes for the treatment of potable water and municipal/industrial wastewater to meet quality standards and regulatory requirements.
Topics:
Core
- Water quality parameters and regulatory standards for drinking water and wastewater effluent
- Physical treatment processes: screening, sedimentation, flotation, and filtration
- Chemical treatment processes: coagulation, flocculation, disinfection, and pH adjustment
- Biological treatment principles: suspended growth (activated sludge) and attached growth (trickling filters) systems
- Process selection and design criteria based on source water or wastewater characteristics
- Advanced treatment processes: membrane filtration, advanced oxidation, and nutrient removal (N&P)
- Sludge and biosolids handling, treatment, and disposal methods
- Plant layout, hydraulic profile, and pumping system design
- Industrial wastewater pretreatment and specific contaminant removal strategies
- Process control, monitoring, and troubleshooting in treatment plants
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Identify key water quality parameters and their significance for human health and the environment [Familiarity]
- Select appropriate physical and chemical unit processes for a given water or wastewater treatment objective [Assessment]
- Design fundamental components of water treatment plants, such as rapid mix basins, flocculators, and sedimentation tanks [Usage]
- Explain the biological mechanisms and operational parameters of activated sludge systems [Familiarity]
- Size primary and secondary treatment units based on flow rates and pollutant loading [Assessment]
- Design advanced treatment trains for water reuse or stringent nutrient discharge limits [Usage]
- Evaluate sludge management alternatives and select appropriate thickening/dewatering methods [Assessment]
- Develop hydraulic profiles and pump specifications for treatment plant layouts [Usage]
- Propose pretreatment strategies for specific industrial wastewater streams [Assessment]
- Implement basic process control strategies to optimize treatment plant performance [Usage]
2.6.2. ESE/Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology for Engineers (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top
Application of chemical and microbiological principles to understand and solve environmental engineering problems, including reaction kinetics, equilibrium, nutrient cycles, and the role of microorganisms in natural and engineered systems.
Topics:
Core
- Aquatic chemistry principles: acidity, alkalinity, hardness, and buffer capacity
- Chemical equilibria and kinetics relevant to environmental processes
- Microbial metabolism, growth, and classification in environmental contexts
- Biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur
- Water quality indicators and standard analytical methods
- Colloid and surface chemistry for contaminant fate and transport
- Toxicology and risk assessment of environmental contaminants
- Molecular biology tools for environmental engineering applications
- Fate and transport modeling of pollutants in engineered and natural systems
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Calculate pH, buffer intensity, and chemical speciation in aquatic systems [Usage]
- Explain the role of key microbial groups in wastewater treatment and biogeochemical cycling [Familiarity]
- Apply mass balance and reaction kinetics to environmental systems [Assessment]
- Describe the major steps and environmental significance of the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles [Familiarity]
- Interpret water quality data from standard analytical reports [Usage]
- Analyze the role of colloidal and interfacial processes in contaminant removal [Assessment]
- Define key toxicological parameters and concepts used in environmental risk assessment [Familiarity]
- Evaluate the application of molecular techniques for monitoring engineered biological systems [Assessment]
- Model the fate and transport of a conservative pollutant in a simple environmental compartment [Usage]
2.6.3. ESE/Air Quality and Pollution Control Engineering (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top
Sources, effects, monitoring, and control of air pollutants; atmospheric dispersion modeling; and design of engineering systems to reduce emissions from stationary and mobile sources.
Topics:
Core
- Atmospheric structure, composition, and basic meteorology
- Pollutant types, sources, and health/environmental effects
- Monitoring techniques and ambient air quality standards
- Dispersion modeling fundamentals and Gaussian plume model
- Control technologies for particulate matter: cyclones, baghouses, and ESPs
- Gaseous pollutant control: absorption, adsorption, and catalytic systems
- Mobile source emissions and control strategies
- Indoor air quality and ventilation
- Climate change and greenhouse gas mitigation engineering
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Describe the major classes of air pollutants, their sources, and impacts [Familiarity]
- Apply the Gaussian plume model to estimate ground-level concentrations from a point source [Usage]
- Select appropriate particulate control devices based on particle size distribution and efficiency requirements [Assessment]
- Interpret ambient air quality monitoring data relative to regulatory standards [Familiarity]
- Design a basic absorption tower for removing a gaseous pollutant from a flue gas stream [Assessment]
- Explain the engineering approaches for controlling emissions from mobile sources [Familiarity]
- Evaluate indoor air quality parameters and propose mitigation measures for a building [Assessment]
- Propose engineering strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from an industrial facility [Usage]
2.6.4. ESE/Environmental Impact Assessment and Sustainability Metrics (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top
Systematic process for identifying, predicting, evaluating, and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken; and the use of sustainability indicators and life-cycle thinking in engineering decision-making.
Topics:
Core
- EIA process: screening, scoping, impact analysis, mitigation, and public participation
- Impact prediction methods for air, water, soil, noise, and ecological systems
- Mitigation hierarchy and design of environmental management plans
- Legal and institutional frameworks for EIA
- Sustainability concepts and the triple bottom line (environment, economy, society)
- Cumulative impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment (SEA)
- Social impact assessment and stakeholder engagement methods
- Sustainability metrics and indicator frameworks (e.g., SDGs, Envision)
- Decision-support tools and multi-criteria analysis for sustainable design
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Outline the key stages of a standardized Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process [Familiarity]
- Predict primary environmental impacts of a proposed infrastructure project on local air and water quality [Usage]
- Develop mitigation measures for identified significant environmental impacts [Assessment]
- Explain the legal requirements and purpose of EIA in the project approval process [Familiarity]
- Apply the triple bottom line framework to evaluate a simple engineering project [Assessment]
- Conduct a scoping exercise to define the boundaries and key issues for a cumulative impact assessment [Assessment]
- Design a stakeholder engagement plan for a controversial development project [Usage]
- Select appropriate sustainability metrics to track the performance of a green infrastructure project [Assessment]
- Use a simple multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) tool to compare alternative project designs [Usage]
2.6.5. ESE/Climate Adaptation Engineering for Water Systems (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top
Engineering approaches to assess vulnerability and enhance the resilience of water infrastructure (supply, drainage, coastal) to climate change impacts, including changing precipitation patterns, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events.
Topics:
Core
- Climate science fundamentals and downscaling of global climate model projections
- Hydrologic impacts of climate change: precipitation intensity, drought, and snowmelt
- Vulnerability and risk assessment frameworks for water infrastructure
- Water supply system adaptation: source diversification and demand management
- Stormwater system adaptation for increased intensity rainfall
- Coastal adaptation strategies: managed retreat, protective structures, and nature-based solutions
- Decision-making under uncertainty and adaptive management pathways
- Infrastructure design standards and codes under non-stationary climate conditions
- Economic appraisal of adaptation options and financing mechanisms
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Interpret downscaled climate projections for key hydrologic variables [Familiarity]
- Assess the vulnerability of a water supply system to projected changes in drought frequency [Assessment]
- Redesign a stormwater culvert for increased design rainfall intensity based on climate projections [Usage]
- Describe adaptation strategies for managing urban water demand under water scarcity [Familiarity]
- Compare hard and soft (nature-based) engineering options for coastal flood protection [Assessment]
- Develop an adaptive management plan for a reservoir facing uncertain future inflow regimes [Usage]
- Propose revisions to infrastructure design standards to incorporate climate resilience [Assessment]
- Conduct a cost-benefit analysis for a portfolio of water infrastructure adaptation measures [Usage]
2.6.6. ESE/Solid and Hazardous Waste Management ↑ Back to top
Generation, characterization, collection, treatment, and final disposal of municipal solid waste and hazardous materials, with emphasis on engineering design, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable practices.
Topics:
Core
- Waste generation rates, characterization, and composition analysis
- Collection systems, transfer stations, and transportation logistics
- Landfill design: site selection, liner systems, leachate management, and gas collection
- Waste processing and material recovery facilities (MRFs)
- Hazardous waste identification, classification, and regulatory definitions
- Thermal treatment technologies: incineration, pyrolysis, and gasification
- Biological treatment: composting and anaerobic digestion
- Remediation technologies for contaminated sites
- Integrated solid waste management planning and life-cycle assessment
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Estimate waste generation rates and characterize waste streams for a community [Assessment]
- Design the layout and key components of a municipal solid waste landfill [Usage]
- Explain the function and components of a material recovery facility (MRF) [Familiarity]
- Identify and classify hazardous wastes according to regulatory criteria [Familiarity]
- Plan collection routes and specify transfer station requirements [Usage]
- Compare thermal treatment technologies based on energy recovery and environmental impacts [Assessment]
- Design a composting or anaerobic digestion system for organic waste [Usage]
- Select appropriate remediation technologies for a given contaminated site scenario [Assessment]
- Develop an integrated waste management plan with source reduction and recycling targets [Usage]