Environmental Engineering 1

Unit code: NEC4101 | Study level: Undergraduate

Credit points

(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)

Location

Footscray Park

Prerequisites

NEC2203 - Hydraulics; and

NEC3201 - Hydraulic Engineering

(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)

Overview

In this unit, you will explore the fundamental principles and practices of environmental engineering as they relate to public health, ecological protection, and sustainable urban development. You will develop foundational skills in the design and evaluation of systems for water treatment, wastewater collection and reuse, water pollution control, and environmental impact assessment. Emphasis is placed on applying engineering judgement, regulatory standards, and sustainability principles to solve problems in real-world environmental infrastructure projects.

As part of your learning, you will participate in a site visit to observe environmental engineering systems in practice and produce a professional report that integrates your observations with technical knowledge. Through these experiences, you will strengthen your analytical, design, and communication skills within the context of environmental responsibility and community well-being.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

Critically review engineering options for wastewater and stormwater treatment, considering relevant environmental, technical, and socio-economic factors;
Design fundamental components of wastewater collection, treatment, and reuse systems, using appropriate engineering methods;
Solve and evaluate water pollution and Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) problems using manual or software-based approaches; and
Collaborate effectively as part of a team to present technical findings clearly and professionally using industry-standard terminology and communication formats.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Test

Grade: 15%

In-class Test (Individual) (30 mins)

Assessment type: Portfolio

Grade: 40%

Problem-Solving Design Tasks (Individual) (3000 words)

Assessment type: Report

Grade: 45%

Team Based Research Report (Group) (3500 words) and Presentation (Individual) (5 mins)

Test: This invigilated in class secure assessment has an unpredictable problem-solving scenario format that tests understanding, requires explanation of reasoning and process, and involves applying knowledge to new contexts.

Portfolio: Structured design problem-solving exercises that demonstrate the progressive development of engineering skills, supported by regular feedback and validation discussions.

Report: This secure assessment ensures accountability through structured reflection, documented collaboration, and detailed explanation of techniques, with a presentation and in-class progressive milestone checks linked to individual students also being used to enhance security. These milestones are recorded and incorporated into the overall marking process. Explicit evaluation of individual contributions further support the secure assessment and assurance of each student’s achievement of learning outcomes.

Required reading

Required readings will be made available on VU Collaborate.

As part of a course

This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil Engineering)

NHEC | Bachelor honours degree | Duration: 4 years

Refer to the course page for information on how to apply for the course. VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this unit information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that unit information is current with the Student Contact Centre.

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