Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
| Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
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 their own a range of analyses concerning the environmental impacts of materials, processes, structures, and anthropogenic activities. The student will be able to evaluate and develop strategies to mitigate the 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 few basic concepts in environmental geology, hydrology and hydraulics as well as the chemistry of water and the atmosphere.
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, III.2, V.1, V.2 of the BSc in Engineering.
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).
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.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face lectures.
Recommended or required readings
Slides used during the lectures may be downloaded from eCampus.
During the course, the teachers may recommend the optional reading of documents. All documents are available on eCampus.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )
Additional information:
A written exam takes place in June and September.
Based on multiple choice questions (choice between 4 answers, +1 if correct answer, 0 if omission, -0.33 if wrong answer), the evaluation focuses on the understanding of the processes and topics described during the course rather than on pure knowledge. Nonetheless, knowing and mastering a number of fundamental concepts remains necessary for the student to be able to find the more logical and adequate answers to the questions.
Equal weight is given to the three parts of the course (geological engineering, hydraulics and chemical engineering) through a mix of the different questions. No partial exemption is granted.
If the exam must be 'remote', it will be also a multiple-choice questionnaire through the use of eCampus on the day and time normally scheduled.
In practice, 45 multiple-choice questions (4 possible answers), randomly selected and placed in random order, will be asked to you individually in an eCampus examination procedure such as:
1) the examination will have a maximum duration of 1h30
2) the questions will be asked one by one with a possible 'going back' (the student will have to manage his timing well)
3) the weighting of the points is the same as for the classic exam (correct answer = 1, no answer = 0, wrong answer -0.33)
4) Attention: there will be only one access to the exam, which requires robust internet/wifi access.
A short exam-test will be scheduled in May with 15 questions and 30 minutes.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Lectures take place on Monday morning during the second semester. The exact schedule should be checked on CELCAT.
Contacts
Prof. Alain DASSARGUES
Hydrogéologie & Géologie de l'environnement, B52/3
Tél. 04/366.23.76
Alain.Dassargues@uliege.be
Prof. Benjamin DEWALS
Hydraulics in Environmental and Civil Engineering (HECE), B52/3
Tél. 04/366.92.83
B.Dewals@uliege.be
Prof. Angélique LEONARD
Dpt of Chemical Engineering
PEPs - Products, Environment, Processes
B5a/1.51
Tél. 04/366.44.36
A.Leonard@uliege.be