CE 110

Introduction to
Environmental Engineering
Fall 2013

SYLLABUS
Goals: This course is intended to teach students the fundamental concepts in
environmental engineering dealing with water, air, and land pollution, and other areas
such as ecology, toxicology, global warming, ozone depletion, environmental
regulations, mineral resources, renewable and nonrenewable energy resources,
sustainable energy strategies, and pollution control technologies. Special focus will be
placed on sustainability throughout the semester. The course will also include the
following design components:
 design of small hydraulic systems for transport of water, and
 design of a small water treatment plant
Cooperative Learning: Strategy: During the class, we will be practicing important
concepts of skills of cooperative learning in small working groups of two to three
students. This strategy is designed to increase your mastery of the course content. You
will be expected to actively participate in an effort to ensure yours and your teammates'
understanding of the ideas presented in the class. We need your commitment to
demonstrate a willingness to contribute ideas, to listen to others, and to be a
constructive force in the learning process.
Instructor: (Dr. P) - Professor Mike Pirbazari, Ph.D.
Office: KAP 260
Phone: 213-740-0592
E-mail: [email protected]
Class hours Lec. Mon. & Wed. 4:30- 5:45pm; Dis. Wed. 3:30 – 4:20pm
Class location KAP 159
Office hours: to be determined
Internet: www.usc.edu/dept/civil~eng/dept/ce110

Teaching Assistant: to be determined

Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Office hours: to be determined

Grading Criteria:
Midterm Exam 15%
Final Exam 25%
Quizzes(4 @ 5 points each) 20%
Homework Assignments 15%
Term Project 15%
Class Participation 10%
Total 100%
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Textbooks:
 Miller, Jr., G.T., and Scott Spoolman Environmental Science:
Principles, Connections, and Solutions, 14th edition, Wadsworth Publishing Co.,
Belmont, CA, 2013.
 Wolf, E.C., Race to Save the Planet, Wadsworth Publishing Co.,
Belmont, CA, 2008.

Reference (design text):

 Hammer, M.J., and Hammer, M.J. Jr., Water and Wastewater
Technology, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007

Students with Disabilities

Any student requesting academic accommodation based on disability is required to register with
Disability Services and Programs Office (DSPO) each semester. A letter of verification for
approved accommodations can be obtained from DSPO. Please be sure the letter is delivered to
the instructor (or the TA) as early in semester as possible. DSPO is located in STU 301 and is
open 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSPO is (213) 740-
0776. (This statement is suggested by the office of the Provost).

Academic Integrity
The use of unauthorized material, communication with fellow students during an examination,
attempting to benefit from the work of another student, and similar behavior that defeats the
intent of an examination or other class work is unacceptable to the University. It is often
difficult to distinguish between a culpable act and inadvertent behavior resulting from the
nervous tension accompanying examinations. When the professor determines that a violation
has occurred, appropriate action, as determined by the instructor, will be taken.

Although working together is encouraged, all work claimed as yours must in fact be your own
effort. Students who plagiarize the work of other students will receive zero points and possibly
be referred to Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards (SJACS).

All students should read, understand, and abide by the University Student Conduct Code listed in
SCampus, and available at:
http://web-app.usc.edu/scampus/university-student-conduct-code/

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Schedules for Exams and Quizzes: Spring 2013

Schedule Date Material

Quiz 1 9/11 Chapters 1 & 2 plus Unit 4

Quiz 2 10/04 Chapters 3, 7, and 11(part 1)

plus Unit 5

Midterm 10/16 Chapters 1,2,3,7,11, and

design problems

Quiz 3 11/06 Chapters 12 & 13 (part 1) and

design problems

Quiz 4 11/25 Chapters 13 (part 2) and 15;

Unit 10 and design problems

Term
project 12/02 Student Presentation
presentation

Term
project 12/04 Student Presentation
presentation

Chapters1,2,3,7,11,12,13 &15;
Final exam 12/11 Units 4,5 & 10 and design
(4:30 – 6:30PM) problems

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Topics Covered:

Course Description: Basic concepts of environmental engineering. Air, water, and

soil pollution control technologies; pollution prevention strategies. Design of simple
water distribution and treatment systems.

Environmental Problems, Their Causes and Sustainability (1/2 week)

 Living More Sustainably
 Population Growth, Economic Growth, Economic Development
 Environmental Problems: Causes and Connections
 Is Our Present Course Sustainable?

Science, Matter and Energy (1&1/2 weeks)

 Science, Technology, and Environmental Science
 Models and Behavior Systems
 Matter and Energy: Fundamental Concepts
 Law of Conservation of Matter
 Fundamental Laws of Energy
 Nuclear Changes
 Matter and Energy Change Laws and Sustainability
 Matter Cycling in Ecosystems (Biogeochemical Cycles)
- The Water Cycle
- The Carbon Cycle
- The Nitrogen Cycle
- The Phosphorus Cycle
- The Sulfur Cycle

Climate and Biodiversity (1 week)

 Climate and Factors Affecting It
 Climate and Life on Land
 Aquatic Environments
- Saltwater Life Zones (Estuaries, Coastal Wetlands, and
Mangrove Swamps)
- Freshwater Life Zones (Lakes, Streams, Freshwater Wetlands)

Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources (1 week)

 The Nanotechnology Revolution
 Earth’s Major Geological Processes
 Harmful Effects of Using Mineral resources
 Mining and It’s Harmful Environmental Effects
 Sustainable Use of Mineral resources (Figure 12-14)
 Nanotechnology and sustainability

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Energy (2 weeks)
 Evaluation Energy Resources
 Nonrenewable Fossil Fuels
- Oil
- Natural Gas
- Oil Sand and Oil Shale
- Coal
 Nonrenewable Nuclear Energy
 Improving Energy Efficiency
 Geothermal Energy
 Sustainable Energy Strategies

Air Pollution (1 week)

 Structure and Science of the Atmosphere
 Outdoor Air Pollution
 Photochemical and Industrial Smog
 Indoor Air Pollution
 Harmful Effects of Air Pollution
 Preventing and Reducing Air Pollution
 Air Pollution Control Technologies

Climate Change and Ozone Loss (1 week)

 Past Climate Change and the Natural Greenhouse Effect
 Climate Change and Human Activities
 Factors Affecting the Earth’s Temperature
 Dealing with the Threat of Global Warming
 Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere
 Protecting the Ozone Layer

Hydraulics of Water and Wastewater Transport Systems (2 weeks)

 Pressure-Velocity-Head Relationships
 Flow in Pipes under Pressure
 Gravity Flow in Circular Pipes
 Storm Water Runoff Calculations

Water Resources and Water Pollution (2 weeks)

 Importance and Unique Properties of Water
 Supply, Renewal, and Use of Water Resources
 Problems Relating to Water Resources and Possible Solutions
 Pollution of Streams, Lakes, and Groundwater
 Marine Pollution
 Solutions to Water Pollution Problems

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Drinking Water Treatment Plant Design (2 weeks)

 Understanding turbidity, natural organic matter (NOM),
trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAASs), and disinfection
 Chemical Coagulation and Flocculation Process:
 Rapid-Mix Tank: determining size and shape
 Flocculation Tank: determining size and shape
 Sedimentation Tank: determining size and shape
 Dual-media filter: determining size and shape:
 Chlorination Tank: determining size and shape

Solid and Hazardous Waste (1 week)

 Solid Waste in the United States
 Reuse
 Recycling
 Incinerating and Land Filling Solid Wastes
 Hazardous Waste Management
 Toxic Metals
 Achieving Low-Waste Society

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CE 110
Term Project

Each student group (2-3 students in each group) will be required to present a term
project, which will constitute 15% of the semester grade. A list of suggested topics is provided
below. Students are required to submit a choice of topic by September 16th, 2013. Students are
expected to give a 5-minute oral presentation about their term project on November 6th, 2013.

A 20 minute Powerpoint presentation on the term project topic is mandatory. Student

presentations will be made in class on Dec. 2nd and Dec. 4th, 2013. A sign up sheet will be passed
around in class Nov. 27th , 2013.

Suggested Topics

1. Ocean Energy: using the ocean’s tides, waves, and heat to generate
electricity

2. Seawater desalination

3. Technologies for removing arsenic from water supplies in rural areas of

Developing Countries

4. Using solar energy to provide heat and electricity for homes

5. Coral Reefs: formation mechanisms, causes of destruction, preventive

strategies, restoration techniques

6. Ocean Pollution: sources of pollution, preventive measures, remedial

strategies

7. Climate Change: sources of greenhouse gases, anthropogenic causes of

global warming, factors affecting global warming, reducing the threats of
global warming

8. Removing and Storing Carbon Dioxide (Carbon Sequestration): technology

evaluations and economic considerations

9. Sustainable Cities: discussing and evaluating sustainable living programs

in the United States

10. Using Wetlands to Clean Sewage and Storm Water

11. Using Bioenergy for Hybrid Vehicles

12. Using Nanotechnology for Groundwater Cleanup

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Effective Class Participation

Please note the following suggestions for effective class participation:

1) Make every effort to interact with your class partner(s).

2) Try to stay active throughout the class period.

3) Don’t hesitate to ask questions in class.

4) Share your ideas with the rest of us.

5) Don’t hesitate to ask the instructor to repeat himself.

6) Keep an eye on your partner not to fall asleep in class!!

7) Try to bring new ideas to class.

8) Don’t read unrelated materials in class.

9) Share your ideas for class improvement with your instructor.

10) Put your fair share of efforts in preparing the term projects and the term paper. Be
cooperative at all times.

11) Discuss your term paper and term project with the instructor periodically.

12) Come to class prepared.

13) Help your instructor make the class interesting.

14) Discuss your concerns and problems (if any) about the course with the instructor.
He will do his best to accommodate your suggestions.

15) Late homework is not accepted.

16) Use of Lap tops in class is not permitted.

17) Tardiness is unacceptable.

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