Learning Partnerships, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
AS20253 Impact of engineering on the environment |
| Credits: 5 |
| Level: Intermediate |
| Semester: 2 at Swindon College |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: The aims of this unit are to:
* raise awareness and familiarise learners with the principles and applications of environmental impact assessment for engineering organisations; * examine the current EU and UK regulatory framework for engineering operations; * identify significant effects of policy decisions on the environment when changing existing or planning new operations; * identify energy resource issues on operation management and the impact of sustainability. Learning Outcomes: On completion of the unit the student should be able to: * identify effects of changes to engineering policies and practice on the environment; * understand the current and future EU and UK regulatory framework for the environment; * appraise the environmental assessment for engineering operations; * use and evaluate appropriate techniques to establish costs and benefits of issues from environmental assessments. Skills: During this unit students should gain the following skills: Intellectual: * gathering, processing and analyzing information (F, A) * synthesizing models of regulatory frameworks (F, T) * evaluating impact of operations on environment (F, A) Professional: * making written and verbal presentations (F, A) * justifying decisions and evaluations made during assessment(F) Practical: * maintaining records of research carried out (T, A) * carrying out investigation of engineering organizations (F, A) * generating ideas and solutions to operations to reduce environmental impact Key: * writing reports (A) * applying numerical techniques (T, A) Content: This unit concentrates on: * cost benefit analysis techniques * factors and purposes of environmental assessment * sustainability and renewable resources * appraisal of environmental assessment aspects such as: - emission of greenhouse gases - effects on climate change - waste management impact on health and cost effects - air quality - landscape/townscape changes - water pollution, abstraction and flooding - habitat and wildlife - noise exposure - use of recyclable materials. |