UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

This unit introduces students to inquiry-driven, open-ended approaches to environmental engineering design. As individuals, students determine the state of knowledge around and design solution options available to address real-world examples of a specific, local, environmental engineering problem. Examples of potential problems include the management of the erosion of foreshore areas on the Swan River, or stormwater harvesting and storage to support urban forest expansion in Perth's suburbs.

Student teams will develop preliminary and detailed designs implementing solutions to the problem. Students will be guided in planning and phasing their work via a two-tiered assessment process. Students will receive specific training on giving and receiving feedback, particularly on technical writing and drawings. The feedback process will incorporate both peer and instructor feedback. Design outputs will be “typical” for practicing environmental engineers, e.g. environmental impact assessments, management plans, physical/chemical/biological technical design reports, and engineering drawings. Throughout, students will maintain a reflective journal documenting their learning and experiences. They will summarise the main themes in this journal in an assessed written reflection at the end of the semester.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 1	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Details for undergraduate courses

• Level 3 core unit in the Environmental Engineering major sequence

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) conduct research to define the state of knowledge of an environmental problem; (2) scope and technically evaluate alternative environmental engineering solutions; (3) develop a design methodology that generates technical solutions to an environmental problem; (4) develop potential design solutions consistent with relevant legislation and standards for environment, health and safety (covering, for example, the EPBC Act 1999 , Environmental Protection Act (WA) 1986, Contaminated Sites Act (WA) 2003, the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act (WA) 2007, the Work, Health and Safety Act (WA) 2020 and ISO45001); (5) evaluate potential design solutions from social, economic, environmental, and ethical perspectives.; (6) work effectively in teams, including giving and receiving feedback; (7) demonstrate awareness of their own learning and educational progress as engineers; and (8) prepare common environmental engineering design deliverables.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) individual literature review; (2) group reports; and (3) reflective journal and professional conduct. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Associate Professor Sally Thompson

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or an associated Combined Degree

and Successful completion of

ENVE2606 Grand Challenges in Environmental Engineering
and GENG2000 Engineering Practice 2

Contact hours

lectures: 2 hours per week
workshop: 2 hours per week

Note

Lecturers and guest speakers from industry as well as technical experts from e.g. UWA, other universities, Government Departments or CSIRO, will support the class in consolidating students' knowledge, technical skills and familiarity with legal, policy, ethical and other social considerations relevant to the project.