ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING ECOLOGY

Course Description

The objective of the course is to give the students general idea about ecology, ecosystems and biodiversity. This course includes the topics; natural resources and natural services, environment levels of organization ecosystem models, abiotic components, the biotic community, environment and pollution, habitats and niches, kinds of ecosystems, controls in the ecological systems, energy laws, solar radiation, the radiation at ground level, greenhouse gases and global warming, studying photosynthesis and food production, food chain, material cycles and physical conditions of existance, the hydrological cycle, biogeochemical cycles, nitrogen cycle, phosphorous cycle, sulfur cycle, carbon cycle, ozone and other atmospheric gases, population and community ecology, microbial ecology, development and evolution major ecosystem types of the world and developements in ecology.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING ECOLOGY

Evaluation Tools (Active Term)

No evaluation items have been defined.

Course outcomes

1. 01 Distinguish among highly developed countries, moderately developed countries, and less developed countries; among the following ecological levels: population, community, ecosystem, landscape, and biosphere; factors that affect population size; between nuclear energy and chemical energy; between energy conservation and energy efficiency; between municipal solid waste and nonmunicipal solid waste
2. 02 Describe factors that determine human impact on the environment; sustainable development; typical pyramids of numbers, biomass, and energy; the main steps in biogeochemical cycles: carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and hydrologic cycles; the four layers of Earth’s atmosphere; the eight aquatic ecosystems; global energy use; the processes that formed coal, oil, and natural gas; the nuclear fuel cycle; the relationship between nuclear power and greenhouse gas reduction; use of renewable energies; the composition of the atmosphere; the adverse health effects of specific air pollutants; climate change impact nonhuman life; the features of modern sanitary landfills; the various types of pesticides.
3. 03 Define environmental sustainability; ecology; energy relation to work and to heat; energy flow, trophic level, and food web; evolution; competition ; symbiosis, mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism; predation; keystone species; ecological succession; prevailing winds, polar easterlies, westerlies, and trade winds; plate tectonics; the nine major terrestrial biomes; population and population ecology; growth rate (r); energy density and energy efficiency; fossil fuel; resource recovery and fluidized-bed combustion; radioactive decay; biomass; stratospheric ozone thinning; forest decline; water pollution; primary and secondary sludge; persistent organic pollutant; hazardous waste.
4. 04 List the five stages in addressing environmental problems; the seven major classes of air pollutants; eight categories of water pollutants and state the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and discuss the implications of these laws as they relate to organisms.
5. 05 Summarize how energy flows through a food web; the effects of solar energy on Earth’s temperature; the important environmental factors that affect aquatic ecosystems; the environmental problems associated with using coal; the problems associated with pesticide use; persistence, bioaccumulation, and biological magnification.
6. 06 Write summary reactions for photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and contrast these two biological processes and give examples to contrast potential energy and kinetic energy; Give examples of effects of climate change on humans

Course Syllabus

Reference Books & Course Materials

1. 01 Peter H. Raven, Linda R. Berg, David M. Hassenzahl, "Environment", 7th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2010.

Learning Outcomes

1. L01 Distinguish among highly developed countries, moderately developed countries, and less developed countries; among the following ecological levels: population, community, ecosystem, landscape, and biosphere; factors that affect population size; between nuclear energy and chemical energy; between energy conservation and energy efficiency; between municipal solid waste and nonmunicipal solid waste
2. L02 Describe factors that determine human impact on the environment; sustainable development; typical pyramids of numbers, biomass, and energy; the main steps in biogeochemical cycles: carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and hydrologic cycles; the four layers of Earth’s atmosphere; the eight aquatic ecosystems; global energy use; the processes that formed coal, oil, and natural gas; the nuclear fuel cycle; the relationship between nuclear power and greenhouse gas reduction; use of renewable energies; the composition of the atmosphere; the adverse health effects of specific air pollutants; climate change impact nonhuman life; the features of modern sanitary landfills; the various types of pesticides.
3. L03 Define environmental sustainability; ecology; energy relation to work and to heat; energy flow, trophic level, and food web; evolution; competition ; symbiosis, mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism; predation; keystone species; ecological succession; prevailing winds, polar easterlies, westerlies, and trade winds; plate tectonics; the nine major terrestrial biomes; population and population ecology; growth rate (r); energy density and energy efficiency; fossil fuel; resource recovery and fluidized-bed combustion; radioactive decay; biomass; stratospheric ozone thinning; forest decline; water pollution; primary and secondary sludge; persistent organic pollutant; hazardous waste.
4. L04 List the five stages in addressing environmental problems; the seven major classes of air pollutants; eight categories of water pollutants and state the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and discuss the implications of these laws as they relate to organisms.
5. L05 Summarize how energy flows through a food web; the effects of solar energy on Earth’s temperature; the important environmental factors that affect aquatic ecosystems; the environmental problems associated with using coal; the problems associated with pesticide use; persistence, bioaccumulation, and biological magnification.
6. L06 Write summary reactions for photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and contrast these two biological processes and give examples to contrast potential energy and kinetic energy; Give examples of effects of climate change on humans

Program Outcomes

1. Adequate knowledge in mathematics, science and engineering subjects pertaining to the relevant discipline; ability to use theoretical and applied knowledgein these areas in complex engineering problems
2. Ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems; ability to select and apply proper analysis and modeling methods for this purpose.
3. Ability to design a complex system, process, device or product under realistic constraints and conditions, in such a way as to meet the desired result; ability to apply modern design methods for this purpose.
4. Ability to devise, select, and use modern techniques and tools needed for analyzing and solving complex problems encountered in engineering practice; ability to employ information technologies effectively.
5. Ability to design and conduct experiments, gather data, analyze and interpret results for investigating complex engineering problems or discipline specific research questions.
6. Ability to work efficiently in intra-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary teams; ability to work individually.
7. Ability to communicate effectively in Turkish, both orally and in writing; knowledge of a minimum of one foreign language; ability to write effective reports and comprehend written reports, prepare design and production reports, make effective presentations, and give and receive clear and intelligible instructions.
8. Recognition of the need for lifelong learning; ability to access information, to follow developments in science and technology, and to continue to educate him/herself.
9. Consciousness to behave according to ethical principles and professional and ethical responsibility; knowledge on standards used in engineering practice.
10. Knowledge about business life practices such as project management, risk management, and change management; awareness in entrepreneurship, innovation; knowledge about sustainable development.
11. Knowledge about the global and social effects of engineering practices on health, environment, and safety, and contemporary issues of the century reflected into the field of engineering; awareness of the legal consequences of engineering solutions.

Po-Lo Matrix