CVEN 4434 Environmental Engineering Design

Educational Objectives:

1. gain experience tackling open-ended design problems

2. learn methods to evaluate design alternatives for complex technical systems, and gain an understanding of engineering design as a goal-oriented problem solving activity defined by a variety of constraints (not all of which are technical)

3. develop the ability to seek out knowledge and learn independently

4. develop experience in working on project teams

5. experience managing time and workload

6. develop oral and written communication abilities

7. develop an appreciation for engineering design as part technical skill, experience, and art

* Design project selected is a feasibility study for a real local municipality

involves interaction with City and consultants

students can see real client:consultant interaction

students can see interaction with citizens

(can attend a public meeting)

* Single team of 4 students throughout the semester

3 main “deliverables”

response to RFP = oral and written

alternatives assessment = written

(draft returned to students)

final preliminary design = oral and written

* Simulates job experience

form an engineering “firm”

turn in weekly timesheets

weekly progress reports

self-schedule time

CVEN 4434 Environmental Engineering Design

Example of recent project:

201 facility plan to upgrade Broomfield wastewater

treatment plant for year 2020

- new processes for nutrient removal (regulations)

- public concerns about odors

- capacity upgrade

- constraints of discharge limits and available land

ABET a -> k criteria

Element / ? / Example of activity
A. apply math &
science / x / in the design of unit processes
B. experiments
C. design a process to meet a need / X / design a system for a local, current need (wastewater or water treatment related)
D. multidisciplinary
team work / X / a single team for the entire semester design experience
E. solve
problems / x / within the design context
F. ethics / 
G. communication / X / communicate through written design report, oral presentations
H. broad
education
I. life-long
learning / x / see changing standards,
begin independent learning
J. current issues / x / included in lectures and within the selected project
K. engineering
tools / x / use Autocad for design drawing, Powerpoint for presentations, excel to aid design calculations