Technology and the Environment

Civil & Environmental Engineering
Deanna Mathews
Spring 04 and Spring 05

Technical elective for undergraduate, non-engineering majors. Overview of major environmental issues and concerns associated with modern technology. Topics in the course include automobiles and associated air emissions and fuel consumption, information technology and electricity usage, electricity generation and alternative sources to reduce air emissions and wastes, CFCs and their influence on the ozone layer, and various issues related to land use patterns such as agriculture and infrastructure. Methods for using technology to improve environmental conditions also discussed. Within this framework the course aims to build fundamental problem solving skills, basic familiarity with engineering calculations, and understanding of current environmental issues. The overall purpose is to instill an appreciation of the complexity of issues and viewpoints surrounding technology development and associated environmental impacts.

Texts:
Introduction to Engineering and the Environment, Ed Rubin, McGraw-Hill, 2001. Industrial Ecology, 2nd ed. Thomas Gradel and Brad Allenby, Prentice Hall, 2002.