SUBJECT OUTLINE

49049 Air and Noise Pollution

Course area UTS: Engineering
Delivery Autumn 2018; block mode; City
Credit points 6cp
Requisite(s) 120 Credit Points in spk(s): C10061 Bachelor of Engineering Diploma in
Engineering Practice OR 120 Credit Points in spk(s): C10066 Bachelor of
Engineering Science OR 120 Credit Points in spk(s): C10067 Bachelor of
Engineering OR 120 Credit Points in spk(s): C09067 Bachelor of Engineering
(Honours) Diploma in Professional Engineering Practice OR 120 Credit Points in
spk(s): C09066 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are also course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Result type Grade and marks

Attendance: block mode

Subject coordinator
Dr Nic Surawski

Email: nicholas.surawski@uts.edu.au

Consultation times: I'm available in the Faculty Learning Precinct in CB11.05.300 on Tuesday's from 3 PM - 5 PM. If
this time is inconvenient, you can email me to arrange an appointment.

Teaching staff
Dr Nic Surawski - Subject Coordinator and Lecturer

Email: nicholas.surawski@uts.edu.au

When contacting teaching staff for this unit, please send email from your UTS email account and use the subject code
(i.e. 49049) in the subject field.

Subject description
This subject introduces students to the theory, knowledge and skills that are required to successfully undertake air and
noise pollution investigations that may be required as part of their professional engineering practice. Students learn
about the key role that engineering plays in understanding the sources and impacts of air and noise pollution, and
implementing methods of control. The subject objectives are met by enabling students to master underpinning theory,
develop problem-solving and communication skills, undertake research work independently and in a team, and
complete laboratory investigations. The subject is delivered in two modules with the first component focusing on air
pollution and the second on noise pollution.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
1. Apply the theory of air and noise pollution to practical engineering situations.
2. Use engineering instrumentation and software to undertake laboratory investigations in both air and noise
pollution that are representative of typical industry practices.

3. Explain global air pollution problems such as climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion.
4. Communicate professionally in both oral and written formats, both individually and in a team environment.
5. Perform problem-based research activities both individually and as part of a team.
Exercise academic integrity with respect to paraphrasing, appropriate citation, acknowledgement and honesty in

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 6. Exercise academic integrity with respect to paraphrasing, appropriate citation, acknowledgement and honesty in
engineering writing.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following faculty Course Intended Learning
Outcomes (CILOs) and Engineers Australia (EA) Stage 1 competencies:
Identify and apply relevant problem solving methodologies (B.1)
Demonstrate research skills (B.6)
Apply abstraction, mathematics and/or discipline fundamentals to analysis, design and operation (C.1)
Communicate effectively in ways appropriate to the discipline, audience and purpose. (E.1)
Appreciate ethical implications of professional practice (F.2)
Be aware of global perspectives (needs, rules/regulations, and specifications) (F.4)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

Engineers Australia Stage 1 competencies
Students enrolled in the Master of Professional Engineering Practice should note that this subject contributes to the
assurance of Engineers Australia Stage 1 competencies: 1.3, 2.1, 2.2.

Teaching and learning strategies

Students will learn in this subject through a combination of lectures, tutorials, laboratories and independent learning
activities. This course is delivered in intensive Block Mode and is taught over 4.5 days, consisting of 3 full days and 3
half days.

Independent learning activities: Preparatory study before attending each block session is essential. Students should
aim to spend 2 hours studying subject materials for each hour spent in the classroom. The independent reading and
learning resource material will be provided within UTSOnline for students to complete in advance of their attendance at
a block session. Based on their independent study of subject materials, students bring knowledge to class that can be
shared and critiqued and also used as a basis for problem solving activities. Written feedback will be provided for both
formative and summative assessment tasks.

Laboratories: Successful deployment of appropriate monitoring instrumentation and use of modelling software is
essential for successfully undertaking air and noise pollution investigations in professional engineering practice. To
develop these skills, students undertake two laboratory practical sessions (one each for both the air and noise pollution
components of this course) as well as a three hour laboratory in contaminant dispersion modelling. These activities
gives students practical experience with relevant technologies used in air and noise pollution assessments. After
completing the three laboratory sessions, students prepare an individual report (on the topic of their choice) outlining
the aims of the investigation, the experimental and mathematical tools they used they to meet the specified objectives,
as well as presenting and discussing their results along with any limitations of their approach.

Lectures: Comprehensive lecture materials will be made available to students in advance of each block session so
they can be studied and reviewed outside of formal class hours. A primary means of knowledge transfer in this subject
will be through in-class problem solving sessions. As such, class time will extend and apply (and not duplicate) the
learning outcomes that students have obtained based on their self-study of lecture materials.

Tutorials: A significant fraction of class time within each block session will be devoted to whole-of-class and group
based problem solving activities. After completing tutorials, students will not only obtain a strong understanding of the
relevant theory that underpins air and noise pollution, but will be able to apply these principles in practical engineering
situations. Tutorial sessions will also equip students with the skills they need to undertake problem-based research
work both independently and as part of a team and to communicate their results in written and oral formats. Students
will receive feedback on their progress with the group report and presentation whilst working in their groups during
tutorial sessions.

Content (topics)
The main topics that will be covered in this subject are:

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• Air pollution effects on human health and the environment
• Key pollutants and their sources
• Effect of meteorology on the dispersion of pollutants
• Air pollution measurement
• Air pollution control
• Indoor air quality
• Air pollution and global climate change
• Acoustic principles
• Effects of noise on human health
• Environment related noise
• Workplace related noise
• Aircraft related noise
• Pubs and clubs related noise
• Noise control engineering
• Vibration control
• Noise measurement
• Noise-induced hearing loss
• Traffic noise

The actual content delivered in this subject may vary in any particular teaching session based on the professional
experience and prior learning obtained by students.

Program
Week/Session Dates Description

Block 1: 0900 - 1700 26th March Subject overview.

Air Pollution Lecture I: Introduction to Air Pollution.

Noise Pollution Lecture I: Noise Theory.

Allocation of students to laboratory sessions.

Allocation of students to groups for the air pollution group project.

Diagnostic quiz on air and noise pollution (formative assessment).

Block 2 3rd or 10th April Noise Pollution Laboratories.

Students attend one 1.5 hour laboratory on how to conduct an

Environmental Noise Survey.

Group A students: 0900 - 1030, Tuesday 3rd April.

Group B students: 1030 - 1200, Tuesday 3rd April.

Group C students: 0900 - 1030, Tuesday 10th April.

Group D students: 1030 - 1200, Tuesday 10th April.

Block 3: 0900 - 1700 23rd April Air Pollution Lecture II: Air Pollution Monitoring.

Air Pollution Lecture III: Air Pollution Control.

Air Pollution Lecture IV: Global Air Pollution Issues.

Air Pollution Lecture V: Indoor Air Quality.

Feedback on group project proposal (formative assessment).

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 24th April For students choosing to submit the Environmental Noise Survey
Report it is due at 5 PM.

Block 4 26th or 27th April Air Pollution Practical Laboratory.

Students attend one 1 hour laboratory on how to perform vehicle

emissions measurements in an engine test-cell environment.

Group A students: 0900 - 1000, Thursday 26th April.

Group B students: 1000 - 1100, Thursday 26th April.

Group C students: 1100 - 1200, Thursday 26th April.

Group D students: 1200 - 1300, Thursday 26th April.

Group E students: 0900 - 1000, Friday 27th April.

Group F students: 1000 - 1100, Friday 27th April.

Group G students: 1100 - 1200, Friday 27th April.

Group H students: 1200 - 1300, Friday 27th April.

Block 5 1st or 8th May Air Pollution Modelling Laboratory.

Students attend one 3 hour laboratory on how to model

contaminant dispersion.

Group A students: 0900 - 1200, Tuesday 1st May.

Group B students: 0900 - 1200, Tuesday 8th May.

22nd May For students choosing to submit the Contaminant Dispersion

Modelling Report it is due at 5 PM.

Block 6: 0900 - 1700 4th June The final report for the Group Project is due at 9 AM.

The group project presentations will be assessed on this day.

Noise Lecture II: Transport, Occupational and Environmental

Noise.

Noise Lecture III: Noise Pollution Control.

Revision for final exam.

Final Assessment Period To be advised The final exam for this subject will be held in the Final
Assessment Period.

Additional information
This subject is only taught in Block Mode to enable students that have difficulty attending Standard Mode to obtain
face-to-face tuition.

Groups are required to risk manage the distribution of work and submission of Assessment Task 3 & 4 deliverables.
The same mark will be awarded to all group members for the group paper (i.e. Assessment Task 3).

Assessment
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Assessment
Assessment task 1: Group Project Proposal
Intent: This assessment task gives students the opportunity to draft a group project proposal on a topic of
their choosing in air and noise pollution. The purpose of the proposal is for groups to successfully
identify a topic that can be researched for Assessment Task 3. The topic chosen by groups will be
relevant to professional practice in contemporary air and noise pollution. The feedback provided from
this assessment task is intended to be used as a guide for groups to successfully undertake their
projects (See Assessment Task 3).

Type: Report

Groupwork: Group, group assessed

Weight: Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark

Task: Groups write a proposal for their intended project covering the following points:

Background information (including references from the literature) indicating why their research
topic is of interest.
Groups should submit a Literature Searching Canvas that outlines their information search strategy
for their research topic.
Groups should indicate what aspects of their research topic will be addressed by their report (e.g.
using a table of contents).
Groups should submit a statement indicating how their project is achievable in the given time
frame. This will include a statement on what strategies will be used to manage group dynamics and
to ensure a successful project outcome.

Length: 750 words.

Due: 5.00pm Thursday 5 April 2018

The Turnitin submission details will be posted to UTSOnline.

Assessment task 2: Air and Noise Pollution Laboratory Investigation

Intent: In this assessment task, students write a laboratory report on either an air or noise pollution
laboratory investigation. This assessment is intended to mirror the approach that a consultant would
undertake for a client; such as performing an experimental or computational investigation, followed by
expert reporting on the methods used, the results found and conclusions drawn.

Objective(s): This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2, 4 and 5

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning
outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, B.6, C.1 and E.1

Type: Report

Groupwork: Individual

Weight: 30%

Task: Students are given choice (based on their interests) regarding whether they would prefer to write a

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 Task: Students are given choice (based on their interests) regarding whether they would prefer to write a
laboratory report based on the Noise Pollution Laboratory class session in Block 2 (3rd or 10th April;
the Environmental Noise Survey Report) or the Air Pollution Modelling Laboratory class session in
Block 5 (1st or 8th May; Contaminant Dispersion Modelling Report). Students write a technical report
covering the aims of the investigation, the methods used, results found and conclusions drawn.

Length: 1500 words.

Due: 24th April 5 PM for the Environmental Noise Survey Report 22nd May 5 PM for the Contaminant
Dispersion Modelling Report The Turnitin submission details will be posted to UTSOnline.

Criteria Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs

linkages:
Air and noise field measurements 30 2 B.1

Theory application 30 1 C.1

Research and inquiry skills 20 5 B.6

Professional communication individually or 20 4 E.1

in a team

SLOs: subject learning objectives

CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Group project on air and noise pollution

Intent: In this assessment task, students undertake a group project in air and/or noise pollution to develop
their research skills in their chosen topic areas. This assessment task is intended to mirror the
approach that a consulting team would take in researching an engineering problem for a client. A
group project report (task 3a), presentation (task 3b) and peer assessment activity (task 3c) are
required for this assessment.

Objective(s): This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 3, 4, 5 and 6

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning
outcomes (CILOs):

B.6, C.1, E.1, F.2 and F.4

Type: Report

Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed

Weight: 30%

Task: Task 3a. (15%) Students deliver a technical report based on the topic chosen for their group project.
In the assessment task, students write about the aims of their investigation, review literature on their
topic, report results and crtically discuss their findings.

Task 3b. (5%) As a group, students deliver a poster presentation to their peers.

Task 3c. (10%) Students self-evaluate their performance during the group project and also assess
their team members using SparkPlus at two stages throughout the project i.e. mid-project review and
end of project review. More detailed instructions regarding the group project will be posted on
UTSOnline.

Tasks 3a and 3b are group assessed, individual moderation of marks may be performed with task 3c.

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 Length: Reports should be 2500 words or less excluding references (task 3a) and oral presentations should
be five minutes or less (per team member; task 3b).

Due: The group project report (task 3a) is due at 9 AM on the 4th June during Block 6. Group
presentations (task 3b) will be assessed during Block 6. The mid-project peer assessment task (task
3c; to be completed in SparkPlus) is due on Monday 1st May 5 PM and the end of project review is
due one week after the completion of Block 6 (11th June 5 PM). The Turnitin submission details will
be posted to UTSOnline.

Criteria Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs

linkages:
Research and inquiry skills 30 5 B.6

Theory application 20 1 C.1

Global concepts 20 3 F.4

Professional communication individually or 20 4 E.1

in a team

Exercise academic integrity 10 6 F.2

SLOs: subject learning objectives

CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 4: Final Exam

Intent: By completing a final exam, students demonstrate their ability to:

explain concepts relevant to air and noise pollution engineering

apply their knowledge of air and noise pollution to engineering problems
communicate technical engineering concepts in a clear and concise manner.

Objective(s): This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 3, 4 and 6

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning
outcomes (CILOs):

C.1, E.1, F.2 and F.4

Type: Examination

Groupwork: Individual

Weight: 40%

Task: The final exam is of 2 hours duration (plus 10 minutes perusal) and is restricted open book.

The exam will comprise of 50% subject content from air pollution lectures and 50% noise pollution.

There will be five questions worth 10 marks each both both air and noise pollution components. Two
of the five questions will be short answer and the otehr three will involve calculations.

Due: The final exam will be scheduled in the final assessment period.

Criteria Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs

linkages:

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 linkages:
Theory application 50 1 C.1

Global concepts 20 3 F.4

Professional communication individually or 20 4 E.1

in a team

Exercise academic integrity 10 6 F.2

SLOs: subject learning objectives

CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Further The actual examination in any particular session will vary in content and may vary in format.
information:
Students are allowed to bring 4 A4 (4 single sided or 2 doubled sided) pages of hand written notes
into the exam. These can include formulae and relevant course notes.

Use of plagiarism detection software

It is a requirement of this subject that all written assessment tasks are uploaded to Turnitin. Instructions for submitting
written assessment with Turnitin will be posted on UTS Online. All assignments will be uploaded on or before their
respective due date. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in a late penalty being applied.

Assessment feedback
Students will be provided with marking criteria for all assessments at the time assessment items are distributed.
Written feedback wil be provided for all tasks and students are encouraged to view this feedback.

Required texts
There is no required text for this subject.

References
Air Pollution Component

De Nevers N. Air Pollution Control Engineering, McGraw-Hill (ISBN 0-07-0393667-2).

De Visscher A. Air Dispersion Modelling, Wiley (ISBN 978-1-118-07859-4).

Flannery T. The Weather Makers, Text Publishing Melbourne Australia, 2005 (ISBN 1 920885 84 6) (available from
Broadway Coop Bookshop).

Seinfeld JH and Pandis SN. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Wiley (ISBN 978-0-471-72018-8).

Noise Pollution Component

Bies DA and Hansen CH, Engineering Noise Control, E&FN Spon (ISBN 0-419-20430-X).

Eager D. Dictionary of Acoustic and Noise Pollution, McGraw-Hill, 2010 [ISBN 978 0 3903 2556 3] (available from
Broadway Coop Bookshop).

Other references to be advised during block sessions.

Other resources
This subject will make use of UTSOnline (http://online.uts.edu.au/webapps/login/) as a means of communication
between teaching staff and students. You should be registered automatically if you have enrolled correctly. If you do
not want to receive emails at your default UTS email account then you should forward emails to your preferred email
address.

Students need to familiarise themselves with UTSOnline. Announcements will be made using this facility. Students are
expected to regularly check the announcements page for information.

Graduate attribute development

For a full list of the faculty's graduate attributes and EA Stage 1 competencies, refer to the FEIT Graduate Attributes
webpage.

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Assessment: faculty procedures and advice
Extensions

When, due to extenuating circumstances, you are unable to submit or present an assessment task on time, please
contact your subject coordinator before the assessment task is due to discuss an extension. Extensions may be
granted up to a maximum of 5 days (120 hours). In all cases you should have extensions confirmed in writing.

Special Consideration

If you believe your performance in an assessment item or exam has been adversely affected by circumstances
beyond your control, such as a serious illness, loss or bereavement, hardship, trauma, or exceptional employment
demands, you may be eligible to apply for Special Consideration.

Late Penalty

Work submitted late without an approved extension is subject to a late penalty of 10 per cent of the total available
marks deducted per calendar day that the assessment is overdue (e.g. if an assignment is out of 40 marks, and is
submitted (up to) 24 hours after the deadline without an extension, the student will have four marks deducted from
their awarded mark). Work submitted after five calendar days is not accepted and a mark of zero is awarded.

For some assessment tasks a late penalty may not be appropriate – these are clearly indicated in the subject outline.
Such assessments receive a mark of zero if not completed by/on the specified date. Examples include:
a. weekly online tests or laboratory work worth a small proportion of the subject mark, or
b. online quizzes where answers are released to students on completion, or
c. professional assessment tasks, where the intention is to create an authentic assessment that has an absolute
submission date, or
d. take-home papers that are assessed during a defined time period, or
e. pass/fail assessment tasks.

Querying marks/grades and Final Results

If a student disagrees with a mark or a final result awarded by a marker:

where a student wishes to query a mark, the deadline for a query during teaching weeks is 10 working days from
the date of the return of the task to the student
where a student wishes to query a final examination result, the deadline is 10 working days from the official release
of the final subject result.

Further information can be found at Academic advice.

Academic liaison officer

Academic liaison officers (ALOs) are academic staff in each faculty who assist students experiencing difficulties in
their studies due to: disability and/or an ongoing health condition; carer responsibilities (e.g. being a primary carer for
small children or a family member with a disability); and pregnancy.

ALOs are responsible for approving adjustments to assessment arrangements for students in these categories.
Students who require adjustments due to disability and/or an ongoing health condition are requested to discuss their
situation with an accessibility consultant at the Accessibility Service before speaking to the relevant ALO.

The ALO for undergraduate students is:

Chris Wong
telephone +61 2 9514 4501

The ALO for postgraduate students is:

Dr Nahm Tran
telephone +61 2 9514 4468

Statement about assessment procedures and advice

This subject outline must be read in conjunction with the policy and procedures for the assessment for coursework
subjects.

Statement on copyright
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Teaching materials and resources provided to you at UTS are protected by copyright. You are not permitted to re-use
these for commercial purposes (including in kind benefit or gain) without permission of the copyright owner. Improper
or illegal use of teaching materials may lead to prosecution for copyright infringement.

Statement on plagiarism
Plagiarism and academic integrity

At UTS, plagiarism is defined in Rule 16.2.1(4) as: 'taking and using someone else's ideas or manner of expressing
them and passing them off as ... [their] own by failing to give appropriate acknowledgement of the source to seek to
gain an advantage by unfair means'.

The definition infers that if a source is appropriately referenced, the student's work will meet the required academic
standard. Plagiarism is a literary or an intellectual theft and is unacceptable both academically and professionally. It
can take a number of forms including but not limited to:
copying any section of text, no matter how brief, from a book, journal, article or other written source without duly
acknowledging the source
copying any map, diagram, table or figure without duly acknowledging the source
paraphrasing or otherwise using the ideas of another author without duly acknowledging the source
re-using sections of verbatim text without using quote marks to indicate the text was copied from the source (even if
a reference is given).

Other breaches of academic integrity that constitute cheating include but are not limited to:
submitting work that is not a student's own, copying from another student, recycling another student's work,
recycling previously submitted work, and working with another student in the same cohort in a manner that exceeds
the boundaries of legitimate cooperation
purchasing an assignment from a website and submitting it as original work
requesting or paying someone else to write original work, such as an assignment, essay or computer program, and
submitting it as original work.

Students who condone plagiarism and other breaches of academic integrity by allowing their work to be copied are
also subject to student misconduct Rules.

Where proven, plagiarism and other breaches of misconduct are penalised in accordance with UTS Student Rules
Section 16 – Student misconduct and appeals.

Avoiding plagiarism is one of the main reasons why the Faculty of Engineering and IT is insistent on the thorough and
appropriate referencing of all written work. Students may seek assistance regarding appropriate referencing through
UTS: HELPS.

Work submitted electronically may be subject to similarity detection software. Student work must be submitted in a
format able to be assessed by the software (e.g. doc, pdf (text files), rtf, html).

Further information about avoiding plagiarism at UTS is available.

Retention of student work

The University reserves the right to retain the original or one copy of any work executed and/or submitted by a student
as part of the course including, but not limited to, drawings, models, designs, plans and specifications, essays,
programs, reports and theses, for any of the purposes designated in Student Rule 3.9.2. Such retention is not to affect
any copyright or other intellectual property right that may exist in the student's work. Copies of student work may be
retained for a period of up to five years for course accreditation purposes. Students are advised to contact their subject
coordinator if they do not consent to the University retaining a copy of their work.

Statement on UTS email account

Email from the University to a student will only be sent to the student's UTS email address. Email sent from a student
to the University must be sent from the student's UTS email address. University staff will not respond to email from
any other email accounts for currently enrolled students.

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