Earth Systems Engineering

[0.50] credits · Undergraduate

This course introduces the Earth System, encompassing the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere, and the cycles and processes that interconnect these subsystems. The influence of humans and the built environment on these natural systems will be examined with a view to identifying more sustainable engineering practices. The course will emphasize igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary processes and rocks and near surface deposits that influence engineering projects. It will provide an introduction to geomorphology, emphasizing the fluvial processes that shape river channels. Examples of geo-materials used in engineering activities are considered, along with sustainability issues associated with their extraction and life cycle. Students will learn about geo-hazards, including earthquakes and landslides. They will study the oceans and atmosphere and the physical, chemical and thermodynamic processes involved in climate change.