Emphasis in Environmental Engineering Consulting
Overview
Environmental consulting engineers are in high demand. Environmental-related projects to monitor contaminants, and mitigate their effects on the ecosystems, mean that engineers with this training are highly sought after. Hence, this specialized field requires formal training, as this career path cannot quickly pivot.
Through this emphasis, students will have opportunities to gain essential knowledge in monitoring, sustainable treatment technologies, modelling, environmental regulations, project management, and risk assessment. The new emphasis will guide students in the MEng program, help them build knowledge, and develop expertise relevant to society.
Currently, the Environmental Engineering Consulting emphasis is only available for MEng students at the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry.
MEng students must successfully complete four half courses (2.0 FCE), including at least one core (0.5 FCE) course in the following list
This Emphasis was effective on May 1, 2023.
Core Courses
CHE1151H - Engineering Systems Sustainability
CHE1431H - Environmental Auditing
CHE1432H - Technical Aspects of Environmental Regulations
CME549H - Groundwater Flow and Contamination
CIV1319H - Chemistry and Analysis of Water and Waste
The remaining coursework may be taken from the elective courses list
Elective Courses
CHE 561H - Risk Based Safety Management
CHE1150H - Industrial Water Treatment
CHE1433H - Air Dispersion Modelling
CIV536H - Urban Activity, Air Pollution, and Health
CIV541H - Environmental Biotechnology
CIV1308H - Physical and Chemical Treatment Processes
CIV1321H - Large Scale Infrastructure and Sustainability
CME500 - Fundamentals of Acid Rock Drainage
JCC1313H - Environmental Microbiology
JNC2503H - Environmental Pathways
Background
Human activities, including industrial, commercial, and agricultural, are the main factor contributing to environmental contamination, threatening the human well-being and health of the entire planet. The most imminent consequence of these activities is climate change, which has triggered the current climate crisis: extreme weather events have caused floods, landslides, drought, wildfires, and damage to man-made structures and animal habits. Human activity also poses significant risks to all countries' financial systems and economies.
Governments have designed, adopted, and regularly updated environmental policies and regulations to minimize the harmful effects of human activities on ecosystems. However, several challenges arise from their implementation, including technical challenges such as the design, operation, and optimization of cost-effective technologies for monitoring, mitigating, and remediating the impact of contaminants. Multi-disciplinary teams and stand-alone consultants join efforts during project life cycles to create solutions aligned to these regulations, addressing opportunities to tackle these challenges. Environmental engineering consultants are key participants in planning and executing these projects. Environmental engineering services ensure that systems, plans, and monitoring strategies are developed, implemented, and maintained to meet project objectives.