Integrating process simulation into Environmental Engineering curriculum – Promoting sustainable and reliable design

TitleIntegrating process simulation into Environmental Engineering curriculum - Promoting sustainable and reliable design
Faculty/College/UnitApplied Science
StatusActive
Duration2 Year
Initiation04/01/2023
Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2023/2024
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorZeina Baalbaki
Year 1: Funded Amount20,500
Year 1: Team Members

Zeina Baalbaki, Lecturer, Chemical and Biological Engineering and Civil Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Greg Lawrence, Professor, Civil Engineering / Co-Director, Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Madjid Mohseni, Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering / Co-Director, Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Rachel Scholes, Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science

Year 1: Summary

The new UBCV Environmental Engineering (ENVL) program has gained traction from incoming students. Since its launch in 2020, a number of new courses have been offered. The capstone design course (ENVE 401), delivered for first time in 2022/2023, requires students to apply process simulation, of which students have no prior knowledge. Simulation tools allow Environmental Engineers to make decisions using virtual rather than physical experiments, but must be applied with skill and caution.

This project will develop interactive modules for early introduction of simulation principles into the ENVL program, supported by real-world exercises. This will allow students to draw on these skills in 4th year to optimize their capstone designs with respect to sustainability, safety and reliability. It will also equip students with in-demand skills for employment, as identified by industry advisory members. More widely, the modules can be leveraged by other Environmental-focused students (at UBC or other institutions).

Year 2: Project YearYear 2
Year 2: Funding Year2024/2025
Year 2: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 2: Principal InvestigatorZeina Baalbaki
Year 2: Funded Amount8,984
Year 2: Team Members

Zeina Baalbaki, Lecturer, Chemical and Biological Engineering and Civil Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science

Year 2: Summary

The new UBCV Environmental Engineering (ENVL) program has gained traction from incoming students. Since its launch in 2020, a number of new courses have been offered. The capstone design course (ENVE 401), delivered for first time in 2022, requires students to apply process simulation, of which students have no prior knowledge. Simulation tools allow Environmental Engineers to make decisions but must be applied with skill and caution.

This project is a continuation (year 2) of the current project and will further refine modules developed in year 1 using feedback collected from students. The project will further strengthen the real-world exercises developed as part of the modules, as well as the Open Education resource integration. Introducing simulation early in the program will allow students to apply these in their capstone designs and optimize designs with respect to sustainability, safety and reliability. It will also equip students with in-demand skills for employment.