ABE 598 – Environmental Contaminant Transport
Spring 2016
Course Objective:
This course is a graduate level course covering
conceptual and mathematical models for the
transport of contaminants in natural systems with
an emphasis on agricultural pollutants. The course
will emphasize basic transport processes relevant
to the three environmental media – air, water, and
soil. This course emphasizes the common
features underlying pollutant transport.
Credit: 3 graduate hours.
Instructor:
References:



Maria L. Chu
332N AESB
217-300-1892
[email protected]
Office hours: OPEN DOOR POLICY
Class notes
Ramaswani, A., Milford, J.B., Small, M.J. 2005. Integrated Environmental
Modeling, John Wiley & Sons: New York
Clark, M.M. 1996. Transport Modeling for Environmental Engineers and
Scientists, John Wiley & Sons: New York
Weekly Meeting Schedule/Contact Hours: Monday and Wednesday 9:00 – 10:15 AM AESB
242
Grading:
Homework
Exam
Final Project
35%
30%
35%
100%
Homework: Homework assignments should be done neatly with the problem defined and
solution clearly outlined. Final answers should have appropriate units and should be circled or
underlined. The more clearly a problem is presented and solved, the more likely you will receive
partial credit. Late homework will not be accepted unless you have a valid university excused
absence. Working in groups on the homework problems is encouraged, but make sure what you
turn in as your work, really is your work. Simply copying another student’s homework solution
is a breach of academic honesty and will result in a zero for all involved parties. Homework is
due at the beginning of class on the day assigned.
Exams: Exams will consist of a qualitative and quantitative section. The qualitative section will
be closed book/closed notes, worth 15-20 points, and will consist of definitions, concept
questions, and writing expressions or equations. The quantitative section will be open book/open
notes, worth 80-85 points, and will consist of 3-4 problems of similar nature, but not exactly like,
to the assigned homework problems, example problems illustrated during lectures, and example
problems in the textbook.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given periodically throughout the semester on Friday. Quizzes will
consist of qualitative questions including definitions, concept questions, and writing expressions
or equations and simple quantitative questions.
Term Project: The term project is a paper of peer review quality on a research topic pertaining
to contaminant transport in any environmental media (i.e., soil, air, water) that will answer a
specific research question. The term paper SHOULD include a modeling exercise or data
analysis pertaining to contaminant transport, a complete methodology, and results sections. The
term project will be presented in class at the end of the term. Students will submit their research
questions for approval on February 24, 2016. The following rubrics will be used for grading:
Technical Content (80%)
Abstract (purpose, procedure, findings, recommendations, etc)
Introduction (background, motivation, objectives)
Methodology (study area, data, model, research tasks, etc)
Results and Discussion (observations, comparisons, analysis, expectations,
implications, etc)
Structure (writing, appearance)
Class Presentation (20%)
Tentative course outline:
Date
20-Jan
25-Jan
27-Jan
1-Feb
3-Feb
8-Feb
10-Feb
15-Feb
17-Feb
22-Feb
24-Feb
29-Feb
2-Mar
7-Mar
9-Mar
14-Mar
Day
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
Topics
Introduction/Conservation Laws
Introduction/Conservation Laws
Low Concentration/Sedimentation
Low Concentration/Sedimentation
Low Concentration/Sedimentation
Adsorption, Partitioning and Interfaces
Adsorption, Partitioning and Interfaces
Adsorption, Partitioning and Interfaces
Advection, Diffusion, Dispersion, and Mass Transfer
Advection, Diffusion, Dispersion, and Mass Transfer
Advection, Diffusion, Dispersion, and Mass Transfer
Advection, Diffusion, Dispersion, and Mass Transfer
Advection, Diffusion, Dispersion, and Mass Transfer
Advection, Diffusion, Dispersion, and Mass Transfer
Chemical reaction/Transformation
Chemical reaction/Transformation
5
15
30
25
5
16-Mar
21-Mar
23-Mar
28-Mar
30-Mar
4-Apr
6-Apr
11-Apr
13-Apr
18-Apr
20-Apr
25-Apr
27-Apr
2-May
4-May
9-May
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
Midterm
Spring vacation
Spring vacation
Transport Models: Air
Transport Models: Air
Transport Models: Air
Transport Models: Surface water
Transport Models: Surface water
Transport Models: Surface water
Transport Models: Surface water
Transport Models: Porous media
Transport Models: Porous media
Transport Models: Porous media
Final presentation
Final presentation
Final report due
NOTE: Use of cell phones as calculators will NOT be allowed during quizzes and examinations.
Academic Integrity: Academic misconduct (plagiarism, cheating, or other forms of misconduct as defined by the
university) will not be tolerated in this course. Academic Misconduct is defined as any activity which tends to
compromise the academic integrity of the institution or subvert the educational process. According to Article 1 of
the Student Rights and Responsibilities - Part 4 (Academic Integrity and Procedure): No student shall use or attempt
to use in any academic exercise materials, information, study aids, or electronic data that the student knows or
should know is unauthorized. This includes copying, direct quotation without citation, paraphrasing without
citation, or providing false or misleading information for the purpose of gaining an academic advantage. Please see
Academic Integrity Infractions at: http://studentcode.illinois.edu/article1_part4_1-402.html for a complete outline.
Students with Disabilities: To obtain disability-related academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students with
disabilities must contact the course instructor as soon as possible. To insure that disability-related concerns are
properly addressed from the beginning, students with disabilities who require assistance to participate in this class
should contact Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) and see the instructor as soon as possible. If
you need accommodations for any sort of disability, please speak to me after class, or make an appointment to see
me, or see me during my office hours. DRES provides students with academic accommodations, access, and support
services. To contact DRES you may visit 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign, call 333-4603 (V/TDD), or e-mail a message
to [email protected]. http://www.disability.illinois.edu/.
Emergency Response Recommendations: Emergency response recommendations can be found at the following
website: http://police.illinois.edu/emergency/. I encourage you to review this website and the campus building floor
plans website within the first 10 days of class. http://police.illinois.edu/emergency/floorplans/ .
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): Any student who has suppressed their directory
information pursuant to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) should self-identify to the instructor
to ensure protection of the privacy of their attendance in this course. See http://registrar.illinois.edu/ferpa for more
information on FERPA.