1.020 | Spring 2008 | Undergraduate

Ecology II: Engineering for Sustainability

Pages

ASSIGNMENTS TOPICS
Problem set 1 Salination in irrigated agriculture (PDF)
Problem set 2 Species competition (PDF)
Problem set 3

Thermal analysis for a small house (PDF)

Meterological data (TXT)

Problem set 4 MATLAB® practice (PDF)
Problem set 5 Particulate transport (PDF)
Problem set 6 Resource allocation (PDF)

SES # TOPICS KEY DATES
Mass balance
1

Introduction, basic concepts

Modeling: Everglades

Problem set 1 out: irrigation/salination
2

Mass conservation

Modeling: Everglades

3

Chemical kinetics

Modeling: dechlorination

4

Population modeling

Modeling: pesticide impact

Problem set 1 in

Problem set 2 out: competition/harvesting

5

Closed cycles

Modeling: nutrient enrichment

Paper assignment out
6

Networks

Modeling: traffic

7

Networks

Modeling: vehicle emissions

Paper proposal in
Energy balance
8

Basic thermodynamic concepts

Modeling: building energy

Problem set 2 in

Problem set 3 out: building energy

9

First law, heat capacity, conduction and convection

Modeling: building energy

Paper topics finalized
10

Radiative energy transfer

Modeling: building energy

11

Open system thermodynamics

Modeling: heat discharge to a stream

Exam 1

Mass and energy transport
12

Mass transport: advection, diffusion

Modeling: air quality

Problem set 3 in

Problem set 4 out: MATLAB® practice

13

Mass transport: spatial moments

Modeling: air quality

14

Mass transport: concentrations

Modeling: air quality

Problem set 4 in

Problem set 5 out: air quality

Resource economics and life cycle analysis
15

Present value, discounting

Modeling: building energy revisited

16

Optimization problems, resource allocation

Modeling: crop irrigation

17

Derived demand

Modeling: crop irrigation

Draft paper in
18 MATLAB optimization tutorial

Problem set 5 in

Problem set 6 out: resource allocation

19

Derived supply, equilibrium analysis

Modeling: groundwater supply

20

Multiple objectives, Pareto optimality

Modeling: revenue vs. environmental quality

Draft paper returned
21

Life cycle analysis

Modeling: life cycle example

Problem set 6 in
22

Life cycle analysis (cont.)

Modeling: life cycle example

Exam 2

23 Student presentations

24 Student presentations (cont.) Final paper due

Practice Exam Problems and Solutions

Exam 1 (PDF)

Exam 2 (PDF)

This section includes handouts summarizing the lectures; note that many of the handouts span two lecture sessions.

SES # LECTURE NOTES
Mass balance
1

Introduction, basic concepts (PDF)

Modeling: Everglades

2

Mass conservation

Modeling: Everglades

3

Chemical kinetics (PDF)

Modeling: dechlorination

4

Population modeling (PDF)

Modeling: pesticide impact

5

Closed cycles (PDF)

Modeling: nutrient enrichment

6

Networks (PDF)

Modeling: traffic

7

Networks

Modeling: vehicle emissions

Energy balance
8

Basic thermodynamic concepts (PDF)

Modeling: building energy

9

First law, heat capacity, conduction and convection

Modeling: building energy

10

Radiative energy transfer (PDF)

Modeling: building energy

11

Open system thermodynamics (PDF)

Modeling: heat discharge to a stream

Mass and energy transport
12

Mass transport: advection, diffusion (PDF)

Modeling: air quality

13

Mass transport: spatial moments

Modeling: air quality

14

Mass transport: concentrations

Modeling: air quality

Resource economics and life cycle analysis
15

Present value, discounting (PDF)

Modeling: building energy revisited

16

Optimization problems, resource allocation (PDF)

Modeling: crop irrigation

17

Derived demand

Modeling: crop irrigation

18 MATLAB optimization tutorial
19

Derived supply, equilibrium analysis (PDF)

Modeling: groundwater supply

20

Multiple objectives, Pareto optimality (PDF)

Modeling: revenue vs. environmental quality

21

Life cycle analysis (PDF)

Modeling: life cycle example

22

Life cycle analysis (cont.)

Modeling: life cycle example

23 Student presentations
24 Student presentations (cont.)

MATLAB® References

[MAT1] Etter, Dolores, David Kuncicky, and Holly Moore. Introduction to MATLAB 6. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003. ISBN: 9780131409187.

[MAT2] Etter, Dolores. Introduction to MATLAB for Engineers and Scientists. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1996. ISBN: 9780135197035.

[MAT3] ———. Engineering Problem Solving with MATLAB. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2006. ISBN: 9780130462145.

Modeling

[SCow] Harte, John. Consider a Spherical Cow: A Course in Environmental Problem Solving. Mill Valley, CA: University Science Books, 1988. ISBN: 9780935702583.

[CCow] ———. Consider a Cylindrical Cow: More Adventures in Environmental Problem Solving. Mill Valley, CA: University Science Books, 2001. ISBN: 9781891389177.

Thermodynamics

Fay, James A., and Dan S. Golomb. Energy and the Environment. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2002. ISBN: 9780195150926.

Van Ness, H. C. Understanding Thermodynamics. New York, NY: Dover, 1983. ISBN: 9780486632773.

Smith, E. Brian. Basic Chemical Thermodynamics. London, UK: Imperial College Press, 2004. ISBN: 9781860944468.

[SBvW] Sonntag, Richard E., Claus Borgnakke, and Gordon J. Van Wylen. Fundamentals of Thermodynamics. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 2002. ISBN: 9780471152323.

Course Meeting Times

Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session

Recitations: 1 session / week, 2 hours / session

Course Focus

Use mathematical models to assess interactions between humans and the natural environment.

Desired Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you should be able to formulate and use mathematical models to:

  • Assess human impacts on the environment
  • Assess the economic value of natural resources

Beyond this course, you should be able to:

  • Expand your modeling abilities as you gain new understanding in science, engineering, economics, and other areas.
  • Apply what you have learned here in your career (not just to develop and use models yourself but also to critically assess model predictions generated by others).

Course Logistics

General Topics (Modeling Building Blocks)

  • Mass balance
  • Energy balance
  • Mass and energy transport
  • Resource economics and life cycle analysis

Class Format

Generally, the first half of each class will be a lecture on concepts and the second half will be a discussion of a related modeling application. All model codes presented in class will be made available.

Assignments

Problem sets and research presentation (team-based), in-class quizzes, 2 exams, research paper (individual).

There will be no final exam.

Team Formation

You can form your own teams of 3 people or contact the TA for help in forming a team. Teams should be identified by the first recitation.

MATLAB®

Modeling in this class relies largely on MATLAB. You should have access to MATLAB software (Basic MATLAB and the Optimization Toolbox). See the tools section for more information on MATLAB.

Recitations

  • MATLAB tutorials
  • Communication tutorials
  • Help with problem sets
  • Exam reviews

Attendance

Attendance is important and will be considered in grading.

In-class Quizzes

15 minute quizzes (one question each) will be given most weeks, usually on Wednesday during the middle of class.

Laptops

No laptops open during lectures (OK during recitation).

Contact us if you need access to a laptop during recitation. Power outlets are limited so please make sure your battery is charged.

Comments and Feedback

Please provide comments and suggestions (anonymous or otherwise) as soon as an issue arises so we can make adjustments if necessary. We plan to set up a suggestion box for this purpose.

Grading

ACTIVITIES PERCENTAGES
Problem sets 20%
Short quizzes 10%
Exam 1 25%
Exam 2 25%
Paper and presentation 20%

Using MATLAB®

To run MATLAB from a Windows PC:

MATLAB may be started from a shortcut or from the Windows Start button. This will bring up the MATLAB command/desktop window with the MATLAB prompt ».

You can specify the path name that MATLAB uses to search for program or data files in the current directory text box near the top of the command window. You can also save a set of path names that are routinely searched by selecting the Set Path… and then Add Folder… from the File pulldown menu.

Entering MATLAB commands:

Interactive mode - Run individual MATLAB commands directly from the command window.

Batch mode - Run a series of commands (a program) all at once. These commands are stored in a text file identified with a .m suffix.

To create or modify program files for batch mode use the MATLAB editor. To start the MATLAB editor window from the main MATLAB window select New and then M-file from the File pulldown menu in the desktop window or enter the command edit from the command line. To edit an existing file select open and select the appropriate file or enter edit followed by the file name.

A batch mode MATLAB program can take the form of a script or a function:

A script runs much as if you were typing the program statements in the command window. In particular, the values of all variables are retained in memory and are accessible even after the program has run.

A function is similar, except that only designated variables are available outside the function.

You can run a script or function by typing the name of its file (without the .m suffix) in the MATLAB command window. For example, if your program is stored in the file myprogram.m then you run it by entering:

>> myprogram

Depending on the display options you chose the results of the computations will be shown in the main MATLAB window, plotted in a separate plot window, or written to another file.

MATLAB Resources

Help within MATLAB:

Typing helpdesk at the MATLAB prompt will bring up the MATLAB Helpdesk. This is a Web page based version of the MATLAB documentation/manuals.

Typing help [command] at the MATLAB prompt will give you a brief explanation of [command].

If you don’t know what command you are confused about, typing help at the MATLAB prompt will give you a list of categories. Then typing help [category] will produce a list of commands in [category]. For example, one of the categories is graphics. Typing help graphics produces a list of the MATLAB graphics commands.

MathWorks Homepage: The makers of MATLAB. Information on acquiring MathWorks products plus links to documentation, etc.

MathWorks Support: This is a useful site that has technical information, Web version of Helpdesk, and a downloadable user-library of scripts. Everything you ever dreamed of knowing about MATLAB, plus you can always email MathWorks.

Course Info

As Taught In
Spring 2008
Learning Resource Types
Problem Sets
Lecture Notes