ENE3032 Fate and transport of contaminants
Faculty of Engineering
ENE3032 Fate and transport of contaminants is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2025 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 1 unit.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 35%
- and 4 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ENE3032
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After ENE3032
1 unit list ENE3032 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisites: Completion of 72 engineering credit points
Overview
The movement of pollution through the air, soil, groundwater and rivers is complex and shapes the impact on the environment and human health. The units examine these issues through (1) multiple hands-on on-campus field trips; (2) interactive practice classes with hands-on soil activities and weekly case study-focused numerical and statistical modelling projects; and (3) case study-focused interactive workshops. Overall, the unit will provide you with strong and advanced quantitative skills to understand and predict the movement and fate of contaminants in our environment, all complemented by a hands-on understanding of the real-world complexities and challenges.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Moodle quiz - Basic conceptsQuiz / TestThreshold hurdle5%
- Assignment 1: Site contaminant chemical characterisation and statistical assessmentProjectThreshold hurdle25%
- Assignment 2: Groundwater breakthrough curves and groundwater usesProjectThreshold hurdle30%
- Oral presentationPresentationThreshold hurdle5%
- Final assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle35%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
evaluate the principles of contaminant fate and transport within soil, water and air systems
- 2
describe the fate and transport of different contaminants in soil, water and air
- 3
assess the potential environmental impacts of contaminants
- 4
construct a fate and transport model for environmental contaminants
- 5
communicate contaminant fate and transport principles and associated environmental impacts to inform management options.
Workload and teaching
- Laboratories7 hours
- Workshops24 hours
- Practical activities24 hours
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
Case studies will be used to explain lecture content with a particular focus on case studies to explore contaminant fate and transport from various sources through different parts of the environment.
Students will work with publicly available data sets to model the movement of contaminants through the environment.
Lectures and practice classes will be delivered in real-time to give students more opportunities to make enquiries and discuss with lecturers. The lectures include many interactive activities. The practical classes are highly engaging and led by the lecturer, with each week a different mini-project being undertaken that supports the assignments. Two practical classes will also involve hands-on soil analysis.
Learning resources
Required resources
Chemical Fate and Transport in the Environment (3rd Ed.), Authors: Harold F. Hemond and Elizabeth J. Fechner
---available at the library e-book
Recommended resources
Principles of environmental chemistry, James. Girard, 3rd ed. 2013
Technology resources
Access to a good internet connection. Access to a computer.
Where it fits
ENE3032 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2025 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Tim Peterson
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor Tim Peterson
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ENE3032?
ENE3032 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
What can I take after ENE3032?
ENE3032 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 1 unit, including ENE4041.
When is ENE3032 offered?
In 2025, ENE3032 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is ENE3032?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ENE3032 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 35% of the final mark, alongside 4 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include ENE3032?
ENE3032 is part of Environmental engineering and Environmental engineering .