Environmental Systems

Soils and Hydraulics

The teaching methodology is based on theoretical-practical classes in which, in some subjects, after exposing the main theoretical concepts, regulations or platforms, students are invited to debate the subject through the discussion of practical examples, proposing solutions to real problems in the city of Coimbra or other national or foreign cities. Group work is encouraged through the presentation of research topics, and the oral presentation of the main results is mandatory. In other topics, learning is based on solving practical problems and/or developing projects for the design of urban effluent treatment systems.

It is expected that, at the end of the course, the student will be able to:
– knowing the functions of soils and the services they provide, namely in urban areas;
– identify the threats that soils face and what measures can be taken to reverse or stop them;
– explore the various aspects of environmental geotechnics, with special emphasis on future areas of action with a view to mitigate climate changes;
– understand nature-based solutions, identifying green and blue infrastructures as alternative solutions to conventional solutions called gray solutions;
– propose solutions with lower environmental footprints to solve urban, drainage, energy problems, etc. of cities.
– acquire knowledge in the field of domestic wastewater treatment systems with the aim of acquiring skills in the design and management of these infrastructures.

1 – Functions of soils
ecosystem services
soils properties
Evaluation of services provided by soils 2 – Threats to soils
Types and implications of threats Contamination and remediation Protection and waterproofing
3 – Nature-based solutions
Definition and its integration in the SDGs biomimicry
green infrastructures
4 – Environmental Geotechnics
sanitary landfills
CO2 capture
Hazardous waste storage
geothermal energy
5 – SUDS
Introduction to SUDS
Philosophy and criteria for designing and dimensioning the SUDS Sizing methodologies
Rainwater quality management
6 – Effluent treatment
Characterization of waste water and discharge standards Preliminary and primary systems
biological treatment
Tertiary treatment

NAO

Apontamentos de Tratamento de Efluentes Urbanos
CIRIA, 2015. The SuDS Manual-C753. CIRIA, London.
CIRIA, 2014. Managing urban flooding from heavy rainfall – c738. CIRIA, London.
Geotermia. Energia renovável em Portugal. Direção Geral de Energia e Geologia.
Grady, C. P. Leslie, 1938- ; Daigger, Glen T. ; Lim, Henry C., 1935- – Biological wastewater treatment. 2nd ed.. New York : Marcel Dekker, 1999.
Henze, M. – Biological wastewater treatment : principles, modelling and design. London : IWA Publishing, 2008.
Environmental Geotechnics. TC5 Report of the ISSMGE.
Low Impact Development: A Design Manual for Urban Areas. University of Arkansas Community Design Center.
Metcalf & Eddy, 2003. “Wastewater Engineering, Treatment, Disposal, Reuse”, McGraw-Hill, 4aed.