What is Environmental Engineering?
Environmental engineering is the branch of engineering that focuses on preserving humankind from harmful environmental effects and preserving the environment. The field focuses on enhancing environmental quality through design and technology.
Environmental engineering covers a broad range of issues such as air pollution control, radiation protection, hazardous waste management, disposal of wastewater, treatment and distribution of drinking water, municipal solid-waste management, and environmental evaluations, audits, and impact studies are all part of the job.
Environmental engineers research water, soil, and air pollution issues and design technology solutions that are compatible with legislative, economic, social, and political considerations to solve, mitigate, or regulate these issues.
To analyze and create the systems necessary for such activities, mathematical modeling and computer analysis are commonly employed. The procedure may also include chemical and mechanical engineers.
Applied research and teaching; project planning and management; facility design, building, and operation; the selling and marketing of environmental-control technology; and the enforcement of environmental standards and laws are all examples of environmental engineering functions.
What do Environmental Engineers do?
Water and wastewater treatment facility planning, design, construction, and operation in industries, analysis of surface water and groundwater quality, design of soil, disposal and reuse of wastewaters and sludges, and collection, transport, and processing of wastewaters and sludges are just a few of the activities of such environment engineers.
Environmental engineers answer environmental problems using engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry concepts. They work to enhance recycling, waste disposal, public health, and pollution management in the water and air. They also work for concerns such as unsafe drinking water, climate change, and environmental sustainability worldwide.
Environmental engineers usually carry out the following tasks:
- Prepare, review, and prepare environment investigation reports.
- Design solutions that help to safeguard the environment, such as water reclamation systems or air pollution control systems
- Plan, permit, and standard operating procedures should all be obtained, updated, and maintained
- Support environmental clean-up initiatives and legal proceedings with technical assistance.
- Analyze scientific data and perform quality assurance checks
Environmental engineers perform hazardous-waste management studies to assess the severity of danger and offer treatment and containment recommendations.
They also design water supply plants and wastewater treatment systems for municipal and industrial customers and assess the environmental effect of planned building projects. In addition, government environmental engineers create laws to prevent accidents.
Acid rain, climate change, car emissions, and ozone depletion are issues that some environmental engineers are researching. To solve environmental challenges and ensure environmental sustainability, they cooperate with environmental scientists, urban and regional planners, hazardous-waste technicians, other engineers, and professionals such as lawyers and business experts.
Environmental Engineering Course Curriculum
The environmental engineering course curriculum is designed to educate applied science fundamentals as well as environmental studies. The course focuses on developing individuals with strong research skills and an understanding of environmental issues such as climate change, element pollution, and biodiversity conservation.
As a result, students are ready to innovate and devise ways for a more sustainable and balanced future. The program provides students with an in-depth overview of current circumstances in the field of environmental engineering. It stimulates them to develop innovative technology advancements and tactics to incorporate public participation in preserving resource consumption balance.
Core Subjects in Environmental Engineering
The environmental engineering undergraduate program is a broad subject that teaches students about conservation and sustainable use of all-natural aspects. The common topics list is as follows:
- Strength of Materials
- Engineering Physics
- Municipal Solid Waste Management
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Basic Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Chemistry
- Ecology and Environmental Impact
- Environmental Biotechnology
- Geo-Environmental Engineering
- Surveying Construction
The Postgraduate Course in Environmental Engineering is a two-year curriculum divided into four semesters. The following are some of the important topics covered in the course:
- Environmental chemistry
- Rheology of fluids
- Air Pollution Control Engineering
- Chemistry of Atmosphere
- Water Supply Engineering
- Solid Waste Management
- Environmental Microbiology
Environmental Engineering Education Requirements
Students interested in renewable energy, environmental protection, and sustainable development will benefit from this Engineering discipline. On the brighter side, the number of colleges and institutes that offer this degree grows year after year! In addition, the branch has a lower saturation.
A person needs to have the following qualifications to pursue a career in environmental engineering: Students who finished their 10+2 in Science with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and passed their 12th board examinations from a recognized board are eligible to continue in this program. Minimum marks criterion may exist at various Institutes. In Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, it generally ranges from 40% to 50%.
Top Colleges for Environmental Engineering
- BSc in Civil and Environmental Engineering (with Environmental Science Engineering track)
- A Minor degree in Civil and Environmental Systems
- A Minor degree in Environmental Engineering Science
- MEng in Civil and Environmental Engineering (with Environmental Science Engineering track)
- Dual Master's degree in Engineering and Management.
- Master of Science in CEE
- Ph.D. in CEE
Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY
Clarkson University is a small private university in New York with only a few hundred students. This institution is well-known for its technical offerings, notably engineering. The following Environmental Engineering programs are available at Clarkson University:
- BSc in Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Health Science
- Environmental Policy
- Sustainable Energy Systems
- Sustainable Solutions for the Developing World
- MSc in Environmental Science and Engineering
- Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering
Columbia University, New York
Columbia University is one of the top private institutions in the United States of America. It offers a wide range of excellent programs. In addition, the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering offers degrees in Environmental Engineering. The following ABET-accredited degrees are available:
- Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Engineering.
- B.S. in Earth and Environmental Engineering
- M.S. in Earth Resources Engineering
- Engineering S.D. in Earth and Environmental Engineering.
- M.S./Ph.D. track
- Combined B.A./B.S. in Earth & Environment Engg
- Minor in Earth and Environmental Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
As a technical school, the Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT) has a stellar reputation. In addition, it is situated in a major city, which offers its own set of benefits. The following degrees are available via the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering:
- B.S. in Environmental Engineering.
- BS/MS in Environmental Engineering.
- M.S./Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, NY
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, or RPI, is a highly regarded and challenging technical institution in the United States of America, and its diploma is highly prized. Moreover, its Civil and Environmental Engineering Department offers the following degrees:
- B.S. in Environmental Engineering.
- M.Eng. In Environmental Engineering.
- M.S.in Environmental Engineering.
- Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering.
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, is a medium-sized public university with a lovely rural location. It has a good reputation and provides competitive engineering programs. Michigan Technology University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering provides the following ABET-accredited environmental engineering degrees:
- B.S. in Environmental Engineering.
- Minor in Humanitarian Engineering.
- Minor in Municipal Engineering.
- Civil and Environmental Engineering accelerated M. S.
- M.S.in Environmental Engineering.
- Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering.
- M.S. in Environmental Engineering Science.
The University of Notre Dame, Portage Township, IN
The University of Notre Dame, Indiana, is a private university with a high national ranking. It is a competitive university with a low admission rate. The following ABET-accredited environmental engineering degrees are available through Notre Dame's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences:
- B.S. in Environmental Engineering.
- Minor in Resiliency and Sustainability of Engineering Systems.
- Minor in Energy Studies.
- Minor in Environmental Earth Sciences.
- Master of Science in Environmental Engineering.
- Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering.
- Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering.
Tufts University, Sommerville, MA
Tufts University is a prestigious and competitive private university. It is well-known for both its Liberal Studies and Science programs. The following ABET-accredited Environmental Engineering degrees are available at Tufts School of Engineering:
- B.S. in Environmental Engineering.
- M.S.in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
- M.S.in Bioengineering/Environmental biotechnology
- M.S. Dual degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering/Innovation and management (Tufts Gordon Institute).
- M. S. Dual Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering/Urban Policy and Planning.
- Ph.D. in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering.
- Certificate in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
- Certificate in Environmental Management.
The University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, CO
The University of Colorado-Boulder is a prestigious public research university with a strong engineering program. Environmental Engineering degrees are available from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences:
- B.S. in Environmental engineering.
- M.S.in Environmental Engineering.
- Professional Master of Science in Environmental Engineering.
- Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering.
The University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
The University of Florida is a public university that consistently ranks among the top 50 universities in the United States. It has excellent engineering, business, and medical programs. The University of Florida's Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering offers the following degrees:
- B.S. in Environmental Engineering.
- B.S./M.S.in Environmental Engineering.
- Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering Sciences.
Environment Engineer Salary
Salaries are determined by various criteria, including the size and kind of organization for which you work, your location, your talents and experience, and if you have charters.
The income numbers are only intended to be used as a reference.
- Starting salaries for environmental engineers are typically between £18,000 and £28,000
- Engineers with more experience might earn between £28,000 and £45,000
- Salary ranges from £40,000 to £60,000 or more for project engineering managers or chartered engineers
Environmental Engineering Job Description
Environmental Engineers have a bright future ahead of them. Moreover, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), environmental engineers' employment will rise 15% faster than the average for all professions from 2014 to 2024. Environmental engineers are members of some professional organizations as well. Mentioned below are some organizations:
- American Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers (ASABE)
- American Academy of Environmental Engineering
- Institute of Biological Engineering
- American Society of Civil Engineering
- American Engineering Ecological Society
Environmental Engineering offers a variety of job prospects for young people. Some famous job profiles are given below:
- Seismic Acquisition Consultant
- Lead Project Engineer
- Senior ROV Technician
- Technical Engineering Manager
- Superyacht Housekeeper
- Drilling Personnel
- Marine Mammal Observer
- Reservoir Engineer
Environmental engineers operate as social workers, pollution control officials, designers, teachers, planners, and researchers, among other things. They can also look for work in various areas, such as pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and utilities.
Top Recruiters
Some well-known private corporations that provide environmental engineers for various needs, including:
- Dresser-Rand India Pvt Ltd
- AECOM
- SPML Infra Limited
- MACTECH
- Sima Labs Pvt Ltd.
- Brunel India Pvt Ltd
- Privi Organics Limited
- The Indure Private Limited
- Kalpana Hydro Company
- Goodrich Corporation
Future Environmental Engineering Trends
Since the world has become more conscious of the state of the environment, and with the engagement of international agencies, the need for skilled experts has nearly quadrupled in the last decade. National-level NGOs and business enterprises promoting sustainable resource usage are the primary contributors to the sector. The following are some of the current epidemics in the subject of environmental engineering:
- Accessible potable water
- Biofiltration Systems
- Petroleum and diesel substitutes by creating Hybrid Vehicles
- Green Star Program
- UV light germ eradication systems
- Scientific forestry
- Wind Energy Production
Environmental Engineering's Scope in India and Abroad
Environmental engineering is a broad discipline that includes biological engineering, radioactive engineering, chemical engineering, and even mechanical engineering.
Professionals specializing in any of the disciplines mentioned above have enormous opportunities in the field of Environmental Engineering both in India and overseas.
Job and career opportunities abound in both the public and private sectors. In addition, there are various research institutes and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) where candidates may learn about the future of their industries and the green projects being implemented in today's globe.
Conclusion
Because engineering solutions are required to fulfill the environmental requirements specified by legislation, environmental engineers are relied upon to play an essential part in environmental protection.
Civil engineers specializing in environmental engineering may work in consulting companies, municipalities, government agencies, industries, non-governmental organizations, and specialized contractors.
