EAS 327 Environmental Instrumentation

Transcription

1 University of Alberta Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences EAS 327 Environmental Instrumentation Winter Term, 2017 Instructor: Dr. Jeffrey Kavanaugh Phone Number: Office Location: CCIS Office Hours: Wednesdays, 14:00 15:50, or by prior arrangement Address: Teaching Assistant: Anja Rutishauser Office Location: CCIS Office Hours: Mondays, 14:00 15:50, or by prior arrangement Address: Class Homepage: eclass ( Calendar Description: Laboratory work and lectures to develop skill in environmental measurement through comprehension of first principles. Instrumentation (basic electronics; matching signal sources and receivers; noise; frequency response). Sensorenvironment coupling (heat and mass transfer). Sampling theory. Principles will be applied to selected environmental monitoring instruments. [Faculty of Science] Prerequisites: EAS 100 (Planet Earth) and Math 113 (Elementary Calculus 1) Textbook: Web notes on eclass. These will be updated throughout the course. All posted material will be formatted in Adobe PDF; you can download a free Adobe Acrobat reader at Lectures: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30 13:50, in Tory Building Laboratories: Generally Tuesday 14:00-16:50, in Tory Building Some flexibility might be needed as one or more labs could take place elsewhere on or near campus. For the laboratory exercises, the class will be split into two groups, and in most cases each lab will be run twice (on consecutive Tuesdays).

2 Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes: The goal of this course is to provide students with theoretical and practical experience in the use of environmental instrumentation. Students will gain a basic understanding of electronics, power supplies, sensor calibration, relevant statistics, device selection, and data management. Evaluation: Your overall course grade will be based on the following: Two (2) in-class exams, each 80 minutes in duration and accounting 20% of the overall grade. Sample exam questions and information on the composition of the exams will be posted on the course homepage at least one week prior to the exam. Exam 1: Thursday, 16 February Exam 2: Thursday, 12 April Lab reports for each of the four (4) laboratory experiments. These will be worth 15% each, to account for a total of 60% of the overall grade. You may team up with up to two other students to submit a single report. Identical marks will be assigned to each member of the pair or trio. You may opt out of this (and submit an individual lab report) at any time, provided that you inform your team members prior to the beginning of the lab. Lab reports will generally be due one calendar week following completion of the laboratory exercise. Laboratory Exercises: Thermocouple Construction and Calibration Meteorological Stations GPS Survey Techniques To Be Announced Important 2015 Dates: January 9 January 20 February 16 February 20 February April 12 April 14 April 17 April Winter term classes begin Last day to add, drop or change enrollment status Exam I Provincial holiday; University buildings closed Reading Week; classes withdrawn Exam II; Last day of classes Good Friday; University buildings closed Easter Monday; University buildings closed Final exams Criteria in marking lab reports: Is the report tidy and legible? Is it well organized, with an introduction and conclusion, clear headings, etc.? Is it written in clear, coherent, unambiguous English? Are numbers given with an appropriate number of significant figures and uncertainty estimates? Are correct units assigned to all numbers? Are the figures

3 effective at communicating useful information? Are the diagrams and graphs tidy? Are axes labeled and titles given? Is there clear demarcation between experimental and theoretical curves/points? Does the report concisely, and without unnecessary detail, demonstrate that the student has understood the concepts and procedures involved in the lab, without factual or conceptual errors? Is any special insight shown? Please read the Lab Report Guidelines for some further hints. Laboratory reports might require you to use research sources (such as published papers and books, instrument manuals, web materials, etc.). If you use information from any such sources in your reports, you must identify (cite) the source of your information. Sources must be cited whether they are directly quoted (in which case the quoted material must be clearly demarcated, either by quotation marks or by indentation) or paraphrased in your own wording. Criteria in Grading: Individual components of the course will be given a numerical score. A cumulative course mark will be calculated from these scores, weighted as tabulated above. A final letter grade will be assigned based upon your cumulative mark and my analysis of the class s cumulative mark distribution. Where possible, natural breaks in the cumulative mark distribution will be used in assigning grades, but no pre-determined distribution of grades will be imposed on the class. Your grade will reflect a combination of your absolute achievement and relative standing in the class. In past years, the mean grade in this course has generally been in the B to B+ range. The mean grade this year will be based on my judgment of the overall calibre of this class relative to past cohorts. Grades are unofficial until approved by the Department and/or Faculty offering the course. Additional Information: Deferred Examinations: A student who cannot write a term examination because of religious observations, an incapacitating illness, severe domestic affliction, or other compelling reasons can apply for a deferred examination. Students wishing accommodations for their religious beliefs must identify themselves during the first two weeks of the term. Applications for a deferral of work must be made to the instructor within 48 hours of the missed exam. Deferred exams will be given at 14:00 15:20 pm, Thursday, March 2, 2017 (Exam I) and 14:00 15:20 pm, Thursday, April 20, 2017 (Exam II). If (and only if) these times directly conflict with a scheduled class or examination, an alternate time will be arranged. The deferment of an examination is a privilege, rather than a right; there is no guarantee that a deferral will be granted. Misrepresentation of facts to gain a deferral is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behavior. Specialized Accessibility Services: Students who require accommodations in this course due to a disability affecting mobility, vision, hearing, learning, or mental or physical health are advised to discuss their needs with Student Accessibility Services ( Students Union Building; (phone) or (TTY).

4 Student Success Centre: Students who require additional help in developing strategies for better time management, study skills or examination skills should contact the Student Success Centre ( Students Union Building; ). Student Responsibilities: Academic Integrity: The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are urged to familiarize themselves with the Code of Student Behavior (available at s/codeofstudentbehaviour.aspx) and to avoid any behavior which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University. All forms of dishonesty are unacceptable at the University. Any offense will be reported to the Senior Associate Dean of Science who will determine the disciplinary action to be taken. Cheating, plagiarism and misrepresentation of facts are serious offenses. Anyone who engages in these practices will receive, at minimum, a grade of zero for the exam or paper in question and no opportunity will be given to replace the grade or redistribute the weights. As well, in the Faculty of Science the sanction for cheating on any examination will include a disciplinary failing grade (no exceptions) and senior students should expect a period of suspension or expulsion from the University of Alberta. Exams: Your student photo I.D. is required at exams to verify your identity. Students will not be allowed to begin an examination after it has been in progress for 30 minutes. Students must remain in the exam room for at least 30 minutes from the time the exam commences. Cell Phones and Recording of Lectures: Cell phones are to be turned off during lectures, and are not to be brought to exams. Recording is permitted only with the prior written consent of the professor or if recording is part of an approved accommodation plan. Course Outline Policy: The University of Alberta policy on course outlines can be found in Section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar. Any typographical errors in this Course Outline are subject to change and will be announced in class. The date of the final examination is set by the Registrar and takes precedence over the final examination date reported in this syllabus. Copyright: Dr. Jeffrey L. Kavanaugh, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta (2017).

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