1. Introduction

The formulation of appropriate environmental engineering solutions requires not only the involvement of environmental engineers, but also engineers from other disciplines (civil, chemical, mechanical, and electrical) as well as scientists (biologists, chemists, ecologists, geologists), economists, sociologists, and political and computer scientists.  It is therefore essential that environmental engineering students possess a fundamental knowledge of these broad areas.  In addition, it is also essential that the students are provided hands on experiences as part of their environmental engineering curriculum so that they can fully appreciate the challenges and rewards of a fulfilling environmental engineering career. 

 

2. Objectives

 

• The Metcalf & Eddy Environmental Engineering Design Competition is primarily aimed at exposing students to designing environmental unit processes based on multi-disciplinary environmental engineering principles as a means of supplementing material that they are exposed to via classroom teaching. 

• By imparting to the students a glimpse of exciting environmental engineering applications, the competition aims to greatly enhance their overall environmental engineering educational experience. 

• The competition also targets development of highly valuable teamwork and project management skills in the students that they will utilize when they go forth into their future career pursuits. 
  

3. Design Topics

 

Each participating team will work on a design project provided by Metcalf & Eddy.  This year, two design problems; one from wastewater treatment, and one from water treatment, are provided.  Details of each design problem are provided separately.

 

 

4. Design Approach

 

The overall design approach is expected to broadly involve the following steps:

 

• Definition of existing conditions (if the design problem is a plant upgrade or modification).
• Identification of alternatives for unit operations/processes applicable to design question.
• Appropriate configuration. For example, chemical vs biological process, attached or suspended growth mode, completely mixed, plug-flow, pre- and post-denitrification (hand calculations, modeling or documented evaluations).
• Design calculations to determine sizing and performance and other evaluation criteria.  Simulations using generic or specific software packages, if applicable, is encouraged but not required.
• Quantitative sensitivity analysis indicating the response of the chosen process design to variation in inputs and parameters (such as kinetic parameters, temperatures, flow rates).
• Cost analysis, both capital and operational/management, for the alternatives.  The life cycle of the process should be considered.
• Evaluation of the alternatives, identification and justification of the recommended alternative.
  

5. Entry

 

The design team shall notify as soon as possible the intent to participate to the coordinator (Ryujiro Tsuchihashi: ryujiro.tsuchihashi@m-e.aecom.com), identifying names of the team members, school, and instructing faculty.  The entry form (found at Metcalf & Eddy’s website: www.m-e.aecom.com) shall be used to notify the coordinator.

 

6. Deliverables

 

Deliverables for this design competition include:

• Design Report
• Poster

Detailed instruction for the deliverables is provided separately.

 

 

7. Metcalf & Eddy Liaison

 

An experienced engineer from Metcalf & Eddy will be assigned to each participating school as a liaison.  The liaison will be the contact person for each participating team for questions regarding the design problem and other inquiries.  To designate the Metcalf & Eddy liaison, it is important to notify the entry (see Section 5 above) to the coordinator as soon as the team is formed.

 

 

8. Judging Process

 

Scoring of Design Report and Poster

Scoring for the design report and poster is divided into the following scoring weights:

 

• Design Report                70%
• Poster                           30%

 

Scoring of the report and poster will be based on the following quality components:

·         Clarity and comprehensiveness of evaluation

·         Justification for selected technology

·         Presentation

 

Selection Process

• Qualification: Teams will be rated by a panel of judges from Metcalf & Eddy based on the design report and poster, and the selected teams will be interviewed via videocast.
• Videocast interview: Selected teams will be invited to participate in a professionally geared interview with a panels of judges from Metcalf & Eddy via videocast.  Details of the interview will be notified to the selected teams.
• Final presentation: Two finalist teams will be determined based on the interviews and invited to Metcalf & Eddy’s New York office for a final presentation and award ceremony.  The panel of final presentation judges will include professionals from Metcalf & Eddy and other entities.  Details of the final interview and award ceremony will be determined and notified to the finalist teams.
   

9. Schedule

 

The schedule for this year’s design competition is shown below.  There final deadline is April 6, 2008. 

 

Date	TASK
Week of August 20, 2007	Design packages and problems are issued – open for entries
April 6, 2008	Final Design Report and Poster submission deadline
Week of April 6, 2008	Pre-screening for interviews
Week of April 13, 2008	Videocast interviews
Week of April 20, 2008	Finalists to be announced
Week of May 5, 2008	Final presentation and award ceremony in New York City

 

10. Eligibility

 

• This design competition is open to academic institutions in North America (United States and Canada).
• Each academic institution can enter the Design Competition with more than one team, but each team must work independently.
• Student teams working on this project shall include primarily undergraduate students and each team shall be actively guided a faculty advisor throughout the course of the project. 
• The faculty advisor is allowed to instruct more than one team.
• Each design team should not exceed six (6) team members.

• Participating academic institutions should have an instituted design course or a dedicated senior-level Water/Wastewater Engineering course to enable integration with the Design Competition.  
   

11. Awards

The first placed team will receive $2,500.  Additionally, the instructing faculty for the winning team will receive $2,500.

 

Each member of the winning team will receive a copy of the Metcalf & Eddy textbook and all participants will receive a certificate of participation in the competition.

 

Metcalf & Eddy will give top priority to participants for upcoming employment opportunities.

 

The overall award winning project may be considered for further study and publication with Metcalf & Eddy experts. 

 

For more information, please contact the Design Competition coordinator: Ryujiro (Roy) Tsuchihashi at ryujiro.tsuchihashi@m-e.aecom.com.