Ecological engineering is the design of natural systems to the benefit of nature, mankind, or both. The field rose to prominence in response to the United States “No Net Loss” policy with regards to wetlands. Modern engineering firms are often contracted to either create or restore wetlands to offset the destruction of wetlands during development. As such, there is a constant need for engineers with the skill set to engineer natural systems that can enhance or replicate the ecosystem services that wetlands deliver.
However, ecological engineering isn’t just about wetlands. It can mean mitigating effects to a forest from acid mine drainage, the restoration of a mountain top removal project, or even the creation of a lake with dams.
In order to properly engineer these systems, though, it’s important to have a solid grasp on the underlying chemistry, biology, and hydrology of these systems. This class is a broad look at these processes as they apply to ecosystems. You will learn to work with common mathematical representations for each of these elements.