CEV425 Analysis of Environmental Systems

Fall 2017

Recep Kaya Göktaş, rkaya.goktas@kocaeli.edu.tr, Room: 2028

Office Hours (Room 2028):

Mondays: 16:00-17:00
Tuesdays: 17:00-18:00
Wednesdays: 16:00-17:00

Course Schedule:
Day: Tuesdays, 14:00 – 16:50, Classroom: 206
Night: Mondays, 17:00 – 19:40, Classroom: 204

Course Homepage: http://rkgoktas.wordpress.com/CEV425

Course Objectives: The objective of this course is to provide an introduction to system

thinking as applied to environmental problems. The techniques for understanding the
dynamics of environmental systems are covered at an introductory level. The basics of
system dynamics modeling techniques are covered. Complex environmental problems are
qualitatively analyzed by the help of the recent literature through reading and writing
assignments, as well as class discussions.

Course Content: Introduction to systems thinking. Introducttion to systems analysis. System

dynamics models and simulation analysis. System thinking in environmenal science and
engineering. Complex environmental problems (e.g. climate change, human population
growth).

At the end of this course, you will:

 have an introductory understanding of systems thinking
 have an introductory understanding of complex systems
 develop basic skills for the analysis of environmental systems

Textbooks:
- Dynamic Modeling of Environmental Systems. 1999. Micheal L. Deaton & James J.
Winebrake. Springer.
- Thinking in Systems: A Primer. 2008. Donella H. Meadows.
- Modeling the Environment, 1st Edition. 1999. Andrew Ford.
- Modeling the Environment, 2nd Edition. 2010. Andrew Ford.

Grading:
Activity Quantity %
Midterm Exam 1 28
Homeworks 2 28
Class Participation 1 14
Final Exam 1 30
 CEV425 Analysis of Environmental Systems
Fall 2017

Tentative Syllabus
The week of ... What is going to be covered?

11 September, 2017 Introduction

18 September, 2017 Planetary Boundaries

25 September, 2017 The Systems Lens

2 October, 2017 The Basics of System Structure and Behaviour

9 October, 2017 Fundamental Dynamic Patterns of Systems

16 October, 2017 Math Review

23 October, 2017 Exponential Growth & Exponential Decline

30 October, 2017 Feedback

6 November, 2017 Midterm Exam

13 November, 2017 System Dynamics Software Overview

20 November, 2017 Introduction to Modeling Environmental Systems

27 November, 2017 Applying Systems Thinking to Environmental Problems

4 December, 2017 Building Blocks for Environmental Systems Models I

11 December, 2017 Building Blocks for Environmental Systems Models II

18 December, 2017 Modeling Homework Presentations

25 December, 2017 Final Exam

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT

You are required to attend at least 70% of the classes. That means you need to attend at
least 10 of the 14 weeks of classes we will have this semester.
I will collect your signatures every week to check if you comply with the attendance
requirement.
If you do not comply with the attendance requirement, you will immediately fail the class.

KOCAELİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ ÖNLİSANS VE LİSANS EĞİTİM-ÖĞRETİM YÖNETMELİĞİ

Devam koşulu
MADDE 18 – (1) Öğrenci, ilk kez kayıt yaptırdığı teorik derslerin en az %70’ine, diğer öğretim türlerinin de en az %80’ine
devam etmek zorundadır. Laboratuvar ve uygulamalı derslerden başarısızlık durumunda devam şartı tekrar aranır.
(2) Öğrencilerin derse devamları, sorumlu öğretim elemanı tarafından yoklamalarla imza karşılığı tespit edilir. Devam
durumu yarıyıl/yılın son haftasında ilgili öğretim elemanı tarafından öğrenci bilgi sisteminde öğrenciye ilan edilir.