Phosphorus and Engineering Ethics Lecture Review

45 vocabulary flashcards based on a lecture about phosphorus and engineering ethics.

Bedrock

The main natural source of phosphorus.

H2PO4 - (Dihydrogen Phosphate), HPO42 - (Hydrogen Phosphate), PO43 - (Phosphate)

Three plant-available forms of phosphorus.

DNA backbone

One role of phosphorus in living organisms.

Limiting nutrient

Phosphorus is considered this in freshwater systems.

Eutrophication

An environmental issue linked to excess phosphorus.

Phosphorus load equation

L = 0.226 * R * C * A.

L = annual load (lbs)

R = annual runoff (in),
C – pollutant concentration (mg/l)

A = area (acres)

0.226 factor

Converts units in the simple phosphorus load equation.

TP

Total Phosphorus.

Molybdate colorimetric reaction

The lab method used to detect phosphorus.

SRP

Soluble Reactive Phosphorus.

Acid digestion

The analysis that must precede TP measurement.

Riparian buffers

A BMP for phosphorus reduction in agriculture.

Conservation tillage

Leaving crop residue on fields to reduce erosion.

WASCOB

Water and Sediment Control Basin.

R Studio

The tool used to visualize data in ERE 133.

T-test

A statistical test that compares means.

Data analysis planning

A key component which involves planning before data collection.

Consistent formatting

Important in data to make analysis and tracking easier.

Orthographic projections

2D views aligned from a 3D object.

Isometric drawing

A 3D drawing showing height, width, and depth.

AutoCAD drawings

.dwg is the file extension for these.

Engineering ethics

Moral principles guiding engineers in professional duties.

ASCE stakeholders

Society, Environment, Clients, Peers, and Profession.

Obligation to the natural environment

To promote sustainability.

Obligation to society

To protect health and safety.

Obligation to peers

To respect and support professional development.

Conflict of interest

When personal interest could compromise professional judgment.

Whistleblower

Someone who reports unethical or illegal conduct.

Legal protection for whistleblowers

To prevent retaliation and encourage truth-telling.

Flint Water Crisis

Caused by a water source switch without corrosion control.

Ethical failure in Flint

Officials ignored evidence, endangering public health.

Lesson from Flint case

Ethical responsibility must outweigh political pressures.

Standard CAD file type

.dxf is commonly used for sharing.

CAD dimensioned drawing

Must include all relevant measurements and annotations.

Grassed waterways

A tool that helps reduce sediment and phosphorus loss on farms.

Riparian buffer

Vegetated area along a water body that traps pollutants.

T-test purpose

Determines if the means of two datasets are statistically different.

Acid digestion purpose in TP analysis

Converts all forms of phosphorus into detectable SRP.

Molybdate + orthophosphate reaction

Gives SRP its measurable blue color.

Engineers follow ethical codes

To protect public safety and uphold trust.

Proper sample collection plan

Should include timing, number of replicates, metadata, and feasibility.

Example of metadata in ERE 133

Site temperature or presence of inlets/outlets.

Advance planning in sampling importance

Ensures data is usable and meets study goals.

High SRP level

Indicates high bioavailable phosphorus, potential for eutrophication.

Orthographic projection

A CAD drawing that shows multiple orthogonal views.

Ethics

Moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity.