2002 Annual Report
Teaching Program
Courses
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Courses
BAE 1011 Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Orientation, 1 cr
(Morey/Nieber)
Introduction to biosystems and agricultural engineering profession through
readings and discussions by faculty, practicing engineers and fellow students.
Orientation to the program, including curriculum, intern, undergraduate
research, and honors opportunities. Discussion of ethics, safety, and
environmental issues in engineering.
BAE 2113 Introduction to Design, 3 cr (Morey)
Introduction to design process including creativity, problem formulation,
identification of alternative solutions, safety and health considerations,
economic feasibility. Engineering economics. Engineering graphics and
computer drafting. Mini-design projects involving written, graphical,
and oral presentations.
BAE 3013 Engineering Principles of Molecular and Cellular Processes,
3 cr (Bhattacharya)
Introduction to applied engineering principles in biological processes,
classification of microbes of industrial importance, parameters important
for cellular control, modeling of cell growth and metabolism, enzymatic
catalysis, bioreactor design, product recovery operations design and case
studies.
BAE 3023 Engineering Principles of Soil-Water-Plant Processes, 3 cr
(Clanton)
Physical, thermal, texture, strength, and moisture properties of soil.
Saturated and unsaturated moisture movement. Energy and water balances
in soil-plant system. Plant stresses from drought, flooding, temperature,
radiation, compaction and pollution. Engineering and management impacts
on soil-water-plant systems.
BAE 4013 Transport in Biological Systems, 4 cr (Nieber)
Application of thermodynamics, fluid flow, heat and mass transfer to design
problems involving biological processes and materials at the cellular,
organism and system level. Agricultural, environmental, food and bioprocess
applications. Hands-on instruction in Visual Basic.
BAE 4023 Instrumentation and Control for Biological Systems, 3 cr
(Janni)
Measurement of motion, force, pressure, flow, temperature, size, shape,
color, texture, rheology, moisture, water mobility, fat, pH, etc. Linking
physical and biological control systems.
BAE 4112 Senior Design I, 2 cr (Goodrich)
Review of design concepts and design process. Case studies involving engineering
design. Discussion of safety and ethical issues facing engineers. Development
of a proposal for a senior design project (individual or group) to be
completed in BAE 4122. Oral presentation of the written proposal.
BAE 4122 Senior Design II, 2 cr (Goodrich)
Students complete a design project started in BAE 4112 culminating in
a comprehensive design report, poster and oral presentation of the final
design.
BAE 4313 Design of Machine Systems, 3 cr (Chaplin)
In-depth study of the design of machinery systems. Various case studies
of machines/processes will be used. Students will cover design for world
markets, crop production (tractors, harvesters, implements), food and
crop processing systems (pumping, conveying), and animal systems (milking
parlor design, waste handling machines).
BAE 4323 Machinery Elements, 3 cr (Chaplin)
Basic machinery components. Building blocks for machines used in crop
production and food processing. Power from diesel engines, electric &
hydraulic motors, performance characteristics, efficiency. Machine control
systems modeling (electro-hydraulic), machinery hydraulic circuit design,
safety.
BAE 4523 Water Management Engineering, 3 cr (Nieber)
Applying engineering principles to management of water for production
and environmental protection in agricultural systems. Designing facilities
to irrigate and drain croplands and enhance water quality.
BAE 4533 Agricultural Waste Management Engineering, 3 cr (Clanton)
Sources and characteristics of agricultural wastes including livestock,
food processing, and domestic wastes. Physical, biological, chemical,
rheological and microbiological properties. Effects on the environment.
Collection, storage, treatment (aerobic and anaerobic) and utilization/disposal.
Land application.
BAE 4713 Bioprocess Engineering, 3 cr (Ruan)
Fermentation and separation as applied to biological systems, product
recovery in bioproduct technology, topics in bioremediation, and modeling
of separation processes in biological systems.
BAE 4723 Food Process Engineering, 3 cr (Bhattacharya)
Application of principles of heat transfer and fluid flow to the design
of various food processing operations such as thermal and aseptic processing,
freezing, pumping, drying, evaporation, and extrusion. Marketing and government
regulation, nutrition issues, etc.
BAE 4900 Intern Reports, 2 cr (Chaplin/Morey)
Student exposure to engineering practice through an intern program. Periodic
reports on work assignments are reviewed by faculty and coordinated with
industry advisors.
BAE 5513 Watershed Engineering, 3 cr (Wilson)
Application of engineering principles to the management of surface runoff
from agricultural, range and urban watersheds. Design of facilities and
selection of land use practices for the control of surface runoff to mitigate
problems of flooding and the degradation surface-water quality.
BAE 8001 Seminar, 1 cr (Janni)
Presentation and discussions on current research topics, research philosophy
and principles, proposal writing, and professional presentations.
BAE 8002 Research Seminar I (1 cr) (Bhattacharya)
Organization and critique of seminars on new developments in biosystems
and agricultural engineering and related fields.
BAE 8003 Research Seminar II (1 cr) (Bhattacharya)
Moderate and critique seminars in biosystems and agricultural engineering.
BAE 8005 Supervised Classroom or Extension Teaching Experience, 2
cr (Morey)
Classroom or extension teaching experience in one of the following five
departments: Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy and Plant
Genetics, Horticultural Science, Soil, Water and Climate, or Plant Pathology.
Participation in discussions about effective teaching to strengthen skills
and develop a personal teaching philosophy.
BAE 8013 Parameter Estimation in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering,
3 cr (Wilson)
Procedures for estimating parameter values and parameter uncertainty from
experimental data. Values and intepretation of linear and nonlinear models
using ordinary and weighted least-square methods. Design of experiments.
Application to biosystems and agricultural engineering problems.
BAE 8094 Advanced Problems & Research, 2-6 cr
Research problems in biosystems and agricultural engineering.
BAE 8303 Machinery Modeling, 3 cr (Chaplin)
Machinery systems modeling using multibody dynamics simulation software
(MDS). Students review models in the literature and report on the limitations
of the modeling approaches. Models developed in the student’s interest
area.
BAE 8513 Hydrologic Modeling of Small Watersheds, 3 cr (Wilson)
Study and representation of hydrologic processes by mathematical models:
stochastic meteorological variables, infiltration, overland flow, return
flow, evapotranspiration, and channel flows. Approaches for model calibration
and evaluation.
BAE 8523 Coupled Heat, Moisture, and Chemical Transport in Porous
Media, 3 cr (Nieber)
Mathematical study of coupled heat, moisture, and chemical transport in
porous media. Derivation of governing equations for coupled heat, moisture,
and chemical transport. Derivation of numerical solution techniques to
solve coupled equations. Comparision of numerical solutions to analytical
solutions.
BAE 8703 Managing Water in Food and Biological Systems, 3 cr (Ruan)
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of water in foods and biological
materials using NMR and MRI. Water and chemical reactivity, microbial
activity, physiochemical properties and changes, and structural properties
and changes in foods and biological materials.
Agricultural Engineering Technology Courses for Non-Engineering Students
AGET 3213 Engineering Principles and Applications, 3 cr (Ruan)
Introduces a variety of engineering principles and concepts to non-engineering
students. Quantitatively apply mathematical and engineering principles
to solve problems from a range of areas in animal production, crop production,
horticulture, and soil and water management.
AGET 5203 Environmental Impacts of Food Production, 3 cr (Goodrich)
Exploration of the environmental changes resulting from food production.
Topics include crop production intensity, animal raising options, food
processing waste alternatives, and pest control.
AGET 5212 Safety and Health Issues in Plant and Animal Production
and Processing, 3 cr (Shutske)
Safety/health issues in food production, processing and horticultural
work environments using public health, injury control, and health promotion
frameworks: regulation, engineering, education. Traumatic injury, occupational
illness, ergonomics, pesticide health effects, biotechnology, air contaminants.