BRAE-BIORESOURCE
and AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING – 2005-07 Catalog
Bioresource & Agricultural Engineering Department
BRAE 121 Agricultural Mechanics (2)
Identification and use of
tools and materials; shop safety; tool sharpening and care; concrete mixes and
materials; simple electric wiring; metal work; pipe fitting; basic woodworking;
estimating quantities and costs. Students are required to meet safety
regulations in laboratory work. 1 lecture, 1 laboratory.
BRAE 124 Small Engines (2)
Operating
principles of the small internal combustion engine. Maintenance and trouble-shooting
applications of small power units to all types of engine applications.
Repair procedures related to economic justifications. 1
lecture, 1 activity.
BRAE 128 Careers in Bioresource
and Agricultural Engineering (2)
Introduction to careers
associated with BioResource and Agricultural
Engineering, and Agricultural Systems Management. Professional
engineering registration process. Engineering problem
solution and report format. Design procedures. Engineering
fundamentals. Laboratory includes visits to facilities relating to
career opportunities. 1 lecture, 1 laboratory.
BRAE 129 Laboratory Skills and Safety (1)
Introduction
to fabrication and construction materials used in the field of Agricultural
Engineering. Fabrication
skills in the development of wood, metal, concrete projects, and creative
design. Strength tests of wood, fasteners, concrete, and student design
projects. 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE and ASM
majors only.
BRAE 133 Engineering Design Graphics (2)
Visual
communication in engineering design and problem solving. Principles of freehand sketching,
engineering graphics, and computer-aided-drafting. Perspective
and orthographic sketching, orthographic drawing with instruments and computer,
applied descriptive geometry. 2 laboratories.
BRAE 141 Agricultural Machinery Safety (3)
Evaluation
of safe tractor and equipment operation. Supervised field operation emphasizing the safe and
efficient performance of modern farm and utility-industrial equipment. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory.
BRAE 142 Agricultural Power and Machinery
Management (4)
Evaluation of agricultural machinery and tractor power
performance. Equipment studied
includes primary and secondary tillage tools, grain drills, row crop planters,
sprayers, grain and forage harvesters, and specialty crop harvesters. Emphasis
on management, selection, cost analysis using computers and efficient operation
of agricultural machinery. 3
lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: MATH 116 or equivalent.
BRAE 143 Power and Machinery (4)
Performance
of tractors and machinery. Evaluation of tillage, planting, and harvesting operations. Analysis and development of optimum mechanical systems. Use of microcomputers for evaluation, analysis, and report
presentation. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.
Prerequisite: BRAE 128, MATH 119 or equivalent.
BRAE 151 CAD for Agricultural Engineering (1)
Computer aided drafting on
a desktop personal computer using Autocad software. Drawing setup. 2-D projections including
automatic dimensioning and hatching. Isometric
construction, drawing layers, library symbols. Use of
3-D drawing software. 1 laboratory.
Prerequisite: BRAE 133 or equivalent.
BRAE 152 3-D Solids Modeling (1)
Introduction
to 3-dimensional solids modeling using state-of-the-art software. Model generation and modification
of associative properties, assembly modeling, extrusions and revolutions.
1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE 133, BRAE 151 or
equivalent courses.
BRAE 200 Special Problems for Undergraduates
(1–4)
Individual
investigation, research, studies or surveys of selected problems. Total credit limited to 8 units, with a maximum of 4
units per quarter. Prerequisite: Consent of department head.
BRAE 201
Introductory
experience in a bioresource/agricultural engineering
or agricultural systems management project. Project participation is subject to approval by the
department head and the Cal Poly Foundation. Credit/No Credit grading only.
Prerequisite: BRAE 129 or consent of instructor.
BRAE 203 Agricultural Systems Analysis (3)
Agricultural Systems
Analysis investigates the interrelationships between sub-components in an
overall system. Problem solving algorithms, network analysis,
project planning techniques, and optimization. 2
lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: MATH 118 or equivalent.
BRAE 213 Bioengineering Fundamentals (2) GE B2
(Also listed as ENGR 213)
Treatment
of the engineering applications of biology. Genetic engineering and the
industrial application of microbiology. Systems
physiology with engineering applications. Structure and function
relationships in biological systems. The impact of life on
its environment. 2 lectures. For
engineering students only. Prerequisite: MATH 142, CHEM 124.
Co-requisite: BIO 213.
BRAE 216 Fundamentals of Electricity (4)
Application
of electricity in BioResource and Agricultural
Engineering, including basic electric circuits. Will include wiring materials, code
regulations, electrical measurements, R-L-C circuit fundamentals, system
planning, motors, basic electronics, and an introduction to computer usage.
3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE 128, BRAE
129, MATH 142, PHYS 131.
BRAE 226 Introduction to Principles of Bioresource Engineering (4)
Introduction to principles
of engineering as applied to biological and agricultural systems as found in
industry. Engineering properties of conventional and
biological materials. Introduction to basic unit processes in
industrial, agricultural, and biological systems. Special
requirements of agricultural and biological processes. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE 128, BRAE 129,
PHYS 131; BIO 213 and BRAE 213 or ENGR 213, or MCRO 221.
BRAE 231 Agricultural Building Construction (3)
Development
of practical skills in carpentry and light construction. Selection of materials.
Agricultural buildings repaired, constructed, or modified during laboratory
periods. 1 lecture, 2 laboratories. Prerequisite: BRAE 129 or consent of
instructor.
BRAE 232 Agricultural Structures Planning (4)
Planning of facilities
required in production systems. Materials and processes used in construction of
agricultural structures. Environmental factors affecting crop storage
structures and animal housing. Design of structural
environments to meet the needs of commodities, animals, and plants. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE 151, PHYS 132.
BRAE 234 Introduction to Mechanical Systems in
Agriculture (4)
Introduction to elements
used in the mechanical transmission of power and force in agricultural systems.
Power transmission using v-belts. roller
chain, gear and shaft drives, hydraulic actuators. Linear and
nonlinear actuation devices including linkages, cams, and hydraulic/pneumatic
cylinders. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.
Prerequisite: BRAE 128, BRAE 129, PHYS 131.
BRAE 236 Principles of Irrigation (4)
Land grading design,
operation, management, and evaluation of irrigation methods. 3
lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: MATH 141, BRAE 239, SS 121, a
computer programming course.
BRAE 237 Engineering Surveying I (2)
Use and
care of tapes, levels, theodolites and Global
Positioning System (GPS) receivers.
Keeping field notes, measurements by tape. Differential leveling. Turning angles and determining
directions of lines. GPS measurements. Map reading. Introduction to electronic distance
measurement (EDM), photogrammetry, and
land modeling. 1 lecture, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite:
MATH 119 or an understanding of trigonometric functions.
BRAE 238 Engineering Surveying II (2)
Traverses
by theodolite. Adjustments, coordinates, and area calculations.
Earthwork and landgrading. Topographic mapping. Triangulation and trilateration
using electronic distance measurement. Horizontal and
vertical curve layout. 1 lecture, 1 laboratory.
Prerequisite: BRAE 237.
BRAE 239 Engineering Surveying (4)
Use and care of tapes,
levels, theodolites, Global Positioning
system (GPS) receivers, Electronic Distance Measurement instruments (EDM) and
electronic field books. Traverses, triangulation, trilateration, earthwork and associated calculations.
Topographic mapping, photogrammetry, map reading and
land descriptions. 2 lectures, 2 laboratories.
Prerequisite: MATH 119 or equivalent.
BRAE 240 Agricultural Engineering Laboratory
(1)
Individual projects. Total
credit limited to 4 units. 1 laboratory. Prerequisite:
Consent of instructor.
BRAE 247
Use and
care of tapes, staff compass, abney levels, theodolites, and GPS receivers. Keeping field notes, measurements
by tape. Closed and open traverse by compass and theodolite.
Turning angles and determining directions of lines. Map reading and public land
description. GPS measurements. 1
lecture, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: MAPE Score G, prerequisite or
concurrent: FNR 215.
BRAE 301 Hydraulic and Mechanical Power Systems
(4)
Selection,
application and use of hydraulic components and mechanical power transmission
equipment. Use
of standardized circuit design procedures. 3 lectures,
1 laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 121.
BRAE 302 Servo Hydraulics (4)
Application
of microcomputers and programmable logic controllers to hydraulic, pneumatic
and mechanical systems. Theory,
instrumentation and sensors used in process and control systems used in
agricultural equipment. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.
Prerequisite: BRAE 216 or BRAE 324 and BRAE 234 or BRAE 301.
BRAE 312 Hydraulics (4)
Static and dynamic
characteristics of liquids, flow in open and closed
channels, uniform and nonuniform flow, flow
measurement, pumps. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.
Prerequisite: PHYS 132, ME 211.
BRAE 321 Agricultural Safety (3)
Principles
of agricultural safety. Accident causation and prevention, hazard identification and
abatement, laws and regulations. Machinery,
electrical, chemical, livestock, shop and fire safety. Safety program development. 2 lectures, 1
activity. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
BRAE 324 Principles of Agricultural
Electrification (4)
Applications
of DC/AC electricity in agriculture.
National Electric Code regulations. The
wiring of agricultural structures and electrical distribution. Series, parallel and series-parallel circuits, R-L-C circuits,
electric motors, electronics. 3 lectures, 1
laboratory. Prerequisite: MATH 119 or MATH 120, PHYS 121.
BRAE 325 Agricultural Energy Systems (3)
Use of
energy systems in modern agriculture with a focus on the economic and moral
dilemmas facing our technological society. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS
121, BRAE 142.
BRAE 326 Energy Systems for Agriculture (3)
Theory
and application of energy sources and systems. Covering such sources as heat
systems, biomass, direct energy conversion, and power application to the soil.
2 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE 143, ME
211, ME 302. ME 302 may be taken concurrently.
BRAE 328 Measurements and Computer Interfacing
(4)
Transducers
and engineering measurements in agricultural engineering. Covering transducer
characteristics, signal processors and controllers, instrumentation techniques,
and the use of the computer in the measurement and control of typical
engineering problems. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.
Prerequisite: PHYS 206, PHYS 256, a computer programming course.
BRAE 331 Irrigation Theory (3)
Plant-water-soil relations
using evapotranspiration, plant stress, soil moisture
deficiency, frequency and depth of irrigation, salinity, infiltration, drainage
and climate control. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: BRAE
236, or BRAE 340.
BRAE 335 Internal Combustion Engines (4)
Principles of operation of internal combustion
engines. Theory
of operation and diagnosis evaluation and repair of small engines, gasoline and
diesel engines and economics of operation, use and repair. Power analysis and application. 3
lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
BRAE 337 Landscape Irrigation (3)
Design of landscape
irrigation systems including soil factors, hydraulics, site information,
selection of system components, back flow prevention,
plumbing codes and cost estimating. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory.
Prerequisite: SS 121 or consent of instructor.
BRAE 339 Internship in BioResource
and Agricultural Engineering (1–12) (CR/NC)
Students will spend up to
12 weeks with an approved agricultural firm engaged in production or related
business. Time will be spent applying and developing production and managerial
skills and abilities. One unit of credit may be allowed for each full week of
completed and reported internship. Degree credit limited to 6 units. Credit/No
Credit grading only. Prerequisite: Consent of internship instructor.
BRAE 340 Irrigation Water Management (4) GE Area F
Soil-plant-water
relationships; evapotranspiration; irrigation
schedules; salinity and drainage; irrigation efficiency. Water measurement; soil moisture
measurement; irrigation systems and practical constraints affecting scheduling.
BRAE 342 Agricultural Materials (4)
Physical
properties of agricultural materials and their measurement. Strength of materials, material
flow and transport, material deformation, shape and size classification,
moisture relationships and biological interactions. Interactions between
agricultural materials, the environment and equipment used to handle them. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 121, CHEM 110
or CHEM 111, SS 121.
BRAE 343 Mechanical Systems Analysis (4)
Use of statics and dynamics to make original calculations, plans,
sketches, graphics, drawings, schemes and layouts for the fabrication and
construction of machines. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: MATH 119, BRAE 203,
BRAE 301 or concurrent. Junior standing.
BRAE 344 Fabrication Systems (4)
Fabrication
systems including cutting, sawing, shearing, bending, welding, grinding,
cleaning, painting and proper safety procedures. Experimental projects to include team design and
construction, presentation, organization, and evaluation. 2
lectures, 2 laboratories. Prerequisite: BRAE 343.
BRAE 345 Aerial Photogrammetry
and Remote Sensing (3)
Object recognition,
three-dimensional equipment, and interpretation of aerial photographs. Print
alignment, stereoscopic viewing, scales, elevation determination, and application.
Orthophotos and their relationship to Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Application of aerial photos to regional studies. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: MATH 119.
BRAE 348 Energy for a Sustainable Society (4) GE Area F
Study of how the transition
can be made from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources including hydro,
biomass, solar, wind, and energy conservation. Environmental,
economic, and political consequences of a renewable energy-based sustainable
society. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite:
Completion of GE Area B and junior standing.
BRAE 400 Special Problems for Advanced
Undergraduates (1–4)
Individual
investigation, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems in
agriculture. Total credit limited
to 8 units, with a maximum of 4 units per quarter. Prerequisite: Consent of
department head.
BRAE 401
Advanced experience in a bioresource/agricultural engineering or agricultural
systems management project. Project leadership and management are stressed.
Project participation is subject to approval by the department head and the Cal
Poly Foundation. Credit/No Credit grading only. Prerequisite: BRAE 201 or
consent of instructor.
BRAE 403 Agricultural Systems Engineering (4)
Engineering and economic
principles combined with mathematical optimization techniques to evaluate
parameters in agricultural production and processing systems. Project planning
techniques, linear and nonlinear modeling, response
surface methodology. Professional responsibilities in
Agricultural Engineering including ethics, patents, copyrights, liability.
3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: ECON 201/211,
MATH 242 or MATH 244.
BRAE 405 Chemigation
(1)
Fertilizer
and chemical injection through irrigation systems. Hardware, fertilizer compounds, and
distribution uniformity. Matching chemicals and
equipment to specific irrigation methods. Safety.
1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE 236 or BRAE 340.
BRAE 414 Irrigation Engineering (4)
Design of
on-farm irrigation systems; micro, surface, and sprinkler irrigation systems;
canals and pumps; economic and strategies of pipe design; pipeline protection. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.
Prerequisite: BRAE 331 or BRAE 340; hydraulics.
BRAE 415 Hydrology (4)
Collection, organization
and use of precipitation and runoff data, flood frequency, stream gauging and
use of hydrograph, principles of groundwater and flood routing, sizing and
economics of soil and water conservation structures. 3
lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: Junior standing, MATH 141, and SS
121 or consent of instructor.
BRAE 418, 419 Agricultural
Systems Management I, II (4) (4)
Project
management of agricultural systems.
Emphasis placed on a team approach to problem solution. Case studies and
student projects used to explore the following topics: project leadership,
project organization, communication, needs assessment, feasibility studies,
cost analysis, decision making, solution implementation, and evaluation. BRAE
418: 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. BRAE 419: 2 lectures, 2 laboratories.
Prerequisite: BRAE 203, AGB 301, AGB 310 and ENGL 148. For BRAE 419: BRAE 418.
BRAE 421 Equipment Engineering (3)
Design
and construction of specialized agricultural components and equipment. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite:
BRAE 328, CE 205, ME 212.
BRAE 422 Equipment Engineering (4)
Design
and construction of specialized agricultural components and equipment. 2 lectures, 2 laboratories.
Prerequisite: BRAE 421.
BRAE 425 Computer Controls for Agriculture (3)
Computer activated controls
as applied to agricultural machinery, agricultural structures, processing and
irrigation industries. Encompassing control logic to evaluate
stability behavior of systems of computer interfacing, data input and control
output. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite:
BRAE 324, CSC 110 or CSC 119 or AG 250 or CSC 232.
BRAE 427 Agricultural Process Engineering (3)
Agricultural engineering
principles applied to air, water, air-water mixtures, drying, heating,
refrigeration, fluid flow, size reduction, fan laws and materials handling. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE 312, BRAE 430,
ME 302.
BRAE 430 Finite Element Analysis (3)
Introduction to the theory
of finite element analysis and its application to drainage, pipe flow, fruit
and vegetable damage predictions, structural strength, heat transfer, and other
agricultural engineering applications. 2 lectures, 1
laboratory. Prerequisite: CE 204, MATH 242 or MATH 244, ME 302.
BRAE 432 Agricultural Buildings (4)
Selection
of buildings, storage units, and related equipment for production agriculture. Economics and functionality of
various designs and construction materials. Environmental factors
affecting crop storage and animal housing. 3 lectures, 1
laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 121, BRAE 342, BRAE 343.
BRAE 433 Agricultural Structures Design (4)
Structural
analysis and design of agricultural service and processing buildings. Emphasis on use of wood, metals,
and reinforced concrete in light construction. 3
lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE 232, CE 205.
BRAE 435 Drainage (4)
Relevant principles of
hydrology and porous media flow. Flow nets, wells and ground water, design of
simple surface and sub-surface drains. 3 lectures, 1
laboratory. Prerequisite: Junior standing, BRAE 312, BRAE 331, or BRAE
340 or SS 432 and consent of instructor.
BRAE 437 Conservation Engineering (3)
Engineering
solutions of soil and water conservation problems. Applications of engineering fundamentals of
hydraulics, hydrology, and soils used in the design and construction of soil
and water conservation structures. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory.
Prerequisite: BRAE 312, BRAE 415, SS 121, or consent of instructor.
BRAE 438 Drip/Micro Irrigation (4)
Drip/micro
irrigation hardware and management.
Emphasizes agricultural drip/micro irrigation with some
landscape application. Filtration, emitters, chemical
injection, agronomic constraints, and scheduling. Field trip(s)
included. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE
236 or BRAE 340.
BRAE 439 Vineyard Water Management (4)
Management
of rain and irrigation water in vineyards. Irrigation scheduling, managing water stress, climate control with
irrigation methods commonly used. Management for wine, table
grapes, and raisins. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.
Prerequisite: BRAE 340 or BRAE 236.
BRAE 440 Agricultural Irrigation Systems (4)
On-farm
irrigation system evaluation and management. Drip, micro-spray, furrow, border
strip, sprinkler systems. Irrigation efficiency and
uniformity. Pumping costs. For
non-AE majors only. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.
Prerequisite: BRAE 340 or consent of instructor.
BRAE 446
CAD Software for Land Modeling (2)
Techniques
for preparing data for geographic information systems using TERRAMODEL. Digital data from surveying, orthophotography,
and government data sources will be entered, displayed, edited and translated
for use in other software packages. Transformation of
coordinate systems. Earthwork and hydrologic examples.
1 lecture, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE 239.
BRAE 447 Advanced Surveying with GIS
Applications (4)
Collecting field data;
processing the data; generating graphical representation of the data; design
based on the data and laying out the design in the field; and available record
resources for use in GIS systems and their accuracy. 2
lectures, 2 laboratories. Prerequisite: BRAE 239.
BRAE 448 Bioconversion (4)
Biological,
thermal and physical techniques for converting biomass into useful energy forms
for agriculture and industry.
Laboratory exercises include experiments with anaerobic digestion of animal
wastes into methane, ethanol fermentation of grains and composting of
agricultural residues. Technical and economic feasibility of biofuels. 3 lectures, 1
laboratory. Prerequisite: MATH 118 (or MATH 116 and MATH 117) or
equivalent, or consent of instructor.
BRAE 452 Legal Aspects/Data Accuracy for GIS
(3)
Research
of boundary descriptions, record maps, and existing survey data. Value and implications of the data.
Local and state requirements and restrictions on use of data.
Procedures for incorporation of data into Arc/Info. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE 237 or BRAE
239.
BRAE 460 Senior Project Organization (1)
Selection
and organization of senior project.
Involves time management, research techniques, budgeting and project
presentation. 1 lecture. Prerequisite: For BRAE
majors: ENGL 149; for ASM majors: ENGL 148; junior standing.
BRAE 461, 462 Senior Project I,
II (2) (2)
Solution
of an engineering or systems management problem in agriculture. May involve research methodology,
problem statement, analysis, synthesis, project design, construction, and
evaluation. Project requires 150 hours with a minimum of faculty
supervision. Prerequisite: BRAE 460.
BRAE 463 Undergraduate Seminar (1)
Group
discussion of current agricultural engineering topics presented by individual
members of the class and visitors.
Placement opportunities and requirements. 1 seminar.
BRAE 464 Professional Practice (3)
Contracts,
specifications, and legal aspects of agricultural engineering. Safety and human factors. Engineering ethics and professional registration. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: Senior standing.
BRAE 470 Selected Advanced Topics (1–4)
Directed
group study of selected topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. Class Schedule will list topic selected.
Total credit limited to 8 units. 1–4 lectures. Prerequisite: Consent of
instructor.
BRAE 471 Selected Advanced Laboratory (1–4)
Directed
group laboratory study of selected topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. Class Schedule will list topic selected.
Total credit limited to 8 units. 1–4 laboratories.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
BRAE 481 Advanced Agricultural Mechanics (2)
Advanced shop skills. Carpentry, electricity, plumbing, surveying, power mechanics,
tractor equipment operation and maintenance. 2
lectures, 2 laboratories weekly for five weeks per session–two sessions per
quarter. Prerequisite: Agricultural teacher candidates
starting/returning from student teaching, senior or graduate standing or
consent of instructor.
BRAE 485 Cooperative Education Experience in BioResource and Agricultural Engineering (6) (CR/NC)
Part-time work experience
with an approved BioResource and Agricultural
Engineering firm engaged in production or related business, industry or
governmental agency. Positions are paid and usually require relocation and
registration in course for two consecutive quarters. Formal report and
evaluation by work supervisor required. Total credit limited to 16 units.
Degree credit limited to 6 units. Credit/No Credit grading only. Prerequisite:
Sophomore standing and consent of instructor.
BRAE 495 Cooperative Education Experience in BioResource and Agricultural Engineering (12) (CR/NC)
Full time work experience
with an approved BioResource and Agricultural
Engineering firm engaged in production or related business, industry or
governmental agency. Positions are paid and usually require relocation and
registration in course for two consecutive quarters. Formal report and
evaluation by work supervisor required. Total credit limited to 16 units.
Degree credit limited to 6 units. Credit/No Credit grading only. Prerequisite:
Sophomore standing and consent of instructor.
BRAE 500 Individual Study (1–3)
Advanced study planned and
completed under the direction of a member of the department faculty. Open only
to graduate students who have demonstrated ability to do independent work. Enrollment by petition. Total credit limited to 6 units,
repeatable in same term. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
BRAE 521 Systems Analysis of Agricultural
Systems (4)
Principles and methods of
creative problem solving and systems analysis as applied to the design of
agricultural systems. Problem solving using the engineering design process to
analyze the need, establish boundaries, and generate creative alternative
solutions. Examples worked through in feasibility analysis, transportation and
network problems, linear programming, project planning, human factors and
ergonomics, and system analysis with an emphasis on optimum system operation. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: Consent of
instructor.
BRAE 522 Instrumentation Control/Microprocessors
(4)
Engineering input/output
instrumentation for sensing and controlling functions through data acquisition,
analysis and response to agricultural processing. Miscellaneous
course fee required–see Class Schedule.
3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BASIC language
programming or consent of instructor.
BRAE 529 Small Farm Mechanization (3)
Principles
of farm machinery used for tillage, seeding, weeding, harvesting and transport
of agricultural crops. Small-scale equipment, suitable for subsistence farming in
developing countries. Small tractors, hand tools, animal power, and fuel
from renewable sources. Miscellaneous course fee required–see
Class Schedule. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE 143 or
equivalent, graduate standing, or consent of instructor.
BRAE 532 Water Wells and Pumps (4)
Water
well drilling, design, and development. Pump characteristics and system head. Series and
parallel operation. Design of pump intakes. Variable speed electric drives and engines. Pump testing. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE 340 or
equivalent, or BRAE 312 or equivalent.
BRAE 533 Irrigation Project Design (4)
Engineering
solutions and social aspects of improved water delivery to farms and canal
automation. Flow measurement. Water user associations. Unsteady canal and pipeline
controls. PID controls and modeling. Miscellaneous course fee
required–see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: BRAE 340,
hydraulics/fluid mechanics.
BRAE 570 Selected Topics in BioResource
and Agricultural Engineering (1–4)
Directed
group study of selected topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. Class Schedule will list topic selected.
Total credit limited to 12 units. 1 to 4 seminars.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.
BRAE 571 Selected Advanced Laboratory in BioResource and Agricultural Engineering (1–4)
Directed
group laboratory study of selected topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. Class Schedule will list topic selected.
Total credit limited to 8 units. 1–4 laboratories.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
BRAE 581 Graduate Seminar in BioResource and Agricultural Engineering (3)
Group study of current
problems of the bioresource and agricultural
engineering industry; current experimental and research findings as applied to
field of bioresource and agricultural engineering. Class Schedule will list topic selected.
Total credit limited to 9 units. 3 seminars.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.
BRAE 599 Thesis in BioResource
and Agricultural Engineering (1–9)
Systematic
research of a significant problem in bioresource and
agricultural engineering. Thesis
will include problem identification, significance, methods, data analysis, and
conclusion. Students must enroll every quarter in which facilities are used or
advisement is received. Degree credit limited to 6 units. Prerequisite:
Graduate standing and consent of instructor.