Water Resources and Environmental

depth review class

By

Nazrul Islam, PhD, PE

nislam@eetusa.com

Engineering Education & Training

2 | P a g e

Table of Content

Contents 1 Binder(s) ........................................................................................................................................................... 3

2 Book recommendations ................................................................................................................................. 3

3 Preparation Strategy ....................................................................................................................................... 4

3.1 Breadth strategies ................................................................................................................................... 4

3.2 Depth strategies ...................................................................................................................................... 6

3.2.1 Problem types: .......................................................................................................................... 6

3.2.2 Emphasis on the Environmental Engineering: .................................................................... 6

4 Problem solving session every Wednesday (WRE Depth only) .............................................................. 6

5 Develop skill for the PE exam ....................................................................................................................... 7

6 Resources ......................................................................................................................................................... 7

6.1 Recording links: ...................................................................................................................................... 8

6.2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ..................................................................................................... 8

6.3 Errata ........................................................................................................................................................ 8

6.4 Submit your exam answers on the Google spreadsheet ................................................................... 8

7 On line tools for webinar session ................................................................................................................. 9

7.1 Emails ....................................................................................................................................................... 9

7.2 Adobe Connect ........................................................................................................................................ 9

7.2.1 How to attend the meetings ................................................................................................... 9

7.2.2 Steps to access - the session recordings for breadth and depth ...................................... 10

7.2.3 Tips for watching recording ................................................................................................. 11

8 Certificate of Completion (COC) ................................................................................................................ 12

9 Final thought and wishes ............................................................................................................................ 12

3 | P a g e

1 Binder(s) Engineering Education and Training (EET) will mail you the binder(s) using USPS 3-day priority

mail or UPS. Please make sure that you provided us your correct address. You will receive a

shipment notification showing delivery details. If you do not receive any shipment confirmation in

2-3 business days, please contact at admin_pe@eetusa.com.

Overview of the Water Resources and Environmental Engineering (WRE) Binder: The binder has

eight tabs similar to the order of the NCEES exam outline. Please take a moment to become

familiar with the binder. Each tab has cheat sheets for equations, instruction contents and example

problems, charts and tables, practice problems, and practice problem solutions. The tabs are as

follows:

(1) Analysis and Design – includes the pipe area table, Unit conversions on the top tab

(2) Closed conduit

(3) Open channel flow

(4) Hydrology

(5) Groundwater and Engineering Econ (EE) (EE question is the last question in the exam.

Many of you wonder about this handout.)

(6) Wastewater

(7) Water Quality

(8) Water Treatment

(9) Exams – Practice exams 1, 2 & 3; and

(10) Problem solving session and others: handout for problem solving session and Basics for

Environmental Engineering content. (Many of you wonder about this handout)

Appendix A: Once you receive the binder, please make sure that you have all the contents.

2 Book recommendations The binder provided by EET will cover 75-80% of the problems that are expected to be on the

exam. However, you may not be able to achieve 75-80% during the exam depending on your

familiarity of the binder. For the WRE depth, I recommend the following books which may cover

10% of your exam questions:

I. Hydrology and Hydraulic System by Ram S. Gupta (2nd edition or higher)

II. Water Resources Engineering by Larry W. Mays (older version is sufficient)

III. Wastewater Engineering- Treatment, Disposal, and Reuse – By George Tchobanoglous (3rd

Edition, ISBN-10: 0070416907). Any edition is fine.

IV. Water and Wastewater Calculations Manual by Shun D. Lin

V. NCEES FE Reference Manual - Published by NCEES

You can collect other books that you have studied before, but you must have #I, #III and #V.

For breadth, I recommend that you collect at least one textbook for each topic, for example,

Transportation: Traffic and Highway engineering by Graber and Hoel

Construction: Construction methods and Management by Nunnally

Geotechnical: Principles of Geotechnical Engineering by Das Structural: Structural Analysis by Hibbeler

4 | P a g e

3 Preparation Strategy Develop a plan for the entire preparation period:

- Depending on person to person, required prep (study) times may vary significantly.

- Use a guide prescribed by review course, book, institution, etc. to follow.

- Understand the concept and think of a real-world problem. NCEES asks 30-40% conceptual

word questions and 4-6 real world problems in the exam.

- Practice many problems – as many as possible. Solve all practice problems and complete

homework given by EET. I have provided problems shown with asterisk (*) to indicate that

these problems are very important problems.

- Finish all breadth content and homework during the breadth sessions. You will not have any

extra time to come back to breadth binder once we start WRE depth review sessions.

- NCEES – Sample exam problems are the best way to start and think about the difficulty level of

the exam.

- Learn and be proficient with your board allowed calculators.

- Before you take any practice exam from EET, review the content (that was covered in the

session) thoroughly and finish practice problems. The purpose of the practice exam is to make

sure that you understood the concepts and are familiar with the subject. I encourage you to at

least read all problems - and collect the answers from the instructor.

- Review the content before (if you can) the scheduled session so that you can be ready with

your questions and - ask them during the session.

- You need to review the binder at least 3-4 times to make sure that you are familiar with the

content.

- Always consult with books to understand a concept and gain more understanding. Please

remember that the handouts will not be enough to answer all questions in the exam.

- Form a study group with people from this group or someone else.

Things to Avoid: - Do not try to study every single course item in detail. - Do not get frustrated with a difficult problem that is complicated and long, rather try to

understand the concept

3.1 Breadth strategies

You must review your breadth topics thoroughly during the breadth sessions – spend as much time as possible. Think of this as your final review before the exam because you will not have time to come back to review the same material again. Practically -none of you will have time or very little time to come back to review the breadth content. Problem types and scoring:

• Problems are simple (most problems need one equation only) • Maximize your score for the breadth portion – your target should be getting 75% correct

with confidence • Ensure that you know four areas (for example, Construction, Water Resources, etc.) very

well, and allow no mistakes on your focus area (such as water resources depth) • Look for “low hanging fruit” – is the fifth area of study for which you do not have a

complete understanding, but you are comfortable. • Know how NCEES score:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6yag0ir9v4LV3F6Rk9HQjNFcm8/view?usp=sharing

5 | P a g e

Develop study plan for breadth sessions: For example, the first week of the breadth review class starts in the last week of July or the first week of January. You should review the recordings on Saturday (webinar) and then complete the homework (or practice problems) and/or practice exam in that week. Do not leave any work for future weeks. You will not have time to come back to complete these tasks.

Week Content to study Action

First (for example,

January 11 - 18)

Project Planning: Quantity Take-Off Methods and Cost Estimating; Project Scheduling Means and Methods: Construction Loads; Construction Methods and Temporary Structures and Facilities

Complete your homework by the end of the week. Instructor: Samir Ead sead@eetusa.com

Second Materials I: Soil Classifications, Soil Properties, Soil Compaction Soil Mechanics I: Lateral Earth Pressure; Soil Consolidation; Total/Effective Stresses

Complete your practice exam by the end of the week. Instructor: Nazrul Islam nislam@eetusa.com

Third Materials II : Structural Steel, Concrete, Materials Testing Methods and Specification Conformance Soil Mechanics II: Bearing Capacity, Foundation Settlement; Slope Stability Analysis

Complete your practice exam by the end of the week. Instructor: Amir Malek amalek@eetusa.com

Forth

Geometrics: Horizontal Curve Elements; Vertical Curve Elements; Traffic Volume ( Flow, Density and Speed) Site Development: Excavation and Embankment; Construction Site Layout and Control Soil Erosion and Sediment Control

Complete your practice exam or homework by the end of the week. Instructor: Samir Ead sead@eetusa.com

Fifth

Structural Mechanics: Loads and Load Combinations; Analysis of Determinate Structures; Mechanics of Materials; Member Design; Retaining Walls Attend Engineering Economy session

Complete your homework by the end of the week. Instructor: Amir Malek amalek@eetusa.com

Sixth Attend Engineering Economy session Hydraulics and Hydrology: Closed Conduit, Open Channel Flow, and Hydrology**

Complete your practice exam or homework by the end of the week.

** Solve the following practice problems from the depth binder after the Hydraulics and Hydrology session. These problems are the same breadth problems.

Closed Conduit 1-18

Open Channel Flow 1-10,12, 13a, 15-19

Hydrology 1-3, (not 3a), 4-8, 18-27

6 | P a g e

3.2 Depth strategies

During depth sessions, it will be an intense couple of weeks with lots of fun. You will enjoy the

sessions if you follow the schedule closely. Every weekend you will have an instruction session -

followed by a problem solving session on Wednesday every week. A process diagram shows a typical

week of WRE depth study review.

3.2.1 Problem types:

• Problems are a bit more complicated than breadth problems • Most problems need more than one equation – but they are simple calculations • Problems on the exam are conceptual, and therefore, you need to understand the concept

rather than how to solve a numeric problem • Some problems are more practical and will be answered by the people specialized in that

subject • Target should be getting 65% correct with confidence

3.2.2 Emphasis on the Environmental Engineering:

• There will be approximately 18 questions (45%) on the environmental engineering • To increase your chance in passing this exam, you need to perform well in the

environmental engineering. • From my experience, I found that most of you are not comfortable with environmental

topics. I, therefore, recommend that you review some environmental recordings during

breath sessions or before, whenever you get time. But you must watch the basics for

environmental engineering before we start the environmental sessions. This will help you to understand the content during the instruction sessions.

• Recommended recordings are: Basics for Environmental Engineering (Last 36 pages of your binder): a. Session I - https://eet.adobeconnect.com/p1cyjbu60lg/ b. Session II - https://eet.adobeconnect.com/p52ycra0ln6/

Wastewater Treatment: If your time permits, just watch the wastewater treatment on-demand recordings: Wastewater Treatment Recordings. This will help you during the regular webinar session.

4 Problem solving session every Wednesday (WRE Depth only) These sessions are 25-30% of your entire preparation. Please try to attend or watch the recordings. I will invite seminar and webinar groups to participate in these sessions. I highly recommend attending the session or watching the recorded session at a later time. Due to Adobe Connect

Instruction session

(Satuday)

Problem solving session

(Wednesday)

Homework

(entire week 3-4 hours/day)

Submit exam

(has due dates)

7 | P a g e

webinar participant limitation, we cannot invite all on-demand participants. We will conduct a survey if you are interested in attending the sessions. It will be decided on first come first serve basis for on-demand participants.

What to expect in the problem solving sessions? • I will quickly review the important concepts that were covered in the previous instruction

session. • Watch a sample session: https://eet.adobeconnect.com/p25by2xyuwq/ • You will solve several problems one problem at a time. You will have 6 minutes for each

problem to solve. We will discuss the solution after you solve a problem. • The session will be recorded and the discussion handouts will be posted on the Adobe Connect

site so that you can print the handouts at a later time and watch the recording.

5 Develop skill for the PE exam Develop skill by following the strategies given below while you are taking exams with EET. Apply

the same strategy during the actual exam. Passing the NCEES PE exam is not based only on how

much you know, but it is also your skill in solving many problems.

• Start with finding the problems in your main areas where you have spent lots of time during

preparation and you are comfortable with.

• Solve easier problems first

• Solve difficult problems last

• Avoid trial and error problems, if you do not know where to start

• Make sure you manage your time efficiently

• Stay calm throughout the exam – this is very important

• Keep in mind, if it looks too hard you are not looking at it correctly

• Answer all questions as there are no penalties for wrong answers

• For conceptual problems, use handout index and reference books.

6 Resources Portal (https://portal.myeetusa.com/) is used for sharing information, such as

- Adobe Connect Recording links

- Additional reading materials (shown in 2 on the next page)

- Errata

- Frequently asked question (FAQ) (shown in 1 on the next page)

- Monitor your own progress

You should receive an email with your user name (email) and password to login to the portal.

8 | P a g e

6.1 Recording links:

I will update the links as the WRE webinar session progresses, so that you can navigate to the

specific topic very quickly and easily. An example is given below.

6.2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Please check out the FAQ on the class resources, you may find your answers there. I also compiled

the questions and responses on the binder content. Please check this out.

6.3 Errata

If there are any minor errors or typos, I update them.

6.4 Submit your exam answers on the Google spreadsheet

Please enter your exam answers into this spreadsheet. It allows me to check your answers quickly and

accurately. The spreadsheet breaks down your results with different topics. See an example below. I

recommend and prefer that you enter your answers on this spreadsheet. Please enter your answers in

UPPER CASE (B, D, etc.). Google spreadsheet will be shared just before depth session starts.

9 | P a g e

7 On line tools for webinar session Engineering Education and Training (EET) uses email, Adobe Connect software and Google drive to

connect and communicate with you. These software and tools are relatively simple to use, user

friendly, free of cost, and do not need additional software installation.

7.1 Emails

EET instructors will communicate with you through email for the enter review period. Please use an email that you will have continuous access to. I will share some documents on the Google

drive which work best with a gmail account. If you have used a different email during registration, please contact me to update your preferred email address.

7.2 Adobe Connect

EET hosts meetings, stores recordings, and posts additional printing documents to the Adobe

Connect site: https://eet.adobeconnect.com/. You must have your own login ID and password to

attend and get access to recordings and documents. If you have not received your login ID and

password, please contact me. If you are returning participants, use your previously issued login ID

and password. For the best video experience, please download the app:

http://www.adobe.com/go/Connectsetup

7.2.1 How to attend the meetings

Before each session, the instructor will send you an invitation with the time and link

through email. Just click on the link to join the session. It will take some time, for first time

only, to install some plug-in by your browser. Be familiar with some features below.

Enter practice exam 1 answer on this worksheet and so on.

10 | P a g e

7.2.2 Steps to access - the session recordings for breadth and depth

1. Login to - Adobe Connect by clicking the link: https://eet.adobeconnect.com/

You should have your unique user ID (your email) and password. If you do not have one,

please contact admin_pe@eetusa.com.

Before you contact us, please check your spam folder to see if you have received an email from

Adobe Connect.

2. Once you login to the Adobe Connect server, you need to click on the “content” to see the

recordings.

Click to mute your mic.

Private chat: Click on the host name and

then you will get an option to “start

private chat” with the host.

11 | P a g e

3. If you register for both breadth and depth classes, you should have access to the breadth and

Water Resources depth recordings. An example of the breadth folder is shown below.

Click on the specific discipline (for example, construction), you will find the recordings for the

sessions. Click to start reviewing the recordings.

4. If you register for WRE depth only, you should have access to your WRE depth content. You

will not have access to breadth folders except for the Hydraulics and Hydrology folder.

7.2.3 Tips for watching recording

If you are only interested in one specific topic of a long recording, drag to that certain point of a

recording. You can also pause and resume.

Click here to pause and resume

Drag to go back and forth

12 | P a g e

8 Certificate of Completion (COC) EET Assistant Manager will be contacting you to let you know that he/she will be providing

each of you with a Certificate of Completion (COC), after the final exams. You will receive an

email with the COC in the following week or two. This will confirm course completion and

serve as proof of completion. If you need further documentation, such as actual invoices,

he/she can also provide that as well if you send me a request.

If you have registered for breadth and depth classes, the COC will show completion of both. If

enrolled in Depth class only, the COC will confirm only the Depth class. For participants

enrolled in Breadth and Depth classes separately, it is important that you notify our Assistant

Manager at: adminPE@eetusa.com , if you have also enrolled in the Breadth class at a separate

time.

9 Final thought and wishes • I hope you enjoy the study throughout the review sessions. You will get much more from it

once you understand the concepts.

• Be confident.

• Trust in your handouts and preparation.

• Work hard once - not several times.

• Understand the concepts, and practice numeric problems for better understanding.

• I wish you all the best.

• I am here to help, please do not hesitate to contact me nislam@eetusa.com

Good Luck!!

13 | P a g e

Appendix A

Table of Content

Water Resources and Environmental Engineering

Depth review binder

Tab Chapter Pages Cover sheet Analysis and Design 41

Closed Conduit Closed Conduits (CC) 80 OCF Open Channel Flow 106

Hydrology Hydrology 96 Groundwater and

Engg. Econ Groundwater 33

Engineering Econ 24 Wastewater Wastewater Treatment 117

Water Quality Water Quality 45 Water Treatment Water Treatment 98

Exams and others

Practice exam 1 13

Practice exam 2 39

Practice exam 3 32

Other handouts Problem solving sessions 61

Basics for Environmental Engineering 36

Once you receive the binder, please make sure that you have all the contents.