Introduction to Biosystems Engineering

About Introduction to Biosystems Engineering

The discipline of Biosystems Engineering emerged in the1990s from the traditional strongholds of Agricultural and Food Engineering with the goal of advancing engineering solutions toward creating a sustainable world with abundant food, water, and energy, while maintaining a healthy environment. While the discipline has continued to grow, so has the demand for quality educational resources that instructors can use to teach Biosystems Engineering courses. The publication of this book marks an important step in meeting that demand.

Introduction to Biosystems Engineering can be used as a customizable text for university-level introductory courses in Biosystems Engineering. Written by an international team of authors, the book is divided into six sections aligned with technical communities within Biosystems Engineering: Energy Systems; Information Technology, Sensors, and Control Systems; Machinery Systems; Natural Resources and Environmental Systems; Plant, Animal, and Facility Systems; and Processing Systems. Within the sections, individual chapters focus on discrete topics that can be covered in one week of class. Each chapter contains the expected learning outcomes, key concepts, applications of the concepts, and worked examples.

Introduction to Biosystems Engineering is available both in print and online. The online version can be freely downloaded either as a complete work or as individual, stand-alone chapters. The innovative format makes it possible for the book to evolve continually, with the addition of new online chapters and periodic publication of revised print editions. In addition, a parallel resource is in development, The Biosystems Engineering Digital Library (BEDL), which will provide more teaching and learning materials for instructors to use in the classroom (ASABE.org/BE).