Undergraduate Course: Catchment Water Resources (GEGR10023)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This is a 20-credit Honours course focusing on the interactions between human activities and water resources. In the course we first demonstrate how an understanding of processes in the physical environment is important for managing water resources. We then explore how simulation modelling may allow relevant data to be used within integrated catchment management. the lecture component of both courses is shared to allow students from different degree programmes and backgrounds (primarily Geography and Ecological & Environmental Sciences) to share and benefit from different disciplinary perspectives and expertise.
The course comprises of lectures by the academic course team with guest lectures on relevant real-world issues by water resource practitioners, a half day field trip and computer-based workshops on simulation modelling. |
| Course description |
Syllabus:
Wk 1: Conflicting demands on water resources/ Case study of water demand
Wk 2: Land use & water resources: agriculture, urbanisation/ Introduction to field visit
Wk 3: Field visit to SUDS Dunfermline East Expansion Site
Wk 4: Group Presentation on SUDS structures
Wk 5: Hydrological models and model building methods
Wk6: Simulation techniques- calibration, validation measuring efficiency
Wk 7: Surgery session: hydrological modelling/ Land use and water resources: forests
Week 8 Flooding and flood control and flood prevention schemes in Edinburgh
Wk 9: Fluvial geomorphology for river management and restoration
Wk 10: Revision class
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Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 18 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Degree: One two-hour examination (2 questions) AND One report on hydrological modelling project (1,500 words).
Overall mark for the course (ie degree coursework and examinations) of at least 40.
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| Feedback |
During the courses, students will have the following opportunities for feedback:
1. students will receive written feedback from staff on the SUDS presentations;
2. the hydrological model building reports will be marked and returned with written feedback;
3. during the exam revision session in the final week of the timetable students will have the opportunity to discuss any aspect of the course with staff;
4. students who wish to submit practice exam essays in good time will receive written feedback from staff;
5. exam feedback sessions will be arranged in Semester 2 in which students will be able to see their exam scripts and discuss them with staff. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Catchment Water Resources | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- understand how land use change affects the quality and quantity of water resources and have knowledge of techniques for mitigating any adverse impacts.
- have practised applying your knowledge to evaluate the suitability of different contemporary techniques in water resource management.
- be able to critically evaluate and consolidate different sources of evidence pertaining to the effects of land use on water resources and the effectiveness of mitigation techniques.
- have practised and received feedback on your oral presentation and report-writing skills and will have constructed and evaluated your own computer-based hydrological model.
- have demonstrated autonomy and time-management in the execution of the hydrological modelling exercise and also gained experience of working in a group to research for and prepare an oral presentation.
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Reading List
Jones, J.J.A. (1997) Global Hydrology; Processes, Resources and Environmental Management. Longman.
Newson, M.D. (2008) Land, water and development: sustainable and adaptive management of rivers. Routledge.
Newson, M.D. (1994) Hydrology and the River Environment. Clarendon Press, Oxford
Shaw, E.M. Beven, K.J. Chappell, N.A , Lamb, R. (2010) Hydrology in Practice (4th edition). Spon Press.
Ward, R.C. and Robinson, M. (1999) Principles of Hydrology (4th Ed). McGraw Hill.
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Additional Information
| Course URL |
http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/geography/Honours/U00371/ |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Exercise autonomy and initiative in completing complex assignments within time-limits
Consolidate and critically review scientific evidence
Make judgements where data is limited or conflicting
Interpret and evaluate numerical and graphical data
Present specialist information in talks and reports
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| Additional Class Delivery Information |
The course comprises of lectures by the academic course team with guest lectures on relevant real-world issues by water resource practitioners, a half day field trip and computer-based workshops on simulation modelling. |
| Keywords | Catchment management,computer modelling,hydrology,river restoration,urban drainage |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Neil Stuart
Tel: (0131 6)50 2549
Email: Joshua.Stapp@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Kirsty Allan
Tel: (0131 6)50 9847
Email: |
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