Postgraduate Course: Environmental Impact Assessment (PGGE11009)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Environmental Impact Assessment can be described as a decision-making tool, a legislative instrument and a formalised environmental management process. It exists to enable precautionary measures to be incorporated into project and policy planning for the protection of environmental and human systems. EIA allows determination of the potential impacts of development on environmental quality, social well-being and regional economies.
The objective of this course is to provide a working knowledge of current environmental, social and economic impacts and methods relating to EIA, and consider in detail how these impacts can be quantified and analysed.
The course provides an overview of the legislative framework of EIA and explains the EIA process, providing examples of techniques used in impact assessment relating to topics including soils, ecology and landscape. Much of the teaching input to the course is provided by external practitioners specialising in certain aspects of the EIA process, including developers, representatives from local government and other key stakeholders such as SNH, as well as EIA consultants.
The course also provides an opportunity to review and appraise the EIA process and associated techniques through investigation of an EIA case study.
THIS COURSE TAKES PLACE ON FRIDAY 9.30 - 12.30 IN THE PETER WILSON BUILDING (SRUC) IN LECTURE ROOM E. |
| Course description |
Week Topic
1 Introduction to the Course
Introduction to EIA:
Origins of EIA
Role of EIA in decision making
EIA process & stages
Introduction to Environmental Statements
2 Legal context for EIA:
Global perspective
Legislation relating to EIA
Amendments to the EIA Directive
Tutorial - Quality assurance in EIA
3 EIA in practice ¿ The developers perspective
4 Tutorial ¿ Application of the Quality Review package
5 Topics in EIA 1: Landscape and visual impact assessment
6 No class ¿ IL week
7 Topics in EIA 2: Ecology & biodiversity
Topics in EIA 3: Soils and water
8 Topics in EIA 4: Climate change adaptation & mitigation
9 EIA review ¿ economic impact assessment
10 EIA and decision making ¿ the local government perspective
11 Strategic Environmental Assessment
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | There is a cap of 5 on the number of non School of GeoSciences students ¿ please contact the course secretary (Elspeth.martin@sruc.ac.uk) for available space prior to registering on this course. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 44,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
152 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Feedback |
Students will receive formative feedback following submission of their Formative Assessment. Feedback will be given on the Summative Assessments submitted via Learn through the ¿Turnitin¿ grademarker which will be used to attach comments throughout submitted documents. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Gain an understanding of the role of SEA & EIA in decision making
- Gain an overview of the legislative framework for EIA, with a focus towards its application in Scotland
- Have knowledge of the EIA process and stages, and how it is applied to specific topic areas, such as landscape and visual impact assessment, ecology, soils and climate change, including its application
- Be skilled in review and appraisal of the EIA process and its outputs
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Reading List
There are no set texts for the course. Relevant reading materials are located in the Course Content folder alongside each week's lecture materials.
Relevant updates to EIA legislation and guidance can be found on the appropriate government websites, for example:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eia/home.htm
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/Roles/Scottish-Government/Enviromental-Assessment
The EIA process is found in a number of standard texts which can be found in the University or SRUC libraries.
An overview of the EIA process and topics in EIA is available from:
http://www.snh.gov.uk/planning-and-development/environmental-assessment/eia/
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Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Gina Martin
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Elspeth Martin
Tel: 0131 535 4198
Email: |
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