THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2022/2023

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Geography

Undergraduate Course: Catchment Water Resources (GEGR10023)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis is a 20-credit Honours course focusing on the interactions between human activities and water resources.
Course description We first demonstrate how an understanding of processes in the physical environment is important for managing water resources. We then explore how simulation modelling is used within integrated catchment management. The course explores a number of contemporary themes in water resources management including sustainable urban drainage, natural flood management and river restoration.
The course comprises of lectures by the academic course team and discussions on relevant real-world issues led by invited water resource managers and professional practitioners. Students learn how to build a simple hydrological model, undertake group work to examine sustainable drainage structures and learn how to evaluate a range of catchment management plans.
The course is suitable for students from different degree programmes and backgrounds (primarily MA and BSc Geography and BSc Ecological & Environmental Sciences), enabling students to apply their different disciplinary perspectives and expertise to common problems of water resources management.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Global Change (GEGR08011) AND Geomorphology (GEGR08002) OR Soil, Water and Atmospheric Processes (ECSC08003)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Land Use and Water Resources (ECSC10012)
Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  30
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 196 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Written Exam 60%
Coursework 40%
Practical Exam 0%
Additional Information (Assessment)
Degree: One two-hour examination (2 questions) AND One report on hydrological modelling project (1,500 words).
Formative: Group presentation evaluating a catchment management plan of your choice.

Assessment deadlines:
Degree Coursework - Week 9
Feedback During the courses, students will have the following opportunities for feedback:
1. students will receive written feedback from staff on the the formative catchment management presentations in groups ;
2. the hydrological model building reports will be marked and returned with written feedback;
3. during the revision session in the final week of the 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
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. understand how land use change affects the quality and quantity of water resources and have knowledge of techniques for mitigating any adverse impacts.
  2. have practised applying your knowledge to evaluate the suitability of different contemporary techniques in water resource management.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
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.
Additional Information
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
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.
KeywordsCatchment management,computer modelling,hydrology,river restoration,urban drainage
Contacts
Course organiserDr Neil Stuart
Tel: (0131 6)50 2549
Email:
Course secretaryMs Kathryn Will
Tel: (0131 6)50 2624
Email:
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