Environmental Geology (250677) – Course 2024/25 PDF
Syllabus
Learning Objectives
CE01 - Apply scientific concepts to environmental problems and their correlation with technological concepts. CE08-Dimension unconventional systems and advanced treatment and raise their mass balance and energy. Explore scientific concepts and technical principles of quality management of the receiving means, atmosphere, water and soil, and applied to problem solving. Explore scientific concepts and technical principles of management and treatment of gaseous emissions, water supply, sewage and waste and remediation techniques for groundwater and contaminated soils. Sized systems for the treatment of major pollutants vectors in specific sectors of activity. Interprets rules, identifies goals, assesses technical alternatives proposed unconventional solutions and priority actions. Organization of Natural Systems. Basic concepts. Cycles of the physical environment: tectonic cycle, erosion cycle, hydrological cycle. The edaphic system: alteration of rocks and soil formation. Fertility. Degradation, erosion and pollution. Desertification. The river basin: surface water system and water systems. Deltas. Water resources, vulnerability and protection. Natural disasters. Endangerment, risk: quantitative assessment. Hydrometeorological, geological and geomorphological hazards. Prediction and prevention. Impact on the physical environment of urban expansion and major infrastructures (road works, tunnels, dams, reservoirs, ...). Alteration of natural physical systems. Resources use and extraction. Spills and waste dumps. Impacts and restoration. Geological aspects of waste storage. Management strategies and conservation of natural systems. Sustainable design. Climate and Global Change: consequences and adaptation. Environmental geology is an applied science that deals with the practical application of the principles of geology in solving environmental problems. It is a multidisciplinary field that is closely related to geological engineering and, to a lesser extent, to environmental geography. Each of these fields involves the study of the interaction of human activities with geology, including the biosphere, the lithosphere, the hydrosphere and in some cases also the atmosphere. In this subject, some specific topics within this broad field will be dealt with in order to expand the knowledge acquired during the master and complement the skills necessary for the profession of environmental engineer. In this sense, topics will be discussed and examples of how geology conditions certain human activities and intervenes in different environmental processes will be explained. The focus of the different topics and problems will be from a multi and interdisciplinary point of view, necessary for the correct management of natural resources. In addition, different traditional and newly developed tools for the study and monitoring of the subsoil, water resources and natural resources will also be discussed.
Competencies
Especific
Apply scientific concepts to environmental problems and their correlation with technological concepts.
Perform, present and defend before a university tribunal an original exercise performed individually, consisting of a comprehensive study or project in the field of environmental engineering, in which the skills acquired in the lessons are synthesized by adopting the advances and developments in this field and many innovative ideas.
Transversal
SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT: Being aware of and understanding the complexity of the economic and social phenomena typical of a welfare society, and being able to relate social welfare to globalisation and sustainability and to use technique, technology, economics and sustainability in a balanced and compatible manner.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Achieving a level of spoken and written proficiency in a foreign language, preferably English, that meets the needs of the profession and the labour market.
Total hours of student work
| Hours | Percentage | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supervised Learning | Large group | 25.5h | 56.67 % | |
| Medium group | 9.8h | 21.67 % | ||
| Laboratory classes | 9.8h | 21.67 % | ||
| Self Study | 80h | |||
Teaching Methodology
The course consists of 3 hours per week of classroom activity consisting in theory sessions, solving of problems and the study of real cases. Support material in the form of a detailed teaching plan is provided using the virtual campus ATENEA: content, program of learning and assessment activities conducted and literature. Although most of the sessions will be given in the language indicated, sessions supported by other occasional guest experts may be held in other languages.
Grading Rules
The evaluation calendar and grading rules will be approved before the start of the course.
The evaluation method will be through the delivery of 3 limited-extension works focused on real cases. Presentation 1 - Option 1 (two alternatives): a) Proposal for planning the resources of the Ebro basin for a correct management of water resources with minimal environmental and social impact, b) Analysis of management problems and impacts derived from the hydrological planning in a freely chosen hydrographic basin - Option 2 (two alternatives): a) Analysis and proposals for improving the management of a coastal aquifer considering the problem of marine intrusion into resources and / or the discharge of groundwater to the sea in coastal ecosystems. Presentation 2 -Study of free choice environmental problems with GIS tools. Presentation 3 -Proposal of monitoring tools to study an environmental problem and improve the management of natural resources (it may be related and/or applied to the same area chosen for presentation 1 and/or 2). The submitted works must be presented and defended publicly in front of the rest of the classmates. This will allow all students to ask and enrich themselves of the work done by their classmates.
Test Rules
Failure to perform continuous assessment activity in the scheduled period will result in a mark of zero in that activity.
Office Hours
By appointment
Bibliography
Basic
- Keller, E.A. Environmental geology. 9th ed. Pearson, 2010. ISBN 9780321643759.
- Montgomery, C.W. Environmental geology. 10th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2014. ISBN 9781259060717.