Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Learning objectives

Knowledge

• On fundamental soil physics.      
• On soil texture and structure, physical and chemical phase distribution (solids, water, air), pore-size distribution, water retention, hydraulic conductivity, soil-water sorptivity, unsaturated zone water transport, gas diffusion and chemical transport, sorption and biodegradation.
• On the basic principle of 1D analytical and numerical water and contaminant transport modelling.
• On evaluating the uncertainty of measured data and model results.

Skills

• To measure soil hydraulic properties in the laboratory.
• To apply parameter models for water retention, hydraulic conductivity, gas diffusion, and chemical dispersion to measured data or as predictive tools.
• To program and apply analytical and simple numerical water and solute transport models to measured data or in risk assessment.
• To apply relevant geostatistical methods to measured data in the soil and groundwater zones.

Competences

• To perform preliminary risk assessment and evaluate the conditions for on-site or in-situ clean-up methods for contaminated soil sites.
• To structure and produce technical documentation of complex problems, methods and results.
• To communicate problems, findings and solutions graphical as well as oral to the relevant target audience.

Type of instruction

Lectures, etc. supplemented with project work, workshops, presentation seminars, lab tests.

Extent and expected workload

Since it is a 5 ECTS project module, the workload is expected to be 150 hours for the student.

Exam

Exams