Soil and Groundwater

2024/2025

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

To give the students knowledge of the occurrence of soil and groundwater  as natural resources and how these resources are affected by natural and anthropogenic induced processes and pollutants. Based on a description and analysis of the processes governing the resource under current conditions, the natural resource use and protection under future conditions is analysed, using combined field and laboratory measurements, GIS, analytical and numerical data analyses and modelling. It is noted that the semester unit may include substantial elements of cultural geography including demographic and market analyses, if these elements are relevant for, and connected to, the below described physical geography elements.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

  • Understand the physical, chemical and biological processes governing and sustaining the soil and groundwater resources.
  • Understand how area use, area management, and area change can affect soil and groundwater systems. 
  • Understand how climate change can affect soil and groundwater systems and resources.

Skills

  • To select relevant theories and literature.
  • To collect, analyse and visualise the data on natural resource occurrence, governing processes and human impacts that forms the basis for a conceptual resource model. 
  • To measure relevant physical and biochemical parameters in the field and in the laboratory.
  • To construct, calibrate and validate analytical and numerical resource models.

Competences

  • Critically evaluate the data and theories used.
  • Evaluate current and future used of groundwater resources.
  • Must be able to communicate the results of the project work in a project report.
  • Must be able to contribute successfully to teamwork within the problem area and make a common presentation of the result of the project work.
  • To communicate findings and solutions graphical as well as oral to the relevant target audience.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR PROBLEM BASED LEARNING

  • Must be able to apply problem solving
  • Must be able to use problem identification
  • Must be able to apply objectives (cooperation agreement)
  • Must be able to use contextual involvement (user involvement)
  • Must be able to analyse teamwork/team composition
  • Must have knowledge of process analysis
  • Must be able to use problem formulation
  • Must be able to assess meetings/scheduling of meetings
  • Must be able to analyse time planning
  • Must be able to apply problem analysis
  • Must be able to analyse personal competencies and wishes
  • Must be able to assess problem solving
  • Must be able to apply project management
  • Must be able to apply impact assessment

Type of instruction

Project work with supervision supplemented with instruction, workshops, presentation seminars, lab tests, etc.

Extent and expected workload

The projectmodule is 15 ECTS which is corresponding to 450 hours of study.

Exam

Exams

Name of examSoil and Groundwater
Type of exam
Oral exam based on a project
Oral exam based on presentation seminar and project report.
ECTS15
Assessment7-point grading scale
Type of gradingInternal examination
Criteria of assessmentThe criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures

Facts about the module

Danish titleJord og grundvand
Module codeB-GEO-K1-1A
Module typeProject
Duration1 semester
SemesterAutumn
ECTS15
Language of instructionEnglish
Empty-place SchemeYes
Location of the lectureCampus Aalborg
Responsible for the module

Organisation

Education ownerMaster of Science (MSc) in Geography
Study BoardStudy Board of Built Environment
DepartmentDepartment of the Built Environment
FacultyThe Faculty of Engineering and Science