Environmental Soil Science and Geostatistics

2024/2025

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

To give the students fundamental knowledge of water and contaminant transport, sorption and degradation in soil, and the use of geostatistical methods in contaminated soil studies. The student should understand the links between the physical, chemical and biological processes in soil. The student should know the principles behind and how to apply relevant laboratory and field methods for measurement of water and solute transport in soil. Furthermore, the student should know the principles behind and the applicability of relevant physical- and biological-based remediation methods for contaminated soil sites, and be able to calculate one-dimensional water and solute transport in the soil vadose zone.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

  • On fundamental soil physics.
  • On soil texture and structure, physical and chemical phase distribution, 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 modeling.
  • 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

The module is 5 ECTS which is corresponding to 150 hours of study.

Exam

Exams

Name of examEnvironmental Soil Science and Geostatistics
Type of exam
Written or oral exam
Individual oral or written exam. Exam format is decided by start of semester.
ECTS5
AssessmentPassed/Not Passed
Type of gradingInternal examination
Criteria of assessmentThe criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures

Facts about the module

Danish titleJordfysik og geostatistik
Module codeB-GEO-K1-3
Module typeCourse
Duration1 semester
SemesterAutumn
ECTS5
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