School of Physical and Geographical Sciences  
 
 
ESC-40020 MGeoscience: Hydrological and Engineering Geology  
Co-ordinator: Dr Nigel Cassidy    Room: WSF09, Tel:33180  
Teaching Team:  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 4 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office:
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
Geology Major (Level 4)
Geoscience Single Honours (Level 4)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Prerequisites
None
Barred Combinations
Not available to those students who have taken ESC-30022 Hydrological and Engineering Geology.
Description

This module will look at the related subjects of engineering and hydrological geology from a coherent, practical perspective. In particular, it will focus on the way in which geological factors influence the availability of water resources and the design/construction of engineering structures. The availability of this module provides an important addition to the portfolio of geoscience topics offered to year 3 students whilst building upon material taught in both years 1 and 2 (e.g. ESC-10013: Structural Geology and Environmental Geoscience, ESC-20031: Advanced Structural Geology and Solid Earth Geophysics). It also complements the existing year 3 modules such as Advanced Topics in Sedimentology (ESC-30003), Advanced Geophysics (ESC-30012) and Water Resources (ESC-30020).
Aims
The aim of the module is to teach students the key theoretical and technical issues of hydrological and engineering geology whilst providing a practical understanding of groundwater and rock/material behaviour through the use of problem-based exercises relating to the management and assessment of groundwater and natural resource exploitation.
Intended Learning Outcomes
  • Be able to demonstrate a systematic knowledge and critical understanding of the key issues relating to the theoretical and practical aspects of Hydrological and Engineering Geology.
  • Be able to make informed judgments about the issues, debates and knowledge limitations in groundwater assessment, geotechnical engineering and environmental geology management, based on a knowledge and understanding of research at the forefront of the discipline.
  • Development of subject-specific skills in the interpretation of primary Hydrological and Engineering Geology data, and to be able to explain, apply and critically evaluate these to the formulation and solution of practical problems through the medium of a 'real world', problem-base learning exercise.
  • Further development of transferable skills in the planning, execution, recording and describing of experimental work with the use of spreadsheets for data entry, display, analysis numerical modelling and interpretation of the results.
  • Be able to present information and analysis of information in a clear and coherent form appropriate to the conventions and standards of scientific communication in the Hydrological and Engineering Geology disciplines.
Study hours
  • 18 hours lectures
  • 27 hours practical classes
  • 20 hours guided self/peer assessment exercise research including web-based course-support materials
  • 20 hours of practical work completion outside practical classes
  • 10 hours more of write-up
  • 60 hours of advanced independent study, revision and assessment
Description of Module Assessment
001: Practice Based Assessment weighted 10%
Practical Assessment on hydrological properties, written up in lab. books
002: Practice Based Assessment weighted 10%
Practical Assessments on geomechanical properties, written up in lab. books
003: Practice Based Assessment weighted 30%
Practical assignment, 'real-world' learning exercise
004: 2 Hour Unseen Exam weighted 50%
Unseen exam. Students answer 4 questions out of a choice of 7
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.