GVMUAQ-Urban Air Quality

Module Provider: Geography and Environmental Science
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2020/1

Email: h.yang4@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The impact of human activity on urban air quality and subsequent effect on environment and human health is one of the main environmental issues in our time. This module will provide students with an overall understanding of urban air pollution as a basis for evaluating recent advances in scientific knowledge on the influence of traffic, industry, and domestic energy consumption on air quality in urban environments. Particular focus will be given to understanding traffic and urban air pollution. The module will also measure air quality and model the concentration and emission of air pollutants affected by anthropogenic activities. A visit to a monitoring site or industrial installation will be included.

Aims:

The module aims to promote an understanding of the nature and effects of human-induced urban air pollution. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module, students should be able to:

• Explain the primary sources of key urban air pollutants and how they impact human and ecosystem health


• Evaluate the different approaches to air quality monitoring


• Measure key air pollutants in the urban environment (PM, NOx, Ozone, SO2)


• Model the impact of human activities on urban air quality and human and ecosystem health


• Critically evaluate current urban air quality policy and practice

Additional outcomes:

The interdisplinary nature of this module will enable students to pull together and build on knowledge and skills gained in different modules. Students will have the opportunity to develop transferable skills in:

• Team work during lecture-based activities


• Independent project work


• IT and data analysis from use of models and online data

Outline content:

This module will introduce students to the each of the key issues in urban air quality. Lectures

and seminars will cover:

• Urban sources of air pollution


• Basic atmospheric phenomena


• Air quality measurement


• Air pollution modelling


• Impact of urban air pollution


• Polices and legislation

Global context:

This module will use case studies from all over the world to demonstrate the urban air pollution. Legislation will be introduced at the national and international level.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

One two-hour session per week between Weeks 1 and 11 of the Spring Term. The sessions include lectures interspersed with discussions, debates, classroom exercises and practicals. Adversarial student-led seminars are used to cover some of the issues, in which groups take an opposing viewpoint about an air pollution issue.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Group seminars are used to explore some topics, student contributions to which are assessed (20%) for presentation quality as well as content using the standard GES protocol. 

One 2000-word report based on the application of a computer model, for example GAINS, SCAIL and R package Openair, to predict the environmental and health impacts of urban air pollution.

Formative assessment methods:

Discussions and debates on set topics are interspersed in the lectures. There is a seminar session where groups have to analyze a scientific paper related to air pollution and health, and a scientific evidence-related roleplaying exercise is used to raise awareness of the issues relating to environmental and health effects of urban air pollution.

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 50% overall

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-submission of coursework in August/September

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 4 April 2020