AD2TEM: Tools for Environmental Management and Sustainability

Module code: AD2TEM

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: 5

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Simon Mortimer, email: s.r.mortimer@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE AD1EEM OR TAKE AP1AE15 (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 18 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module aims to develop the skills necessary to gather, interpret and present information about natural and human-modified environments. It covers material and practical exercises on monitoring and sampling strategies for biodiversity, habitat mapping and condition assessment, Geographic Information Systems, Environmental Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment, biodiversity offsetting and Biodiversity Net Gain. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Design and undertake environmental surveillance and monitoring projects.  Visualise date, summarise and effectively communicate the results of surveys 
2. Collate and statistically analyse a range of types of environmental data. 
3. Use Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to map habitats and linear features using aerial photograph interpretation. 
4. Understand the processes of EIA and SEA and the approaches to biodiversity offsetting and Biodiversity Net Gain. 

Additional outcomes: 
Students develop their teamwork skills as they work together on a group exercises. The module is designed to deliver the skills necessary to undertake independent scientific research, so students should be able to conduct field and laboratory work in a professional and safe manner. 

Module content

1. Environmental monitoring and surveillance 
2. Surveys and sampling strategies 
3. Statistical analysis of monitoring data 
4. Assessment of biodiversity, monitoring and surveying at species level, indicator species 
5. Use of biodiversity assessment for setting priorities 
6. Land cover mapping 
7. Habitat condition assessment 
8. Use of GIS for habitat mapping and survey design 
9. The processes of Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment 
10. Biodiversity offsetting and Biodiversity Net Gain 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module uses a variety of teaching methods including lectures, seminars, computer practical's, laboratory practical's and field visits. Students will work in small groups and will work on a number of practical tasks related to use of survey design, biodiversity assessment GIS and EIA. 

Study hours

At least 50 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs