GV2EPMNU: Environmental Planning and Management

Module code: GV2EPMNU

Module provider: Geography and Environmental Science; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Jess Neumann, email: j.l.neumann@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Professor Tom Sizmur, email: t.sizmur@reading.ac.uk

NUIST module lead: Anbu Johnson, email: anbu.johnson@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

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: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is concerned with the importance of environmental planning, risk management and impact assessment in sustainable development and manufacturing. A range of vulnerable environmental systems and ecosystems will be studied, including water, air, and forests.  

The module is intended to introduce the principles and applications of environmental planning and management, as well as those of Life Cycle Assessment. A range of methodologies used in assessing environmental impact will be applied across a range of challenges in habitat protection and sustainable development. By the end of the module, it is expected that students should be able to embed sustainable development in the environmental planning, management and risk assessment processes. 

Hui Wang (phdatcmu@126.com) will also be teaching on this module.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Identify the essential components and principles of environmental planning, management, and sustainable development
2. Develop and apply critical thinking and analytical skills to evaluate the credibility of sustainability policy positions and scientific arguments and consider the importance of the legal and regulatory framework in undertaking environmental planning and successfully implementing environmental management projects
3. Explain the fundamental concepts and approaches to environmental impact assessment (EIA) and methodologies adopted and fully describe the procedure to perform environmental risk assessments, and risk management, and explain the application of remote sensing and GIS in EIA
4. Improve awareness and decision-making capabilities for the prediction and assessment of human impacts on the soil, ground- and surface water, biological and atmospheric environments

Module content

• Introduction to the basic concepts of Environmental Planning and Management
• Sustainable development and manufacturing
• Environmentally conscious manufacturing: recycling, inverse manufacturing, and design for the environment
• The IS0 14000 mode
• Environmental planning
• Understanding environmental problems
• Life Cycle Assessment: concepts, measuring environmental impacts and their evaluation
• Vulnerable systems and ecosystems (I): the global climate challenge
• Vulnerable systems and ecosystems (II): pollution case studies
• Vulnerable systems and ecosystems (III): wildlife and habitats under threat
• Wildlife and habitat management: concepts and conservation
• Waste and e-waste: threats and responses
• Basic concepts of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): EIA procedure
• Systematic approach in using EIA as a planning tool and reporting mechanism for major development activities
• Comparative evaluation of alternatives from EIA studies
• EIA methodologies (I): Criteria for the selection of EIA methodology
• EIA methodologies (II): EIA applications
• EIA methodologies (III): Predictive models for impact assessment
• Prediction and assessment of environmental impacts (I): soil, water and air
• Prediction and assessment of environmental impacts (II): wildlife and habitats
• Prediction and assessment of environmental impacts (III): noise
• Prediction and assessment of socio-economic and human health impacts
• Environmental risk assessment (ERA) and risk management in EIA
• Application of remote sensing and GIS for EIA: Concepts, basic principles and applications

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The theory sections of the module are taught through interactive lectures that introduce the students to the basic concepts, approaches and applications in environmental planning and management.  

The seminars allow students to research and discuss topics in greater depth and to further understand the application of environmental risk and impact tools to the planning and management of major development projects.  

Delivery is through blended teaching and learning methods, involving pre-reading and critical thinking.Guided independent study provides time for reading as well as consolidating notes, viewing module related videos, preparing assignments, and addressing feedback on formative and summative assessments. 

Study hours

At least 96 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.

In-class quizzes, including multiple-choice and other short-answer questions, will create feedback and feedforward on strengths and weaknesses, and help the students to prepare for their summative assessments. 

Reassessment

Additional costs