Postgraduate Course: Environmental Impact Assessment (PGGE11009)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) can be described as a decision-making tool, a legislative instrument and a formalised environmental management process. It exists to enable precautionary measures to be incorporated into project and policy planning for the protection of environmental and human systems. EIA allows determination of the potential impacts of development on environmental quality, social well-being and regional economies.
The module aims to provide a vocational approach to the impacts and methods relating to EIA (with reference to Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitat Regulations Appraisal), and to consider how these impacts can be quantified and analysed. The module gives an overview of the legislative framework of EIA and explains the EIA process, providing examples of techniques used in impact assessment relating to topics concerning the natural and cultural heritage. Students have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with EIA by researching a case study for a development project.
THIS COURSE TAKES PLACE ON FRIDAY 9.30 - 12.30 IN THE PETER WILSON BUILDING (SRUC) IN LECTURE ROOM E. |
| Course description |
Week Date Topic
1 14 Jan Finding environmental information
2 21 Jan Planning Policy and Legislation in Scotland
3 28 Jan Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
4 4 Feb Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA)
5 11 Feb Ecological Mitigation Strategies / Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW)
6 18 Feb Material assets, cultural heritage and landscape
Assessment A: Deadline
7 25 Feb Flexible Learning Week
8 4 Mar Land, soil, water, air and climate
9 11 Mar
Case Study
10 20 Mar Habitat Regulations Appraisal (HRA)
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
11 25 Mar EIA in an international context:
Middle East & North Africa; China & Japan
12 1 Apr Assessment B: Deadline
** Please note: The timetable will be subject to revision, depending on changes in availability of internal and external speakers. Students will be advised of any changes as soon as is possible and every effort will be made to provide suitable alternatives.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | There is a cap of 5 on the number of non School of GeoSciences students ¿ please contact the course secretary (Elspeth.martin@sruc.ac.uk) for available space prior to registering on this course. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 44,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
152 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Feedback |
Feedback will be given on the Summative Assessments submitted via Learn through the Turnitin grademarker which will be used to attach comments throughout submitted documents. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Reflect on the role of EIA in decision making
- Appraise the legislative framework for EIA, with a focus towards its application in Scotland
- Validate the EIA process and stages
- Design and justify methods for specific topic areas in the natural and cultural heritage
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Reading List
There are no set texts for the course. Relevant reading materials are located in the Course Content folder alongside each week's lecture materials.
Relevant updates to EIA legislation and guidance can be found on the appropriate government websites, for example:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eia/home.htm
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/Roles/Scottish-Government/Enviromental-Assessment
The EIA process is found in a number of standard texts which can be found in the University or SRUC libraries.
An overview of the EIA process and topics in EIA is available from:
http://www.snh.gov.uk/planning-and-development/environmental-assessment/eia/
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Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Chris Smillie
Tel:
Email: chris.smillie@sruc.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Jennifer Gumbrell
Tel:
Email: Jennifer.Gumbrell@sruc.ac.uk |
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