CIVL3431

Land Surface Process and Management

10 Units 3000 Level Course

Available in 2014

Callaghan Campus Semester 2

Previously offered in 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006

Brings together a general understanding of environmental physics, acquisition and use of environmental data and numerical modelling of transport of particles and nutrients. Students will gain experience with several management tools for addressing environmental degradation, focusing on erosion and salinity.

Objectives 1. To give students a broad understanding of the Australian environment, with particular emphasis on the atmospheric environment and soils.

2. To provide students with knowledge of the theoretical background of land surface transport processes

3. To ensure that students obtain adequate skills in environmental monitoring (including data collection, storage, retrieval and analysis)

4. To expose students to environmental models of land surface processes and to give them hands-on experience with hydrological models.

5. To provide students with a working knowledge of model-based tools for management of major environmental issues, including salinity and erosion.
Content Natural Environment
Climate and weather (principles; Australian climates)
Soils (physical, chemical, biological characteristics: soil formation: Australian soils)

Process models
Environmental modelling (introduction to distributed models; heterogeneity; effective parameters; sub-grid parameterisations; model fitting; scale effects)
Modelling soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer processes (SVATs)
Soil erosion (principles, comparison of models, applications) (SOILOSS)
Soil fertility and vegetation modelling
Replacing Course(s) CIVL3420 Land Surface Processes
Transition Existing course.
Industrial Experience 0
Assumed Knowledge CIVL2050 Engineering Computations and Probability; CIVL3330 Hydrology; SURV2650 Spatial Data Systems and Remote Sensing.
Modes of Delivery Internal Mode
Teaching Methods Lecture
Assessment Items
Essays / Written Assignments A number of numerical and modelling assignments designed to give the students an understanding of key landsurface processes, environmental monitoring techniques, experience with several environmental models, and exposure to tools for management of salinity and erosion.
Examination: Formal Designed to test general knowledge of the physical principles of land surface processes, the theoretical basis for soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer models and erosion models, and the use of model-based tools for management of salinity and erosion.

NOTE: Any modification to the above assessment arrangement will appear on the course outline normally issued in Week 1.
Contact Hours Lecture: for 3 hour(s) per Week for Full Term
Timetables 2014 Course Timetables for CIVL3431