Module: Research skills for Catchments

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Research skills for Catchments
Module Code	GY332 (ITS) / GEO1019 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	History & Geography
Module Co-ordinator	Valerie McCarthy
Module Teachers	Gránia Shanahan, Susan Hegarty
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None

Description

If we are to have good water quality in our rivers and streams, and in our coastal waters, we must understand how water moves through the environment. This module is a practical module which enables students to explore water and water quality in catchments, both in the field and using GIS. Within groups, students will explore the threats to water quality in a particular catchment, and will add their own data to a database within the GIS. Students will be expected to engage in the module and in fieldwork.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and classify threats to water quality in Irish catchments
2. Predict the effects of point and diffuse pollutants on a variety of Irish catchments
3. Gather, manipulate and analyse environmental datasets from both online sources and field-gathered data
4. Evaluate the importance of different datasets for water quality monitoring
5. Effectively communicate results through maps and a report

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	44	Classes
Assignment Completion	30	Data gathering and manipulation
Assignment Completion	40	Mapping: Mapping and analysis of data
Group work	46	Storymap development: Developing group storymap
Report	90	Researching and writing reports
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

GIS datasets
GIS datasets - vector and raster

Discharge in rivers and streams
Quantifying discharge in rivers and streams

Effect of rainfall events
Measuring the effect of rainfall events on different catchments

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Group project	Group project	50%	As required
Assignment	Regular individual exercises to feed into the module	20%	As required
Report(s)	Individual Report	30%	As required

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Other Resources

None