Urban Environment

Code:

GEOGR004

Acronym:

AURB

Instance: 2014/2015 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Geography
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Geography

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
GEOGR	44	GEOGR - Study Plan	2	-	6	4
			3

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The discipline of Urban Environment aims to contribute to provide skills and know-how in the field of urban environment by using and applying geographical knowledge and understanding to promote sustainability in urban spaces. 

Learning outcomes and competences

Students, after recalling the vocabulary and language already acquired in other subjects and after: i) clarifying knowledge of specific entities, symbols and methods; ii) improve understanding of the fundamentals and basic theoretical principles underlying the discipline; iii) improve their agility in analysing statistical and bibliographic information; iv) practice the application and use of the concepts, principles and methods in new situations; v) exercising their ability to summarise the acquired information in an articulate and coherent way; vi) experience their ability to assess the suitability of an idea, a concept, a theory or a method to solve a concrete problem; will be prepared to perform, independently or in group, evaluations and proposals concerning the promotion of sustainability in urban areas.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Urban environment and urbanmsustainability: introductory concepts

2. Environmental issues the process of urbanization

3. The city as an ecosystem

4. Negative impacts generated by the urbanization processes and principles and strategies to promote sustainability:

4.1. Climate and air quality

4.2. Water

4.3. Green areas

4.4. Resources and waste. Production and consumption

4.5. Land use, urban form and mobility

5. Urban environmental inequalities: political ecology and environmental justice

Mandatory literature

Douglas, Ian; The urban Environment, Edward Arnold, 1983
Benton-Short, L., Short, J.; Cities and Nature, Routledge, 2007
Hough, M. ; Naturaleza e ciudad: planificación urbana y processos ecológicos, Gustavo Gili, 1998
Jenks, M., Jones, C. (Ed.); Dimensions of the Sustainable City, Springer, 2010
Wheeler, S.; Beatley; T.; The sustainable Urban Development Reader, Routledge, 2004
Williams, K., Burton, E.; Jenks, M.; Achieving Sustainable Urban Form, Spon Press, 2000
Herzog, Cecilia Polacow; Cidades para Todos: (re)aprendendo a conviver com a Natureza, Mauad X, 2013

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical-practical classes combining theoretical classes, application exercises and the development of a research project

keywords

Social sciences > Geography

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	5,00
Teste	40,00
Trabalho escrito	55,00
Total:	100,00

Calculation formula of final grade

1. The research project (55%)

1.1. plan (5%)

1.2. progresso presentation (10%)

1.3. final presentation (15%)

1.4. report (25%)

2. Two written tests (40%)

3. Other: regular attendance (attendance of 75% of classes is mandatory; participation in classes; global quality of written and oral performance; creativity and ability in individual performance; progress in individual scientific valorisation (5%)

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

1. The research project (55%)

1.1. plan (5%)

1.2. progresso presentation (10%)

1.3. final presentation (15%)

1.4. report (25%)

2. Two written tests (45%)

Classification improvement

N/A