Assessment of Environmental Impacts

Code:

GEOGR007

Acronym:

AINAT

Instance: 2012/2013 - 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	15	Study Plan . (2012/2013)	2	-	6	-
			3

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The aim of Environmental Impact Assessment, along with the other 5th semester subjects of the Degree in Geography, is to provide students with the necessary skills in the field of knowledge and know-how, in various areas in which knowledge on geography is put to use in the preparation of environmental impact assessments. After recalling the vocabulary and the terminology already learned in other subjects, and having: i) ascertained the knowledge of specific entities, of symbols and methods; ii) improved the understanding of the fundamentals and basic theory principles underlying the subject; iii) improved skills in analysing statistical data, documents and literature; iv) practiced the application and use of concepts, principles and methods learned in new situations; v) exercised the ability to summarise the information learned previously, in a fragmented way, into an articulate, single and coherent body of knowledge; vi) tested the ability to assess the adequacy of an idea, a concept, a theory or a method to solve a specific problem; vii) identified the socio-economic and political context in which EIA emerges viii) developed skills for the use of EIA methodology ix) developed the ability to define strategies for the geographer to intervene in an EIA in real contexts. students will be prepared to interpret, on their own or in a group, the cause and effect relationships leading to an environmental impact assessment in any thematic field and on several spatial scales.

Learning outcomes and competences

 i) ascertained the knowledge of specific entities, of symbols and methods; ii) improved the understanding of the fundamentals and basic theory principles underlying the subject; iii) improved skills in analysing statistical data, documents and literature; iv) practiced the application and use of concepts, principles and methods learned in new situations; v) exercised the ability to summarise the information learned previously, in a fragmented way, into an articulate, single and coherent body of knowledge; vi) tested the ability to assess the adequacy of an idea, a concept, a theory or a method to solve a specific problem; vii) identified the socio-economic and political context in which EIA emerges viii) developed skills for the use of EIA methodology ix) developed the ability to define strategies for the geographer to intervene in an EIA in real contexts. students will be prepared to interpret, on their own or in a group, the cause and effect relationships leading to an environmental impact assessment in any thematic field and on several spatial scales.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

não se aplica

Program

Presentation and discussion of the Assessment Process 1. The role of the geographer in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 2. The historical, social and political context underlying the EIA methodology – economic and environmental paradigms 3. The EIA methodology 4. EIA - EU Directives and Portuguese Legislation 4.1. Analysis of various types of projects 4.2. Methodologies in the characterisation of impacts 4.3. Indicators 4.4. Scenarios and simulations 4.5. Mitigation measures 4.6. Monitoring plan 4.7. Reporting impacts 4.8. Management of public participation 4.9. Integrating the public discussion in the EIA 4.10. Project follow-up 5. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) 6. International prospects on the EIA and SEA

Mandatory literature

Maria Rosário Partidário; Paulo Pinho; Guia de Apoio ao novo regime de AIA, MAOT
Governo de Portugal; Decreto Lei 69/2000
diversos; PDFs de artigos fornecidos aos estudantes (50)

Teaching methods and learning activities

Efforts will be made to ensure that the student: i) is motivated into producing an accurate individual project; ii) acquires methodological skills (know how to manage and organise time, learn to deal with and solve a problem, etc.); iii) is familiar with instruments and methodology (is able to choose the essential bibliographical and statistical sources and the methodologies that are most suitable to solving the problem); iv) has the opportunity to develop its autonomy in individual and group work; Thus, the student should have sufficient free time to overcome each stage of the research process under lecturer supervision.

keywords

Natural sciences > Environmental science
Social sciences > Geography

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	56,00
	Trabalho laboratorial		2,00	2013-05-28
	Participação presencial		2,00
	Participação presencial		2,00
	Participação presencial		2,00
	Teste		20,00
	Trabalho escrito		10,00
	Prova oral		20,00
	Prova oral		5,00
	Trabalho escrito		25,00
	Prova oral		5,00
	Participação presencial		5,00
	Defesa pública de dissertação, de relatório de projeto ou estágio, ou de tese		2,00
	Total:	-	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Description	Type	Time (hours)	End date
Study	Estudo autónomo	106
	Total:	106,00

Eligibility for exams

The following are the classification criteria applicable to this subject: i) attendance ( mandatory 75% attendance in classes) ii) participation in lectures iii) general quality of writing skills iv) general quality of oral skills v) creativity and individual initiative vi) individual scientific progression vii) written test viii) written review ix) quality of oral presentation on a thematic sub-area x) annual research assignment (progress plan and report) xi) annual research assignment (final report) xii) annual research assignment (presentation and discussion)

Calculation formula of final grade

The following are the classification criteria applicable to this subject: i) attendance ( mandatory 75% attendance in classes) – 2 % ii) participation in lectures – 2 % iii) general quality of writing skills – 2 % iv) general quality of oral skills – 2 % v) creativity and individual initiative – 2 % vi) individual scientific progression – 5 % vii) written test - 20% viii) written review - 10% ix) quality of oral presentation on a sub-area theme - 20% x) annual research assignment (progress plan and report) – 5% xi) annual research assignment (final report) – 25 % xii) annual research assignment (presentation and discussion) – 5 %

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable

Internship work/project

não se aplica

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

The following are the classification criteria applicable to special assessment (working students, union leaders, etc.): i) written test - 20% ii) written review - 10% iii) summary report on a sub-area theme - 20% iv) work plan for the annual research assignment -10% v) final report on the annual research assignment -30% vi) presentation and oral discussion of the annual research assignment - 10%

Classification improvement

Not applicable

Observations

Not applicable