EASC9701 Field Methods in Hydrology

2020

4.5

4 x 8-hour field trips per semester
4 x 8-hour on-line exercises per semester
4 x 2-hour on-line lectures per semester

1 of EASC8713, ENVS9790 has been successfully completed

This topic will review, and provide practical experience in a selection of techniques commonly used to monitor and characterise groundwater, surface water, the vadose zone and the atmosphere. Students will be trained in the use of appropriate field equipment and relevant health and safety procedures. Lectures and readings will provide theoretical background before use of appropriate field equipment and collection and interpretation of field data in local settings. The practical experiences of equipment use, data collection and interpretation will complement and built upon theoretical elements developed in other topics.

The educational aims for this topic are to:

1. Introduce students to a range of commonly used field and laboratory measurement techniques used in characterising natural systems
2. Provide students with the principles of good professional practice relevant to field collection of data and samples
3. Offer students practical experience in the application of relevant field equipment and collection of field data
4. Extend student skills development in the interpretation of data
5. Extend student skills development in the preparation of professional quality reports relevant to their discipline
6. Broaden student perspectives on the nature of work within environmental disciplines
7. Provide students with opportunities to participate in field work projects in a range of sites in the local region
8. Introduce students to relevant workplace health and safety procedures

At the completion of the topic, students are expected to be able to:

1. Be familiar with commonly used monitoring and measurement techniques in environmental disciplines
2. Understand the strengths and limitations of field samples and data of different types and their impact on report conclusions
3. Be aware of policy, cultural and other issues that may impact on the conduct of a field investigation
4. Specify the workplace health and safety issues that relate to working in the field
5. Analyse and synthesise results and prepare meaningful data reports