Module Catalogue 2013/14

CEG8514 : Climate Change: Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation

  • Offered for Year: 2013/14
  • Module Leader(s): Prof. Chris Kilsby
  • Owning School: Civil Engineering & Geosciences
Semesters
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
Pre Requisites
Pre Requisite Comment

None

Co Requisites
Co Requisite Comment

None

Aims

The aim of the module is to outline the main vulnerabilities, risks and likely impacts of climate change in a range of areas of the human, built and natural environments. To describe in detail, for a number of key areas, the assessment of impacts and engineering strategies for adaptation.

This module addresses the risks and likely impacts of climate change in the human, natural and built environments, covering key aspects such as water resources, flooding, sea level rise and coasts, health, transport, infrastructure and cities. Engineering strategies for adaptation are then described in detail, so the student will learn not just how climate change will impact society, but also how we can respond. The student will be well equipped to assess, propose and apply sustainable adaptation strategies in a range of key infrastructure and environmental settings.

Outline Of Syllabus

Key Vulnerabilities and Risk and frameworks for assessment;
Impacts and Adaptation – water resources;
Impacts and Adaptation – Flooding: Fluvial and pluvial , Sea level rise and coastal;
Impacts and Adaptation – Critical infrastructure;
Impacts and Adaptation –Food and agriculture, water-energy nexus;
Impacts and Adaptation –Heat, people and buildings;
Consolidation: Sustainable Cities: strategy, design and implementation.

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of this module, students should have an understanding of:-

1 The main societal and infrastructure vulnerabilities and risks of climate change;
2 Linked nature of risks to society and necessity for integrated assessment and response;
3 Detailed technical knowledge of risks and engineering responses for key areas.

Intended Skill Outcomes

At the end of this module, students should have achieved the following skills:-

4 Ability to assess likely impact and vulnerability of systems (or infrastructure components) to climate change;
5 Ability to select and specify sustainable response and adaptation strategies for critical engineering systems;
6 Confidence and understanding to promote use of sustainable engineering approaches.

Graduate Skills Framework

Graduate Skills Framework Applicable: Yes
  • Cognitive/Intellectual Skills
    • Critical Thinking : Assessed
    • Data Synthesis : Assessed
    • Active Learning : Assessed
    • Numeracy : Assessed
    • Literacy : Assessed
    • Information Literacy
      • Source Materials : Assessed
      • Synthesise And Present Materials : Assessed
      • Use Of Computer Applications : Assessed
  • Self Management
    • Personal Enterprise
      • Initiative : Assessed
      • Independence : Assessed
      • Problem Solving : Present
  • Interaction
    • Communication
      • Oral : Present
      • Interpersonal : Present
      • Written Other : Assessed
    • Team Working
      • Collaboration : Assessed
      • Relationship Building : Present
  • Application
    • Commercial Acumen
      • Governance Awareness : Assessed
    • Social Cultural Global Awareness : Assessed

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion110:3010:30Essay - Climate impact assessment and adaptation planning exercise
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion12:002:00Revision for exam
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion11:301:30Exam
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture241:0024:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical33:009:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching21:002:00Tutorials
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study151:0051:00Includes background reading and reading lecture notes for a full understanding of material.
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lecture series and directed reading provides background and detailed information for outcomes 1-3 and 4-6.
Outcomes 4-6 are primarily achieved through practical sessions using real case study data to propose and assess simplified real-life adaptation strategies.
The small group teaching session on priorities for food/land/water particularly addresses outcome 2.
The small group teaching session on role of large cities and master planning particularly addresses outcomes 5 and 6.

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination902A50Unseen written exam
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written exercise2M50Climate impact assessment and adaptation planning. Using work commenced in practicals in class during block week (approx. 8 pages).
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Unseen Exam - Two sections: (A) shorter factual questions (B) longer more stretching questions. The exam addresses outcomes as follows:

Knowledge:
* The main societal and infrastructure vulnerabilities and risks of climate change;
* Linked nature of risks to society and necessity for integrated assessment and response;
* Detailed technical knowledge of risks and engineering responses for key areas (e.g. water resource, flooding, heat)

Skills:
* Ability to assess likely impact and vulnerability of systems (or infrastructure components) to climate change;
* Ability to select and specify sustainable response and adaptation strategies for critical engineering
systems;

The written exercise addresses:

Knowledge:
* Linked nature of risks to society and necessity for integrated assessment and response;
* Detailed technical knowledge of risks and engineering responses for key areas (e.g. water resource, flooding, heat)

Skills:
* Ability to assess likely impact and vulnerability of systems (or infrastructure components) to climate change;
* Ability to select and specify sustainable response and adaptation strategies for critical engineering systems;
* Confidence and understanding to promote use of sustainable engineering approaches.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

Note: The Module Catalogue now reflects module information relating to academic year 13/14. Please contact your School Office if you require module information for a previous academic year.

Disclaimer: The University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver modules in accordance with the descriptions set out in this catalogue. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, however, the University reserves the right to introduce changes to the information given including the addition, withdrawal or restructuring of modules if it considers such action to be necessary.