CEG1604 : Geology and GIS Field Course
- Offered for Year: 2022/23
- Module Leader(s): Dr Jon Telling
- Lecturer: Professor David Manning, Dr Mark Ireland
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Mixed Location
Semesters
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
Aims
The aim of this module is to introduce the students to field observations and mapping via a residential field course during which the students will examine rocks in the field and use those observations to describe and understand their formation and subsequent geological history. The Southern Lakes is an internationally renowned geological location with important outcrops that will be observed by the students.
The students will process GIS data using GIS Geoprocessing toolsets and create a basic site plan to show the data captured and analysed during the geological investigation portion of the field course. The combination of these data sets will provide a fuller understanding of the locations mapped.
The students will also
• See the development of their ability to work as part of a team and also their interpersonal
communication skills
• Appraise their field work using scientific report writing
Outline Of Syllabus
The majority of this module will take place during the Easter vacation at a field study centre in the
Southern Lake District of England. The field course is designed to complement CEG1702, CEG1703 and CEG1602 lectures and practicals by placing the theory and practice taught in these modules into the context of an
integrated topographic and geological surveying and GIS project. Students will begin the fieldwork by investigating the geology of the area. Here they will map and record key geological features and formations and develop an understanding of the geological history of the location and the impact of the geology of the ground conditions.
The students will then complete the GIS portion of the exercise where data from the GIS surveying exercise and geological data will be combined.
Prior to the residential element, students will be briefed on the tasks required for the fieldwork element. Students will be briefed further throughout the field course via a series of lectures providing additional instruction for day to day activities.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 5:00 | 5:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 5:00 | 5:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Non-Synchronous online. |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 5 | 2:00 | 10:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | Synchronous online. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 6 | 8:00 | 48:00 | PIP |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 5 | 3:00 | 15:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 10:00 | 10:00 | N/A |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The teaching elements within this module are necessarily varied in order to support the range of learning outcomes stated.
Practical sessions before the field course (CEG1602) will be used for students to develop their geological mapping skills.
During the residential element of the module, students will spend the majority of time working in groups in the field, using their knowledge and skills to identify rocks and geological processes in the field. Once they have obtained raw data they will process and analyse it to produce cartographic outputs. As a group they will then draw all the data together into a group report, clearly showing their results, allowing for group working and reflection.
A series of evening small group teaching activities will facilitate progress through the duration of the field course, summarizing the day's learning objectives and explaining the tasks which need to be completed the next day.
The independent study allows students to reflect on their field course experience, the group’s data and performance and analyse this in a relevant manner within a scientific report.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 2 | M | 100 | Individual critique of the fieldwork/ results. Cartographic outputs, GIS data capture & analysis and rationale (4 pages max). |
Formative Assessments
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 2 | M | Group presentation on day's fieldwork |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
For largely a fieldwork based module it is appropriate that the assessment is 100% coursework. The coursework will consist of several elements including:
• Group report and plots detailing the fieldwork performed and results obtained including diagrams, computations and submission of field books. This allows each group to bring together and present their complete portfolio of fieldwork in one document to clearly show their results. Included in this will be Staff & Student Peer Assessment which will be included as part of the assessment as these are critical for successful group work.
• Individual critique of the fieldwork allowing each student to critically analyse each stage of the work flow, from data capture to presentation of results and to assess their overall field course experience. This should include cartographic outputs showing the results of geological survey and GIS data capture and analysis, and a discussion of these results in a clear and concise manner.
Note that if due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions fieldwork is impossible, then there will be a single alternative assessment (geological field guide) worth 100% (2000 words maximum).
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CEG1604's Timetable