Environment and Biophysical Planning
Objectives
a) Know the human impact on the natural environment;
b) Know the past and present of these impacts and their nature;
c) Understand future impacts and their consequences;
d) Distinguish the domains and frame of impacts;
e) Relate biophysical limitations to territory planning;
f) Discuss and present the legal support to biophysical planning;
g) Discuss and present measures of human activity impact reduction;
h) Apply and analyze methods of biophysical impact assessment using GIS practical exercises.
Concepts
Use, function
Aptitude, capacity
Impact, potential
Sustainability
General characterization
Code
01100682
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Pedro João Cruz Cortesão Casimiro
Hours
Weekly - 4
Total - 168
Teaching language
Portuguese
Prerequisites
N/A
Bibliography
- GOUDIE, Andrew (2009). The Human Impact on the Natural Environment, 6 ed, Oxford: Blackwell
- JONES, Gareth (2004). People and Environment - A Global Approach, Harlow: Pearon
- SIMMONS, I.G. (1991). Changing the Face of the Earth – Culture, Environment, History, Oxford: Blackwell
- MANION, A.M. (1991). Global Environmental Change, Londres: Longman
Teaching method
Theory, expositive and participative classes.
Practical classes with GIS exercises on environmental hazards related to human impacts
Evaluation method
Continuous assessment - Continuous evaluation on practical classes, with presence control. Written test. A four day filed trip is organized, towards the last third of the semester, to the South of Portugal, where all the aspects of the unity are approached, debated and analysed.(100%)
Subject matter
Past and Present
Human impact on the vegetation
Human influence on animals
Human impact on the soil
Human impact on waters
Human agency in geomorphology
Human impact on the climate and atmosphere
The future
Coastal environments
Hydrological impacts
The cryosphere
Drylands
Impacts and planing
Legal context
Impact reduction measure