ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY

The course contributes to the degree program by providing students with essential knowledge of Earth processes, natural hazards, and environmental management. Through practical exercises using QGIS, R, and other software, students develop analytical skills and problem-solving abilities that are fundamental for assessing environmental risks and effectively managing natural resources.

By the end of the course, those attending will have acquired:

1. Knowledge and understanding
Basic knowledge of environmental geology, the main geomorphological and geochemical processes, natural hazards, coastal dynamics, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, and the interactions between natural processes and human activities.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding
The ability to apply theoretical concepts to the analysis of environmental geology problems, using basic tools for data analysis, mapping, and visualization, with particular reference to QGIS.

3. Making judgements
The ability to critically interpret data and case studies, assessing the role of natural processes and human impacts in different environmental contexts.

4. Communication skills
The ability to communicate results, methods, and interpretations clearly and using appropriate scientific language, both in written and oral form, including through maps, graphs, and presentations.

5. Learning skills
The ability to further explore topics in environmental geology independently and to apply the acquired knowledge to new case studies and applied contexts.

Base knowledge of Earth Sciences, Sedimentology, Geomorphology, and Fundamentals of Physics.

The theoretical component is divided into 20 lectures of 2 hours each, evenly distributed between the two instructors:
Alessio Rovere (Geomorphologist), who focuses on geomorphological processes, coastal environments, hazards, and the fundamentals of remote sensing.
Mauro Masiol (Environmental Geochemist), who covers air pollution, mineralogy, general geology, and the geochemical aspects of environmental geology.

Lectures taught by AR (10 blocks, 20 hours)
Block 1: Introduction to Environmental Geology (2 hours)
Block 2: Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics (2 hours)
Block 3: Geomorphological Processes and Landforms (2 hours)
Block 4: Natural Hazards: Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions (2 hours)
Block 5: Coastal Geology and Sea-Level Rise (2 hours)
Block 6: Landslides and Slope Stability (2 hours)
Block 7: Remote Sensing in Environmental Geology (2 hours)
Block 8: Groundwater and Hydrogeology (2 hours)
Block 9: Environmental Impact of Mining Activities (2 hours)
Block 10: Case Studies in Environmental Geology (2 hours)

Lectures taught by MM (10 blocks, 20 hours)
Block 11: Atomic Structure, Isotopes, and Radioactivity (2 hours)
Block 12: Natural Radioactivity and Decay Chains (2 hours)
Block 13: Nucleosynthesis, Elements, and Their Abundance in the Earth System (2 hours)
Block 14: Earth Materials: Introduction to Mineralogy and Petrology (2 hours)
Block 15: Weathering and Soils (2 hours)
Block 16: Introduction to the Hydrosphere (2 hours)
Block 17: Introduction to the Atmosphere (2 hours)
Block 18: Atmospheric Chemistry (2 hours)
Block 19: Air Quality Monitoring and Modelling (2 hours)
Block 20: Geochemical Cycles and Earth Resources (2 hours)

Practical session
Students will receive an overview of the practical component, including the project objectives, assessment criteria, and project deadlines. Working in groups and with guidance from the instructors, they will select topics in environmental geology related to the lecture content. Students will work in groups on environmental geology projects, using QGIS, R and other software for data analysis, mapping, and visualization. Each group will select a project topic in consultation with the instructors and apply the methods learned during the course. Each group will present the results of its project, highlighting the methodologies applied, the results obtained, and the proposed solutions. Peer feedback will be encouraged, followed by a discussion of the lessons learned, the challenges encountered during the project, and potential real-world applications.

- Slides provided by the teachers
- Video tutorials for the practical sessions

The final assessment will consist of two equally weighted components:
- Project Report and Presentation (50%): Students will be assessed on the quality of their written project report and on their ability to present the results clearly and professionally. The evaluation will take into account the project design, data analysis, interpretation of results, and the overall quality of the presentation.
- Written Examination (50%): A multiple-choice written exam consisting of 32 questions will assess students’ theoretical knowledge of the course content, covering the main topics addressed during the lectures.

written

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

The final course assessment is based on two components:
• Multiple-choice written exam – worth 50% of the final grade
• Report and presentation – worth 50% of the final grade

1. Written exam
The score corresponds to the number of correct answers out of 33 total questions (1 point each, no penalty for wrong answers). The grading scale is as follows:
• 18–22/30: sufficient but general basic knowledge
• 23–26/30: fair knowledge, with a good understanding of the fundamental concepts
• 27–30/30: comprehensive knowledge, with excellent command of terminology and concepts
• 30 with honours: at least 31 correct answers; excellence in reasoning and precision in terminology (counted as 33/30 in the final average)

2. Report and presentation
Assessed out of a maximum of 30 points, based on two dimensions (content and form):
• 18–22/30: satisfactory analysis, but with significant shortcomings in content or form
• 23–26/30: good coherence in sources, structure, and use of tools
• 27–30/30: excellent work, well argued, with critical reflection and effective graphs/maps (with possible honours counted as 33/30 in the overall average)

- Lectures
- Practical sessions

Accommodations and Support Services for Students with Disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders:
Ca’ Foscari complies with Italian law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding the support services and accommodations available to students with disabilities or specific learning disorders. If you have a motor, visual, hearing, or other disability (Law 17/1999), or a specific learning disorder (Law 170/2010), and require support (in-class assistance, technological aids for exams or individualized exams, accessible-format materials, note-taking support, specialized tutoring, interpreters, or other services), please contact the Disability and SLD Office at: disabilita@unive.it.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development