Continuing & Professional Education

Environmental Studies

This course will introduce the practice of surface water hydrology as water plays a role in the development of most human activities. Various land phase hydrologic processes will be described. Methods of development of intensity-duration-frequency curves for rainfall, estimation of rainfall at ungauged locations, stream flow measurement methods, flood frequency analysis, regional frequency analysis for estimating stream flows at ungauged locations and risk assessment in hydrologic design will be discussed. Approximate methods for estimating storm water storage requirements for urban development and various hydrologic and hydraulic modes used in the professional domain will be introduced. Based calculations within various hydrologic procedures as required for addressing surface water hydrology issues will also be covered.

The course will introduce the practice of hydrogeology as generally applied in Alberta. Three areas of hydrogeology will be explored, with emphasis on conditions in Alberta. These areas include:(1) Hydrogeological Site Assessment, (2) Groundwater Resource Evaluation and Management, and (3) Groundwater Monitoring. Topics will include principles and practices of contaminated site assessment, regulatory considerations, conceptual models, environmental risk management, and groundwater remediation. Methods of characterizing regional baseline hydrogeology, groundwater resource quantity and quality, and groundwater vulnerability will be covered, along with discussion of issues such as groundwater modelling, watershed management, groundwater-surface water interaction, and implications of climate change. Also considered will be the key elements of designing an effective groundwater monitoring program both on a local and a regional scale.

Introduction to classification and mapping of soils with emphasis on soil-forming processes; principles of the Canadian system of soil classification; soil profiles, diagnostic features, soil-forming factors and processes; kinds and distribution of soils in Canada; soil survey procedures, and utilization of existing spatial information to support soil mapping at a detailed scale. This course includes a mandatory field trip to collect data for mapping exercises. Prior knowledge of soil science is recommended.