Civil Engineering MSc
Reclamation of Contaminated Land 5 ENG5275
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Engineering
- Credits: 10
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
Sustainable land management requires development on land previously used for industrial purposes, and therefore an understanding of the various aspects of the reclamation of contaminated land is critical to Civil Engineers. This course introduces UK policies on contaminated land reclamation, the scientific and technological principles of site investigation and assessment for contaminated land and the various remediation technologies, with emphasis on new sustainable approaches.
Timetable
Two lectures per week
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
Homework: two pieces of reflective coursework, one at the beginning of the class and one at the end. Represent 5% of final grade.
Project: Group project (4-5 students). Details are changed based on industrial guest/support. Represent 20% of final grade.
Examination: A two-hour exam will take place in May and will represent 75% of final grade.
Main Assessment In: April/May
Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No
It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.
[No exceptions]
Course Aims
The aim of this course is to develop fundamental understanding of contaminated land, mechanisms of contaminant migration and the approaches to reclamation of contaminated land, including legislation, site investigation, risk assessment approaches and remediation strategies.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ State UK policies and regulations on contaminated land;
■ Explain what physico-chemical factors affect the fate of contaminants in the environment;
■ Identify the various classes of contaminants and recognise the differences in their chemistry and their implications for remediation choice;
■ Identify pollutant linkages (source, pathway, receptor) and their significance for risk assessment approaches;
■ Design a site investigation plan for contaminated land and construct a conceptual site model;
■ List the possible remediation approaches;
■ Compare the various remediation techniques (physical, chemical and biological) and relate them to various types of contamination;
■ Reflect on sustainability issues in land management.