Computational Geoscience MSc
Modelling Water Environments GEOG5117
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
- Credits: 20
- 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
This course covers the following aspects of monitoring sustainable water environments:
■ Modelling and predicting water and sediment fluxes from catchment to coast.
■ Theoretical basis for hydrodynamics, sediment transport and morphological change.
■ Principles of modelling across spatial and temporal scales.
■ Use of modelling in sustainable environmental management decision making.
Timetable
Weeks 1 to 7: 2 hour lecture (weekly) plus 2 hour computer lab class (weekly)
Week 8: 2 hour lecture, 2 hour oral presentations
Weeks 9-10: 4 hour computer lab class (weekly)
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
GEOG5019 Principles of GIS or equivalent
Assessment
1. An essay of no more than 2,000 words based on a theme introduced in the lecture material. (40%)
2. Short oral presentation on project proposal. (10%)
3. A report of no more than 2,000 words that uses the techniques developed in one of the practical exercises to address an applied problem. (50%)
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 course aims to provide students with understanding of the principles governing modelling of water bodies.
The course emphasises fundamental principles of modelling, applied across a range of water environments.
The course focuses upon approaches to using modelling frameworks to model water systems in order to provide information to inform decision-making analysis and to assess uncertainty.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ articulate the fundamental principles of modelling;
■ explain controls on hydrodynamics, sediment flux and morphological change;
■ describe the principles governing model selection as a function of temporal and spatial scales;
■ conduct numerical analyses using standard software, to predict water flow and sediment flux in catchment and coastal environments;
■ explain the consequences of changes in water and sediment supply in coastal and fluvial systems;
■ explain the principles of uncertainty evaluation;
■ analyse data to support decision making in an applied environmental management context;
■ critically evaluate literature on modelling.