Environmental Change: Observation and Prediction
Semester: 1st | Optional | ECTS: 7.5
Course: Managment of Natural and Human Induced Risks and Disasters
Module leader: Drakou G. Evangelia
Module Objectives
The course of Observation and Prediction of Environmental Change aims to introduce the students to the basic notions of environmental change, and the methods used to assess and predict change.
The objectives of the course are dual: i) it aims at supporting the students with theoretical knowledge on the notions of environmental change and its assessment and prediction; ii) and providing them with the necessary knowledge and tools to assess, measure and predict change. The ultimate goal of the course is to use the above-mentioned knowledge towards a more informed decision-making and change management.
Course Contents
Theory and practicals: Types of environmental change, natural processes and ecosystem services. Anthropocene, social-ecological systems, planetary boundaries, carrying capacity. Adaptation and resilience. Methods of observation and assessment of environmental change (field work, earth observation, participatory mapping). Environmental change indicators – basic principles of development, use and interpretation. Models of environmental change – the modelling process. Use of simple models of description and prediction (agent-based modelling, Bayesian belief networks) in different systems (marine, terrestrial). Scenarios of future global change (e.g., IPCC). Criteria of comparison and selection of methods and models for change observation and prediction.
Teaching and Assessment
The course lasts for 13 weeks and is taught for 2 hours per week. It consists of lectures which are combined with practical applications of theory. Some seminars with invited speakers are also planned. The assessment is based on a written report (70%) and its oral presentation (20%) as well as the peer review by the rest of the class (10%).
Postgraduate Programme “Applied Geography and Spatial Planning”
Stream Α’
MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL AND HUMAN INDUCED RISKS AND DISASTERS
1st Semester | Winter
- Environmental Risks and Security | C | 7,5
- Natural Processes, Hazards, and Disasters | C | 7,5
- Vulnerability and Risk: Prevention and Preparedness | C | 7,5
- Social and economic impacts of disasters | Ε | 7,5
- Scientific Research Methods in Geography | Ε | 7,5
- Institutions and Security Policy in European Space | Ε | 7,5
2nd Semester | Spring
- Emergency Planning | C | 7,5
- Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction Planning | C | 7,5
- Coastal Zones Natural Hazards | Ε | 7,5
- Local Sustainable Development: Programmes and Social Resistance | Ε | 7,5
- Geoinformatics for Disaster Management | Ε | 7,5
- Applied Spatial Analysis | Ε | 7,5
- Governance of Environmental Risk | Ε | 7,5
3rd Semester | Winter
- Postgraduate Thesis | C | 30
Stream B’
SPATIAL POLICIES AND DEVELOPMENT IN EUROPE
1st Semester | Winter
- Scientific Research Methods in Geography | C | 7,5
- Planning and Spatial Development: Theories and Practices | C | 7,5
- Geographies of Globalization | C | 7,5
- Migration Policy and Migratory Flows | Ε | 7,5
- Institutions and Security Policy in European Space | Ε | 7,5
- Inequality and Segregation Issues in European Cities | Ε | 7,5
2nd Semester | Spring
- Urban Development and Redevelopment Policies | C | 7,5
- Regional Development and Policy | C | 7,5
- Development and Restructuring of Rural Europe | Ε | 7,5
- Local Sustainable Development: Programmes and Social Resistance | Ε | 7,5
- Applied Spatial Analysis | Ε | 7,5
- The Demographic Factor in the EU Economic and Social Policy | Ε | 7,5
- Methods of Regional Analysis with Emphasis on Spatial Econometrics | Ε | 7,5
- Transnationalism and Human Geography | Ε | 7,5
3rd Semester | Winter
- Postgraduate Thesis | C | 30
Stream C’
GEOINFORMATICS
1st Semester | Winter
- Scientific Research Methods in Geography | C | 7,5
- Applied GIS Based Geographical Analysis | C | 7,5
- Advanced Topics of Remote Sensing | C | 7,5
- Spatial Databases | C | 7,5
2nd Semester | Spring
- Research Themes in Geoinformatics | C | 7,5
- Programming for spatial data analysis | E | 7,5
- Geomodeling | E | 7,5
- Geoinformatics for Disaster Management | E | 7,5
- Applied Spatial Analysis | E | 7,5
- Methods of Regional Analysis with Emphasis on Spatial Econometrics | E | 7,5
- Advanced Topics of Applied Geoinformation for the Environment | E | 7,5
3rd Semester | Winter
- Postgraduate Thesis | C | 30
Recent Announcements – News
Address
Geography Department
Harokopio University
Eleftheriou Venizelou Ave., 70
GR-176 76 Kallithea | Athens | Greece
Contact Details
Undergraduate Secretariat:
t: +30 210 95 49 150
t: +30 210 95 49 151
f: +30 210 95 49 376
E-mail: geosec@hua.gr
Postgraduate Secretariat:
t: +30 210 95 49 325
f: +30 210 95 49 376
E-mail: geosecpost@hua.gr
Harokopio University
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