Handbook home
Urban Soils, Substrates and Water (ERTH90028)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Burnley)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Urban soils can present distinct and unique challenges to the land manager, landscape architect or horticulturist responsible for developing, maintaining or improving urban landscapes. Often compacted, contaminated, or otherwise unsuitable for plant growth, urban soils require assessment, solutions and practical methods to ensure successful outcomes. This applications-oriented subject covers several fundamental soil science issues with direct relevance to urban landscape impacts, uses and requirements. Topics covered include compaction, nutrition, contamination, water supply, drainage and structural soils.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon completion of this subject students will be able to:
- Discuss key soil physical and chemical properties and their application to urban soil typologies;
- Undertake field assessments/measurement of soil properties (physical, hydrologic & chemical), including sampling of urban soils for laboratory analysis;
- Discuss the mechanisms that impact urban soil conditions;
- Describe the rationale, function, design and installation of structural soils, containerised soils and other specialised environments;
- Assess methods used to remediate, alleviate and improve urban soils;
- Investigate case studies of soil assessment, analysis and problem solving in different urban landscape scenarios (turf, tree, construction, horticultural, roads, etc.);
- Discuss hydrological issues associated with soil water availability, irrigation supply and drainage management; and
- Discuss ecosystem services that urban soils provide to the population, built landscape and biodiversity.
Generic skills
Generic skills obtained during this course will be:
- Soil management skills for residential gardens, production horticulture, local government and major infrastructure.
- Scientific understanding of key soil physical, chemical and hydrological properties.
- Basic field and laboratory competencies for urban soil and landscape assessments.
- Systems understanding of the urban landscape (water, substrate, vegetation, society, climate).
Oral presentation skills and inter-personal skills for group work under pressure.
Last updated: 27 May 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
This course requires all students to actively and safely participate in field excursions and laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Student Equity and Disability Support.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 27 May 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Short answer tests, Weeks 4 & 11 | From Week 4 to Week 11 | 20% |
Practical exam | Week 8 | 10% |
Framing an urban soil management case study (group oral presentation)
| Week 9 | 10% |
Urban soil management case study (individual report) up to 3000 words
| Week 14 | 60% |
Last updated: 27 May 2023
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Stephen Livesley Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Burnley) Contact hours Total 49 hours: 2x 1 hour lectures (Weeks 1-7, 9-12) , 1x2 hour practicals (Weeks 1-7, 9-12) and 1 x 5hr field trip (week 8). Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 July 2021 to 24 October 2021 Last self-enrol date 6 August 2021 Census date 31 August 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 September 2021 Assessment period ends 19 November 2021 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
121
Last updated: 27 May 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Urban Horticulture Course Master of Urban Horticulture Major Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Regions Major Tailored Specialisation - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 27 May 2023