Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE SPI5761

 
TITLE Sustainable Resource Management 1

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Spatial Planning and Infrastructure

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit deals with the sustainable management of natural and man made resources such as water, liquid and solid waste.Through a review of current policies, plans and projects as well as by characterising human behaviour students will be able to obtain a holistic perspective of the action-consequence relationship for these sectors.

Study-unit Aims:

The aims of this study unit are to:
- Familiarise students with current policy and regulatory requirements characterising sustianable resource management;
- Acquainted students with current research in sustainable development and resource management;
- Consider certain design elements in water resources and solid & liquid waste management;
- Recognise the potential of solid and liquid waste as a resource.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of current trends in water resources management and solid and liquid waste management;
- Understand the policy framework characterising resource management in Malta;
- Understand how human behaviour effects the water and waste scenarios and how this, in turn, shapes the nature of the resource infrastructure required;
- Demonstrate an insight into how political, economic, social and environmental factors can influence resource management;
- Understand the concepts underpinning sustainable development;
- Design and construct certain elements of resource infrastructure.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Discuss sustainable resource management issues in a questioning and analytical manner;
- Develop the basis for the formulation of policies and plans for specific resources based on scientific criteria;
- Demonstrate an in-depth insight into the possibilities of sustainable water and waste management with regard to initiating and implementing long-term sustainable processes of change;
- Generate action-consequence scenarios for each sector as a means for undertaking impact assessment;
- Understand the design and construction principles underpinning water and waste infrastructure.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- A Solid Waste Management Strategy for the Maltese Islands - First Update. Government of Malta - 2009.
- A Proposal For A Water Policy For The Maltese Islands - Government of Malta - 2010.
- Water Centric Sustainable Communities: Planning, Retrofitting and Building the Next Urban Environment - Vladimir Novotny - 2010.
- Water Resources Planning and Management - R. Quentin Grafton, Karen Hussey - 2011.
- Waste: A Handbook for Management - Trevor Letcher, Daniel Vallero - 2011.
- Waste Management: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary World Issues Series) - Jacqueline Vaughn - 2009.
- Engineering Hydrology - Wilson - 1990.
- Principles of Hydrology - Ward - 2000.
- Solid Waste Engineering - Worrell - 2011.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM1 Yes 30%
Examination (2 Hours) SEM1 Yes 70%

 
LECTURER/S Kevin Gatt

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit