Water and soil sampling (5 cr)

Objective

You know the principles of environmental sampling and learn about representative sampling in terrestrial and aquatic environments. You know how to use sampling tools used for different purposes and how the collected samples have to be handled. You are able to work in field conditions. You know the importance of occupational safety and recognize the health risks. You know different norms and guidelines. You also recognize the importance of quality assurance and documentation in sampling.

Content

What kinds of observations are made during sampling?
What are the norms that guide soil and water sampling?
What must be taken into account in the sampling design?
How to ensure the quality of sampling?
What information needs to be documented?
What kind of instruments are used in water and soil sampling?
How are samples handled between sampling and analysis?
What does the occupational safety and health of sampling involve?
How to act in sampling sites?

Course material

Materials will be on Learn.

Study forms and methods

You will attend teaching and field work as specified in the weekly schedule. Your study routine is determined by the scheduled group sessions and by the self-study assignments.

RDI and work-related cooperation

Application of literature information to practical sampling.

Timing of exams and assignments

To be settled at the course kick off.

International cooperation

International study group.

Student workload

Student work load is about 135 hours consisting of the lectures, field work and the reporting together with self-study.

Course part description

Sampling course consist of lectures, field work and exam. This course is coupled with the course Water and soil laboratory. Samples collected from the field are used in the laboratory exercises of the laboratory course.

Further information

Attendance for field work is mandatory and highly recommended. If you need to be absent for personal reasons, you may skip up to 25% of the sessions, but you must compensate for the missed sessions with separate tasks assigned by the teachers. If you skip more than 75% of the sessions, your final grade will be reduced by 1 point for each additional session missed.

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Evaluation is based on the active attendance during the course and the portfolio collected during the water and soil courses (both sampling and laboratories). Portfolio is graded on scale 1-5. The same grade is then applied to this course and to the water and soil laboratory course.

Portfolio is divided into 4 blocks evaluated separately. The final grade of the course is calculated as weighted average of the blocks. More detailed information about the evaluation is given at the course kick off.

Absence from the scheduled sessions (75% mandatory attendance) and delays from the submission deadlines may decrease the final grade.