MABY5460 Environmental Geotechnics Course description

This course covers geotechnical principles and techniques for the reduction of environmental impacts. Landslide occurrence and mitigation measures to reduce impact will be part of this course, with a specific focus on the use of nature-based solutions. Design characteristics of landfills and tailings dams, as well as, how to monitor different hydro-geological parameters.

Stability of tailings dams and failure prevention are fundamental aspects to consider too, as shown by recent catastrophic failures. The presence of uncontrolled tailings dam structures all around the world poses a huge threat to the environment. Understanding the stability of these earth structures and what are the guidelines and standards is paramount to avoid such failures. A wide range of field monitoring techniques with respect to groundwater and environmental contamination will be introduced. Finally, qualitative and quantitative techniques to perform risk assessment analyzes will be described. The student will use numerical modeling software, such as GeoStudio, as well as the possibility to use python and excel.

Practical training consists of both practical training, activities along the way and supervised practical training that takes place during the practical training period. The practical training period (7 weeks) take part in the municipal health service, home-based services. Other practical training and activities (1 week) can be lectures, simulation, flipped classroom, digital learning resources and seminars.

After completing this course, students will gain the following knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

Students will have knowledge of:

• groundwater flow, seepage, and the behavior of unsaturated soils.
• concepts of groundwater engineering, including applications and limitations.
• key principles in slope stability, including landslide classification, factors influencing stability, and risk assessment.
• various methods for slope analysis, such as the Infinite Slope method and Limit Equilibrium Methods (LEM), and their real-world applications.
• the principles and benefits of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for slope stability, including the role of vegetation in mitigating landslide risks and stabilizing slopes.
• how vegetation affects soil structure, root reinforcement, and water absorption, and its application as a natural mitigation measure.
• the consolidation and settlement of earth embankments, properties of tailings, and common failure modes in these structures.
• International standards such as the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) and industry best practices for designing stable tailings dams.
• key concepts in landfill design, including compaction, clay liners, geomembranes, and waste settlement.
• qualitative and quantitative risk assessment methods and hazard mapping, including risk matrices, event trees, and the use of machine learning for risk prediction.

Skills

Students will be able to:

• apply Limit Equilibrium Methods (LEM) manually and through software tools like Geostudio.
• perform slope stability analyses, incorporating structural and non-structural mitigation measures, and interpret results for practical use.
• Analyze the effects of vegetation on slope stability and apply Nature-Based Solutions by selecting appropriate plant species and assessing their impact on slope reinforcement.
• use simulation tools (such as Larimit) to model and assess the impact of vegetation on slope stability.
• use and interpret data from various sensors and monitoring instruments in slope stability and groundwater studies.
• conduct analyses of earth embankments and tailings dams to identify potential failure modes and liquefaction risks.
• apply the SEEP tool in Geostudio to model groundwater flow through tailings and embankment structures.
• critically analyze real-life landfill failures, identify causes, and propose design improvements for enhanced stability.

General Competence

Students will develop general competence in:

• understanding environmental geotechnical challenges and their relevance to broader sustainability concerns in engineering practice.
• problem-solving by integrating technical knowledge and practical tools to address real-world geotechnical challenges.
• collaborating with industry experts and peers through exercises and seminars, enhancing teamwork and communication skills in professional settings.
• employing standards in geotechnical engineering, with a focus on risk management and environmental protection.

Lectures, exercises, presentations, filed visits, critical analysis of scientific papers and written project/report.

If lectures are delivered online, they may be recorded, and the recordings will be made available to students on Canvas.

The following work requirements are mandatory and must be approved to sit for the exam:

1 written group exercise with 2-4 student in a group

1 written individual exercise

all proposed excercises must be delivered.

The exam consists of two parts:

1) 3-hour written individual exam under supervison, weighted 70 %,

2) 15-20 minutes individual oral presentation of a topic followed by Q&A, weighted 30 %.

All assessment parts must be awarded a pass grade (E or better) for the student to pass the course.

Assessment part 1) can be appealed. Assessment part 2) cannot be appealed.

A calculator is allowed for the written exam. It cannot be used to communicate with others.

In this course, the student will learn about nursing for patients with chronic diseases, loss of function after injury or disease, intellectual disabilities and other complex diseases. The students will encounter patients in their own homes or in residential care homes. They will gain experience of communicating and interacting with patients and next-of-kin. Challenges related to key patient phenomena, functional impairment, mastery, dignity and user participation will be central aspects of the course. Different perspectives on nursing in a care and rehabilitation context are analysed with the home as the arena, at the intersection between paternalism and autonomy, as well as different cultural values. Interprofessional and intersectoral cooperation and service development and innovation are also included in the course.

To start this course you must have passed:

• Passed the first year of study.
• SYKP/SYKP2100 Person Centered Care, 15 credits.
• SYKK/SYKPPRA21 Nursing Patients with Acute, Critical and Chronic Diseases 1, 15 credits.
• SYKK/SYKPPRA30 Nursing Patients with Acute, Critical and Chronic Diseases 2, 10 credits.

or equivalent.*

* For year group 2022 at OsloMet, the equivalent is:

• Passed the first year of study.
• SYKK/SYKPPRA20 Nursing Patients with Acute, Critical and Chronic Diseases 1, 20 credits.
• SYKP/SYKP1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits.
• SYKP/SYKK2000 Theory of Science and Research Methods, 5 credits.
• SYKK/SYKPPRA30 Nursing Patients with Acute, Critical and Chronic Diseases 2, 10 credits.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can discuss the nurse's role in health promotion work, everyday (re)habilitation activities for people living at home in different age groups
• can explain person-centered nursing of patients with lasting health challenges and their families
• can discuss health counselling at the individual, group, and social level

Skills

The student

• can apply the nursing process (mapping, planning, carrying out, evaluating and documenting nursing measures) with patients living at home, which contributes to health promotion, rehabilitation, well-being and quality of life
• can interact interprofessionally and across sectors through coordinated, comprehensive, and cohesive service offerings that ensure excellent person-centered health services
• can plan, implement, evaluate and document nursing measures that ensure the safe transfer of patients between units and levels of the municipal health service and which contribute to health promotion for patients living at home
• can provide nursing care for patients in the palliative phase and follow up next-of-kin and those left behind
• can administer and monitor medication treatments for individuals living at home in a responsible manner
• can manage and structure their own working day, in order to achieve independence in their role as a nurse

General competence

The student

• can critically reflect on how information, communication and welfare technology can strengthen the municipality’s services
• can use technology and digital solutions to support patients’ and next-of-kin's resources, mastering possibilities and participation
• can explore what a lack of activity and unmet psychosocial needs can lead to over time, and discussing how new measures can strengthen services provided
• can discuss his/her own professional role in an interprofessional context and initiating and contributing to interprofessional and intersectoral cooperation
• can communicate and share experiences related to central subject matter, nursing problems, and solutions, both in writing and orally
• can identify and reflect on ethical aspects and perspectives when nursing is carried out in private homes
• can critically reflect and engage in new thinking and innovation processes through project work and taking the initiative to quality improvement and implementation of new work methods
• can critically discuss cultural sensitivity and reflecting on the significance of cultural understanding in nursing practice, quality, and patient safety in the patients' homes