EPN-V2

MABY5460 Environmental Geotechnics Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Environmental Geotechnics
Study programme
Master’s Programme in Civil Engineering
Master's Programme in Civil Engineering, Elective modules
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2025/2026
Curriculum
FALL 2025
Schedule
Course history

Introduction

  • 15 ECTS overlap with SYKK/SYKPPRA20x Nursing Patients with Acute, Critical and Chronic Diseases 1, 20 ECTS.
  • SYKKPRA21x, SYKPPRA21x and SYKDPRA21x are fully overlapping.

Recommended preliminary courses

For å kunne framstille seg til eksamen må studenten ha følgende godkjente arbeidskrav:

  • designe en datainnsamling knyttet til en gitt arkivvitenskapelig problemstilling. Resultatet skal presenteres muntlig, ca. 15 minutter, med hjelp av powerpoint (eller tilsvarende) for medstudenter og lærere i plenum. Arbeidskravet gjennomføres som en gruppeoppgave i grupper på 3-5 deltakere. Formålet med arbeidskravet er at studentene skal reflektere over hvilke metoder som er egnet forskjellige typer av forskning og utviklingsarbeid og identifisere relevante metoder for datainnsamling og dataanalyse.

Arbeidskrav kommenteres skriftlig eller muntlig av faglærer og må være gjennomført og godkjent innen fastlagt frist for at studentene skal kunne framstille seg til eksamen. Dersom arbeidskravet ikke blir godkjent, gis det anledning til å kunne levere en forbedret versjon én gang innen angitt frist.

Learning outcomes

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.

Teaching and learning methods

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.

Course requirements

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.

Assessment

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.

Permitted exam materials and equipment

Emnet vil gi kunnskap om forskning og utvikling, teori og metode på det arkivfaglige området, samt innsikt i forskningsdesign og forskningsetikk.

Undervisningsspråk er norsk.

Grading scale

Ingen forkunnskapskrav.

Examiners

Studenten skal etter å ha fullført emnet ha følgende totale læringsutbytte definert i kunnskap, ferdigheter og generell kompetanse:

Kunnskap

Studenten

  • har kunnskap om grunnleggende vitenskapsteoretiske perspektiver og metoder for datainnsamling og dataanalyse
  • har forståelse av vitenskapelig og profesjonell kunnskap
  • har innsikt i etiske retningslinjer for forskning
  • har kjennskap til relevante teorier og metoder i faget og til nasjonal og internasjonal forskning og utvikling

Ferdigheter

Studenten

  • kan vurdere hvilke metoder som er egnet for forskjellige typer av forskning og utviklingsarbeid
  • kan utarbeide en arkivvitenskapelig problemstilling
  • kan gjennomføre en mindre datainnsamling

Generell kompetanse

Studenten

  • kan anvende vitenskapelige tilnærminger i oppgaveløsning

Course contact person

Arbeidsformene veksler mellom forelesninger, diskusjoner, studentpresentasjoner, selvstudium, gruppearbeid og gruppeveiledning. Undervisning skjer fysisk på campus.