LNAK10028U Urban Ecosystems: Structures, Functions and Designs
Cities are hot spots in terms of resource consumption, waste production and emission of greenhouse gasses. At the same time cities are global centers for economy and culture, and home to more than half of the world’s population. Climate resilience and sustainable resource management depend – among other things - on our ability to develop and retrofit cities in a good way. This is true for all cities, be it new and rapidly growing cities or old and stabilized, or even shrinking, cities.
The course focuses on the ability of a strong green
infrastructure to contribute to resource management and climate
adaptation of urbanized areas. This is often referred to as
ecosystem services. How can knowledge on vegetation, soil, air,
climate and water be used to suggest overall green structures and
specific elements for stormwater management, water supply,
biodiversity support, mitigation of urban heat island, urban
farming, etc.? The suggested physical changes must at the same time
enhance urban livability, and be doable in terms of administrative
and economic resources. Which theories and methods can be applied,
and what is the role of environmental experts, landscape
architectures and urban planners in this context? The main focus of
the course is on the freshwater cycle and adaptation to more
extreme weather conditions, mainly in a developed world context,
but all mentioned subjects are covered. Furhter the course has
a focus on innovation and business
opertunities.
The course is inviting students from a number of disciplines to
participate. It is relevant for urban designers and planners as
well as for agronomists, geographers, biologists, etc. with an
interest in the urban environment. The ambition of the
teachers is to make students able to apply knowledge
from natural science in new urban designs at multiple
scales, in order to increase sustainability and climate resilience.
As such the course contains a number of lectures in which
relevant knowledge from environmental chemistry, agronomy,
climatology and biology is presented. The lectures are supported by
excursions and several exercises for a better understanding. By
means of innovative learning methods the theory is transferred to
design criteria and design proposals.
This course provides an understanding of structures, functions
and dynamics of urban ecosystems, and how ecosystem services can be
optimized, re-designed and managed to support sustainable urban
development. The course combines urban planning and landscape
architecture with natural sciences such as soil hydrology,
environmental chemistry, climatology and biology. The aim is
to have students, teachers and external actors that represent
different disciplines to exchange, apply and evaluate concepts and
methods for sustainable urban development.
Knowledge:
- To be familiar with theory and principles of urban ecosystem
services
- To understand causes and effects of climate change in urban areas
- To be familiar with urban growth and dynamics in Denmark and
globally
- To know main quantitative and qualitative components of the urban
water cycle
- To be familiar with definitions of biodiversity and major factors
controlling population stability
- To understand relations between natural processes (e.g. urban
climates, the water cycle, biodiversity, soils) and urban form and
function
- To gain an overview over case studies of sustainable urban water
management and climate change adaptation, from city to site scale.
Skills:
- To be able to transfer ecosystem concepts and principles to
problem oriented studies.
- To be able to apply knowledge and methods for the analysis and
design of sustainable urban ecosystems.
Competencies:
- To work in multidisciplinary groups and present results and
knowledge to other students and external actors.
- To undertake a problem oriented study, suggest design solutions
and evaluate result
- To acquire in-depth knowledge on specific aspects of urban
ecosystems structures and functions in an independent manner
- To reflect upon and discuss the value systems that underlie
structures and functions of various urban ecosystems
- To transfer knowledge from natural science into innovative urban
designs and approaches
- To take first steps into exploiting innovative ideas for businesses
A number of compulsory papers and book chapters constitutes the course texts. Further literature will be recommended during the course in connection with specific themes.
- Category
- Hours
- Colloquia
- 6
- Exam
- 7
- Excursions
- 10
- Guidance
- 30
- Lectures
- 20
- Practical exercises
- 23
- Project work
- 90
- Theory exercises
- 20
- Total
- 206
As
an exchange, guest and credit student - click here!
Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written examination, 2 hours under invigilationWritten assignmentThe written exam is a test in the mechanisms, potentials and limitations associated with different ecosystem services.
The written paper is prepared during the course and handed in during the exam week. The final mark is based on the individual assignment and the written exam and are weighted 50 % each. - Aid
- Without aids
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several interanal examiners.
Criteria for exam assesment
Please see learning outcome.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- LNAK10028U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedule
- C
- Course capacity
- 60
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Geosciences and Management
Contracting departments
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Course responsibles
- Marina Bergen Jensen (3-736870466f6d7434717b346a71)
Lecturers
Antje Backhaus
Li Liu