Contaminated Soils (4 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

After completing this course student:
- knows the concepts related to contaminated soils
- knows main soil pollutants
- knows the processes of soil contamination
- knows remediation and management technologies of contaminated soils
- can monitor contaminated soil quality
- can plan and implement remediation projects for contaminated land areas
- get competence in taking environmental samples.

Content (course unit)

Soil contaminants, sampling, analysis and measurement methods, treatment and bioremediation methods, field visits and practical work.

Prerequisites (course unit)

This course is primarily aimed for the environmental engineering, Double Degree, and exchange students. Before taking this course you need to have all basic studies done, especially all chemistry, physics and mathematics courses. In addition, it is required that you have completed Soils Science and Engineering or equivalent course.

Double Degree and exchange students planning to take the course, has to have experience and training in working in laboratory and should have an introductory soil engineering and chemistry courses done before taking this course.

Evaluation methods and criteria

• Weekly assignments (10) 60 %
• Final report 40 %
• Self-evaluation and Group evaluation are mandatory parts of the course and are returned to Tabula according to the schedule agreed. Instructions for the evaluations will be given also in Tabula.

Teaching methods

Coaching will be used as pedagogical method on this course. Course consists of weekly themes, which include weekly reading material and related Tabula assignments, contact lessons where weekly themes are discussed and a research project related contaminated soil site.

Learning materials

Hester, R.E., Harrison, R.M. 2001. Assessment and Reclamation of Contaminated Land. Issues in Environmental Science and Technology. RSC. ISBN 0-85404-275-X. EBook/Knovel.
Strange, J. and Langdon, H. 2008. Contaminated Land - Investigation, Assessment and Remediation (2nd Edition) ICE design and practice guides. Thomas Telford. ISBN 978-0-7277-3482. eBook/Knovel.
Muñiz-Hernández, Saé, Bernardino Velázquez-Fernández, Jesús. 2013. Bioremediation: Processes, Challenges and Future Prospects. Hauppauge, New York : Nova Science Publishers. ISBN 9781629485133. EBook/EBSCOhost.
Murphy, BL, & Morrison, RD 2007, Introduction to Environmental Forensics (2), Academic Press, Burlington, US. Available from: ProQuest ebrary. [14 August 2016]. Chapter 2: Site History: The First Tool of the Environmental Forensics Team
http://site.ebrary.com.elib.tamk.fi/lib/tamperepoly/reader.action?ppg=50&docID=10186017&tm=1471177699469
Other written material available via Tabula

Student workload

Contact lessons and laboratory exercises 50 hours
Self-study (reports, exercises, exam) 58 hours
total 108 hours
Please note that the allocation for independent study is more than half of the time allocated to the course, so this requires significant self-study input.

Content scheduling

Week
Date and time
Theme
35
30.8. at 11-14 in H2-26
Introduction to the course - General about contaminated soils (ELV & MN)
36 6.9. at 11-14 in H2-26 Site Characterization and Background Studies (MN)
37 13.9. at 11-14 in H2-26 Design a site investigation (?)
38 20.9. at 11-14 in H2-26 Soil and groundwater contaminants - Characteristics and analysis methods (ELV)
39 27.9. at 11-14 in H2-26 GUEST LECTURE Mike Heath - Radioactive contamination in soils
40 4.10. at 11-14 in H2-26 Soil sampling methods (MN)
40 7.10. at 11-14 in H2-26 Field work (ELV & MN)
41 13.10. at 11-14 in H2-26 Transport and fate of contaminants (ELV)
42 Intensive Week / Break
43 25.10. at 11-14 in H2-26 Remediation methods - bioremediation (ELV)
44 1.11. at 11-14 in H2-26 Remediation methods - phytoremediation (ELV)
45 8.11. at 11-14 in H2-26 Other soil treatment methods (Mika)
46 15.11. at 11-14 in H2-26 Groundwater contamination - field trip (ELV & MN)
47 22.11. at 11-14 in H2-26 Groundwater contamination (MN)
48 29.11. at 11-14 in H2-26 Final seminars (ELV & MN)

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Competences required have not been achieved in a sufficient level and/or indicators of the competences are missing: Participation on the course activities, assignments and reports are deficient, belated or missing. Achieved competence in design, study and report contaminated soil project have not been shown with sufficient input and knowledge and understanding of the core concepts and phenomena are not proven.

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Achieved competence in design, study and report contaminated soil project is sufficient, but narrow. Knowledge and understanding of the core concepts and phenomena, like fate and transport of chemicals in soil, analysis methods, remediation methods are mainly adopted. Basic skills in soil sampling, site investigation, analysis and reporting and ability to do the analyses in practise when instructed and supervised. Basic theoretical knowledge and understanding in geotechnical engineering and soil pollution.

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Achieved competence in design, study and report contaminated soil project is structured and applied. Fluent knowledge and understanding of the core concepts and phenomena, like fate and transport of chemicals in soil, analysis methods, remediation methods. Sufficient skills and ability in independent soil sampling, site investigation, analysis and reporting and ability to do the analyses in practise. Fluent theoretical knowledge and understanding in geotechnical engineering and soil pollution.

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Achieved competence is wide, creative and developing. Fluent knowledge and understanding of the core concepts and phenomena like fate and transport of chemicals in soil, analysis methods, remediation methods. In addition, ability to apply the knowledge in new situations. Sufficient skills and understanding in independent soil sampling, site investigation, analysis and reporting and ability to make suggestions for developing and/or improving these methods. Fluent theoretical knowledge and understanding in geotechnical engineering and soil pollution and positive attitude to develop oneself in these fields.