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Geography of Coastal Zones

Code: 105026 ECTS Credits: 3
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2501915 Environmental Sciences OT 4

Contact

Name:
Francesc Romagosa Casals
Email:
francesc.romagosa@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites.


Objectives and Contextualisation

The objective of the course is to provide the basic knowledge so that the student understands the territorial, environmental and social complexity of the coastal areas system and learn to analyze the problems of coastal areas in an integrated and geographical way.
 
The course is divided into two main parts: in the first part, the coastal areas are analyzed -in a geographic sense that is amplified from the physical point of view (formation, dynamics, morphology and main coastal ecosystems). The second part deals with the relationship between society and coastal areas (uses, impacts, management and planning).

Competences

  • Adequately convey information verbally, written and graphic, including the use of new communication and information technologies.
  • Analyze and use information critically.
  • Demonstrate adequate knowledge and use the tools and concepts of the most relevant social science environment.
  • Demonstrate concern for quality and praxis.
  • Demonstrate initiative and adapt to new situations and problems.
  • Develop analysis and synthesis strategies regarding the environmental implications of industrial processes and urban management
  • Quickly apply the knowledge and skills in the various fields involved in environmental issues, providing innovative proposals.
  • Teaming developing personal values regarding social skills and teamwork.
  • Work autonomously

Learning Outcomes

  1. Adequately convey information verbally, written and graphic, including the use of new communication and information technologies.
  2. Analyze and interpret environmental problems for territorial planning.
  3. Analyze and interpret environmental problems to deepen the territorial diagnosis and the changes to the landscape.
  4. Analyze and synthesize the environmental implications of planning and land management.
  5. Analyze and use information critically.
  6. Demonstrate concern for quality and praxis.
  7. Demonstrate initiative and adapt to new situations and problems.
  8. Identify geographic processes in the environmental surroundings and to value properly and originally.
  9. Know and apply the most relevant methodologies in the planning.
  10. Know the main territorial and landscape dynamics in Catalonia and Spain.
  11. Rate changes the landscape through spatial relationships on different territorial stairs through the relationships between nature and society.
  12. Recognize and explain the spatial relationships at different territorial stairs, physical, economic, social and cultural diversity of the territories.
  13. Teaming developing personal values regarding social skills and teamwork.
  14. Undertake spatial relationships on different territorial stairs through the relationships between nature and society in the field of territorial planning.
  15. Work autonomously

Content

Part 1: The physical environment of the coastal areas
1. The coastal system
2. Formation and evolution of the coasts
3. Coastal dynamics
4. Morphology of the coastal areas
5. Coastal ecosystems
 
Part 2: Coastal areas and society
1. Human activities and their impacts on coastal areas
2. Legislation and administration on coastal areas
3. Coastal areas and sustainability: environmental quality on coastal areas
4. Integrated coastal zone management
 

Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Classroom activities 7 0.28 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Field trip 8 0.32 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Theoretical classes 13 0.52 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Type: Supervised      
Tutorials 5 0.2 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Type: Autonomous      
Autonomous work 20 0.8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Study 20 0.8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

The contents of the course will be developed through the following activities:
 
- Follow-up of the topics covered in the course (reading and study of the documents that make up the course's materials).
 
- Read books and articles as a complement to the materials (some of them available on the Virtual Campus).
 
- Field trip of compulsory character, that will complement the theoretical knowledge of the course's materials and will be the basis of a practical work.
 
- Elaboration of practical works or assignments, with the tutoring of the professor.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Exam 50% 2 0.08 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Field trip work 25% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Practical assignment 25% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

The continuous assessment of the course will consist of:
1) The realization of a test that will evaluate the theoretical knowledge corresponding to the two parts of the course; and
2) The elaboration of two assignaments of a practical nature, related both to theoretical material and to the field trip.
 
To ask for a reevaluation the student must have been received a mark in activities that represent at least 2/3 of the global mark during the course.

Unique assessment

Students who have accepted the unique assessment modality will have to take a final test which will consist of a theory exam in which all the subject matter will be included. He/she will also have to hand in the two practical assignments proposed throughout the semester. Since one of these two assignments is linked to the field trip, attendance at this field trip is considered mandatory, also for students who take the single assessment modality. Attendance at the rest of the classes is considered highly recommended. If the final grade does not reach 5, the student has another opportunity to pass the subject through the remedial exam that will be held on the date set by the degree coordinator. In this test you can recover 50% of the grade corresponding to the theory. The practical part is not recoverable.


Bibliography

-       BARBIER, E.B. et al. (2011). "The value of estuarine and coastal ecosystem services". Ecological Monographs, 81(2): 169-193.

-       BARRAGÁN, J.M. (2003). Medio ambiente y desarrollo en áreas litorales: introducción a la planificación y gestión integradas. Cádiz: Universidad de Cádiz.

-       BARRAGÁN, J.M. (2004). Las áreas litorales de España. Del análisis geográfico a la gestión integrada. Barcelona: Ariel.

-       BARRAGÁN, J.M.; BORJA, F. (2011). "Litorales". A: Evaluación de los ecosistemas del milenio de España. Conservación de los servicios de los ecosistemas y la biodiversidad para el bienestar humano. Madrid: Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino - Fundación Biodiversidad: 673-739.

-       BRETON, F. (1996). "El litoral: bases per al planejament i la gestió integrada d'un espai dinàmic i vulnerable". El sistema litoral. Un equilibri sostenible? Quaderns d'Ecologia Aplicada, 13: 45-100. Barcelona: Diputació de Barcelona.

-       BRETON, F.; TRUJILLO, A.J. (2009). "Paisajes litorales". A: BUSQUETS, J.; CORTINA, A. (coords.) Gestión del paisaje. Manual de protección, gestión y ordenación del paisaje. Barcelona: Ariel: 111-134.

-       CARTER, R.W.G. (1989). Coastal environments. An introduction to the Physical, Ecological and Cultural Systems of Coastlines. London: Academic Press.

-       CONSELL ASSESSOR PER AL DESENVOLUPAMENT SOSTENIBLE (2019). Una mar de canvis. Recomanacions per a una gestió sostenible del medi marí i costaner. Barcelona: Generalitat de Catalunya.

-       CONSELL ASSESSOR PER AL DESENVOLUPAMENT SOSTENIBLE (2021). Un litoral al límit. Recomanacions per a una gestió integrada de la costa catalana. Barcelona: Generalitat de Catalunya.

-       DD.AA. (2004). Planificació i gestió integral del litoral. Eines, estratègies i bones pràctiques. Barcelona: Diputació de Barcelona.

-       DIPUTACIÓ DE BARCELONA (2005). Manual de gestió integral del litoral. Barcelona: Diputació de Barcelona.

-       DIPUTACIÓ DE BARCELONA (2010). El sistema litoral. Un equilibri feble amenaçat pel canvi climàtic. Barcelona: Diputació de Barcelona.

-       FOLCH, R. (dir.) (1984-1992). Història natural dels Països Catalans. Barcelona: Enciclopèdia Catalana. Vols. 1, 2, 7 i 14.

-       GARCÍA GARCÍA, M. (2017). "El litoral español: más de un cuarto de siglo a la deriva". Journal of interdisciplinary studies in Architecture and Urbanism, 8: 272-287.

-       HASLETT, S.K. (2000). Coastal systems. London: Roudledge.

-       MARGALEF, R. (1994). Litorals i oceans. Enciclopèdia Biosfera, vol. 10. Barcelona: Enciclopèdia Catalana.

-       MINISTERIO DE MEDIO AMBIENTE (2005). Hacia una gestión sostenible del litoral español. Madrid.

-       NONN, H. (1987). Geografía de los litorales. Madrid: Akal.

-       PASKOFF, R. (1994). Les littoraux. Impact des aménagements sur leur évolution. Paris: Masson.

-       PINTÓ, J.; GARCIA-LOZANO, C.; ROIG-MUNAR, X. (2018). "L'espai litoral". Natura: Ús o abús?. Barcelona: Institut d'Estudis Catalans.

-       ROMAGOSA, F. (2000). Zones humides, societat i medi ambient. Les zones humides de Catalunya. Bellaterra: Servei de Publicacions de la UAB.

-       ROMAGOSA, F. (ed.) (2016). La governança i la gestió integrada del litoral a Catalunya. Bellaterra: Grup de Recerca Interfase, UAB.

-       ROS, J. (2001). Vora el mar broix. Problemàtica ambiental del litoral mediterrani. Barcelona: Empúries.

-       ROS, J.; SERRA, J. (1996). "Ecosistemes i dinàmica litoral". El sistema litoral. Un equilibri sostenible? Quaderns d'Ecologia Aplicada, 13: 5-43.

-       STRAHLER, A.N.; STRAHLER, A.H. (1989). Geografía física. Barcelona: Omega.

-       SCHEFFERS, A.M.; SCHEFFERS, S.R.; KELLETAT, D.H. (2012). The coastlines of the world with Google Earth. Dordrecht: Springer.


Software

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Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(PCAM) Field practices 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed