Geodiversity: Theory and Applications

A.Y. 2024/2025
8
Max ECTS
80
Overall hours
SSD
GEO/04
Language
English
Learning objectives
The course aims at introducing students to the concept of geodiversity and at giving them methods and techniques to describe and analyze the natural elements of the physical landscape and the main climate factors driving their evolution. In particular we will focus on detecting, mapping, describing and analyzing the physical elements and the natural resources of each environment (from mountains to coastal areas), their level of integrity and conservation, their relations with landscape and climate evolution and with the human presence and use (if any).
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the students are expected to be able to develop autonomously a project in the field of the earth sciences focused on the evaluation of the geodiversity at local or at regional scale. They will be able to apply methods and techniques explained in the course and tested during the practical activities and they will properly discuss the obtained results also with fruitful comparison with the available literature.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Geodiversity and Geoheritage
Principles of physical geography and remote sensing applications
Principles of physical climatology and climate change
Glaciers and glacier changes
Permafrost
Mountain lakes' evolution
Rivers and streams
Earthquakes
Volcanoes
Landslides
Prerequisites for admission
Earth Sciences: definition and scopes.
Minerals and rocks: composition, genesis and classification
Teaching methods
The course aims at introducing students to the concept of geodiversity and at giving them methods and techniques to describe and analyze the natural elements of the physical landscape and the main climate factors driving their evolution. In particular we will focus on detecting, mapping, describing and analyzing the physical elements and the natural resources of each environment (from mountains to coastal areas), their level of integrity and conservation, their relations with landscape and climate evolution and with the human presence and use (if any).
To these aims, the course will be structured into four main parts: 1) different instruments and methods as remote sensing investigations (e.g.: the most innovative applications and products also including UAV surveys) for detecting, mapping and describing geodiversity; 2) description of the climate system and of its role in driving landscape and geodiversity evolution/change; 3) physically based approaches to assess the amount and to project in the future the availability of peculiar resources (as fresh water, snow and ice coverage) of the natural landscape; 4) development and application of a) new tools for evaluating human impacts on environment and/or landscape and b) innovative instruments (as the ones applied in cases of citizen science) to share with people information and data for raising their awareness on the fragility of the environment and for adopting the most sustainable practices to preserve the geodiversity.
At the end of the course, students will have learnt how to evaluate the geodiversity level of different environments, how to describe climate interactions and how to preserve and promote geodiversity.
The course will be base on both lectures and technical practical activities in the Lab
Teaching Resources
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will be oral (grade in 30ths). The students will present and discuss an original work developed by themselves in the Lab using techniques and methods explained in the course.
At the end of the course, the students are expected to be able to develop autonomously a project in the field of the earth sciences focused on the evaluation of the geodiversity at local or at regional scale. The applied methods and techniques (explained in the course and tested during the practical activities) will be evaluated. Moreover, the students are expected to be able to properly discuss the obtained results also with fruitful comparison with the available literature. The project will be developed using QGIS software and it will be presented during a public discussion using a power point presentation developed by the student.
GEO/04 - PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY - University credits: 8
Practicals: 32 hours
Lessons: 48 hours