Postgraduate Geography 2014-2015

To understand and apply economic principles to contemporary issues concerned with land management, land development, nature conservation and the environment. Part of the course looks at Land Economics, and this examines the real estate development process and development economics. This is a core part of what RICS surveyors do. A substantive part of the course also looks at Environmental Economics including the costs and benefits of alternative environmental policies to deal with land management, nature conservation, water quality and global warming issues. Sustainability issues are introduced in the course.

The course provides a background to the role of the law in regulating the management and use of the countryside. As such there is an emphasis on planning law and the role of the planning system at national and local levels in terms of development management and development plans.  It also covers landscape and nature conservation, access legislation, community right to buy, EIA, tenancy agreements, agricultural holdings legislation, rent reviews and CPO powers.

In relation to Forestry, which takes up the major part of this course, students study the planning and caring of trees and the management of woods for conservation purposes, commercial exploitation and recreational use.  There are several field visits. Overview of the British forestry sector and examines classification of woodlands, tree identification, silvicultural systems and estate policy. Game management examines upland and lowland estates in terms of deer and grouse management together with salmon fishing and other related game interests.

Students will gain a valuable introduction to all aspects of agricultural production systems and management.  This includes land use for agriculture (crop production and animal husbandry), the management of the countryside, its economic significance, geographical spread and social significance. Visits to farms include projects on farm types and different systems, the importance of mixed farming and sustainable agriculture. Also covered is sustainable agri practices and grant schemes, CAP support system and annual cycle of operations.

This module will introduce students to the literature, concepts, theories, knowledge and understanding of the origins, history, development, and evolution of Geographical Information Systems. This will include a timeline of key developments in GIS theory and practice; technological developments of GIS from its geographical origins to the commercial location-based technologies of today; the underlying geographical principles and fundamentals of GIS; discussion of GIS as a tool or technique, a discipline or science; and some of the major developments that have led to mobile location-based technologies. Finally, key future developments of this rapidly evolving technology with some example applications.

This module will introduce students to a number of introductory and fundamental geospatial tools and techniques for displaying and analysing geospatial data. This will include: navigation, measurement, spatial queries, geocoding, scripting, buffering, digitising, and overlay analysis. A number of ‘real world’ examples will be used to illustrate the application of the tools for data exploration, data capture, simple spatial analysis, mapping and visualisation. Emphasis will be placed on obtaining a sound understanding of the principles of each technique, as well as the importance of selecting the correct approach to a problem, analysing the data, and interpretation of the results.

This module will introduce students to elements of traditional cartography, digital mapping, and visualisation for the presentation and analysis of geospatial data and the results of spatial analyses. Emphasis will be placed on the development of an appreciation of the importance of traditional and electronic map design and the use of colour as a key to effective communication when producing maps from GIS, visualisation, and image processing software. This will include coverage of scientific visualisation and geovisualisation including animation, interactivity, electronic atlases, and multimedia visualisation. Practical experience of selected software will be gained e.g. MapViewer, Surfer, Voxler, ArcGIS and Fledermaus.

This module will introduce students to a selection of more advanced geospatial tools and techniques for analysing spatial data. This will include for example: geostatistics, cluster analysis, kriging, and network analysis. A number of ‘real world’ applications will illustrate the application of these spatial tools and techniques. Emphasis will be placed on obtaining a sound understanding of the fundamentals and principles of each technique, as well as how to select the correct technique for solving a problem, the analysis of the spatial data, and the interpretation of the results. ArcGIS software will be used for the practical work.

This course will introduce the perspectives, skills and decision-making tools required to design and  manage partnerships and to build collaborative capacity to achieve sustainable development. Students will learn about the types of partnership and their emerging role in sustainable development. They will explore the concepts of multi-actor partnership working and collaborative capacity. Students will become familiar with current discussions and trends linked to cross-sector partnerships and evaluate the factors of success and failure of cross-sector partnerships.

This course will introduce students to contemporary environmental issues at various temporal and spatial scales, and will explore associated environmental management challenges. Students will learn about different conceptual and theoretical approaches to the study of environmental challenges and they will explore the key drivers of environmental challenges from local to global scales. Lecturers will draw on their own research experience and use case studies to illustrate many of these issues.

Students learn about the inputs and outputs in both physical and financial terms for the main landed activities on rural estates, including setting and preparing management objectives and plans. Field visits examine the financial interactions of rural estate enterprises and the development of specific areas of an estate: eg diversification. Preparation and analysis of financial accounts and forward financial planning together with basic taxation and the granting of wayleaves and servitudes are examined.

Students are introduced to relevant research methods for the analysis of rural, land, property, and environmental resources. The course is the fundamental building block for the substantive dissertation that students undertake over the summer. Topics studies in detail include strategy formulation  for effective literature review, various methodological approaches, the selection of  appropriate methods for carrying out specified research exercises and the production of feasible research proposals and programmes of work.

The course examines rural policy, land use and socio-economic issues associated with the countryside at local and national scales.  Issues include land management, tourism, diversification, planning, conservation etc. 

The substantive element is a field trip to the Highlands Cairngorms National park where projects will be studied with visits to various estates and key stakeholder agencies. Students identify research topics and undertake research on policy topics in groups and individually.  Formal teaching includes lecture and seminars.

This course introduces students to the concepts of land and property valuation as defined by the RICS and develops a specialised knowledge of rural land and property valuation. This covers the principles and practices of agricultural valuation along with sporting estates and rural housing. Students will be able to produce rural land valuations in a professional context. There will be a focus on the formal processes and procedures adopted in the UK in the approach to the valuation of property and an awareness of the various purposes for which valuations are required.

Central to the application of Geographical Information (GI) in the 'real world' is the acquisition of a fundamental knowledge and understanding of the 'data into information’ pathway using GIS and the geospatial information technologies. This module introduces students to a number of examples of both theory and application of geographical data and information, and the relationships to remote sensing, cartography. visualisation, multimedia, global positioning systems (GPS), mobile GIS, and the Internet. A practical study of mobile GIS and Smartphone Apps for field data collection is included. A practical introduction to the Idrisi GIS software is used for the course.

This module will examine some of the many different applications of the geospatial technologies. It comprises two sections: 1) invited lectures from external guest speakers on a selection of current GIS applications embracing academic, commercial and research topics on e.g. physical and human geography, planning, archaeology, geology, computer science, and specialist applications from amongst others: the renewable energy sector, oil and gas industry, offshore surveying, marine spatial planning, precision agriculture, environmental management, local authorities, and the business sector; 2) the execution of a practical-based mini GIS project chosen from a list of topics of specific interest to the student.

This module will introduce students to a number of introductory and fundamental geospatial tools and techniques for displaying and analysing geospatial data. This will include: navigation, measurement, spatial queries, geocoding, scripting, buffering, digitising, and overlay analysis. A number of ‘real world’ examples will be used to illustrate the application of the tools for data exploration, data capture, simple spatial analysis, mapping and visualisation. Emphasis will be placed on obtaining a sound understanding of the principles of each technique, as well as the importance of selecting the correct approach to a problem, analysing the data, and interpretation of the results.

This module will introduce students to a selection of more advanced geospatial tools and techniques for analysing spatial data. This will include for example: geostatistics, cluster analysis, kriging, and network analysis. A number of ‘real world’ applications will illustrate the application of these spatial tools and techniques. Emphasis will be placed on obtaining a sound understanding of the fundamentals and principles of each technique, as well as how to select the correct technique for solving a problem, the analysis of the spatial data, and the interpretation of the results. ArcGIS software will be used for the practical work.

This course aims at progressing knowledge of spatial analysis tools in GIS. Map Algebra techniques will be applied to solve complex GIS projects. Part one is focussed on solving one complex spatial analysis exercise using commonly used GIS software emphasising how to best present results.

Part 2 focuses on optimising the planning and management of a GIS project. Attention is given to time management and potential sources of uncertainty when planning a GIS project. Through a series of practical exercises students will acquire the necessary skills for designing projects that address the needs of a target client or audience.

This course builds on the theoretical and conceptual content introduced in Part 1 to develop further the perspectives, skills and decision-making tools needed to bring partners together to build collaborative capacity in the pursuit of sustainable development.   This course will have a strong emphasis on student-centred learning and the practical application of knowledge and concepts. Students will develop and demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge and skills introduced in Part 1 of the course through the practical experience of designing a partnership plan.

This course will provide students with knowledge of theories of governance in the context of sustainable development. It will focus on the political economy of sustainable development and the political and economic tensions between different institutions, levels of administration and sectors of economy. Students will learn about theories of governance pertaining to the natural environment and sustainable development. They will explore the different institutional scales (e.g. local, national, global) of environmental governance and the processes of decision making for environmental governance. The course will also investigate the tensions between social, economic and environmental objectives for sustainable development.

The dissertation provides Diploma students with the opportunity to select, design, conduct and report a detailed investigation of a topic pertaining to rural land management and which is studied in depth over the summer following best practice research methodology. The aim is to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of a particular rural topic, including the academic background, relevant policy and the roles played by various actors and agencies. The research is conducted in an academically robust and ethically sensitive manner.

The dissertation provides students with the opportunity to select, design, conduct and report a detailed investigation of a topic pertaining to rural land management and which is studied in depth over the summer following best practice research methodology. The aim is to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of a particular rural topic, including the academic background, relevant policy and the roles played by various actors and agencies. The research is conducted in an academically robust and ethically sensitive manner.

The student will select, undertake and complete a research-based dissertation project. In choosing and approving a suitable topic, consideration will be given to the student's background and skills, their career interests, suitable data availability, and the possibility of an external placement. Successful completion of the project requires reference to and integration of the various different taught elements, independent research, together with a general knowledge of all aspects of GIS and where appropriate different disciplines. The dissertation project is undertaken by the student with the guidance of a supervisor from the University and in some cases an external advisor.

The aim of the Partnership Project is to  enable students to produce an independent and original piece of work that demonstrates advanced specialist knowledge in an approved aspect of environmental partnership management.  Through the successful completion of the project students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to identify, define and develop appropriate research questions and solutions. The Partnership Project will be an opportunity for  students to collect, evaluate, analyse and interpret qualitative and quantitative data to address specific research aims using a range of standard and specialised techniques of enquiry.