Course Details

Applied Ecology

Academic Year 2022/23

BSA011 course is part of 2 study plans

​ BPC-APS Summer Semester 1st year

​ BPC-MI Summer Semester 1st year

Basic knowledge of general ecology, i.e. definitions, concepts, context and recommended sources of information. Selected chapters on air pollution, climate change, carbon footprinting, chemicals in the environment follow. The bulk of the topics deal with water, urban water management and landscape. There are also topics related to ecological construction - straw houses, log and timber-framed buildings. The lectures always include one or two field trips.

Course Guarantor

doc. Ing. Michal Kriška-Dunajský, Ph.D.

Institute

Institute of Landscape Water Management

Objective

The purpose of the course is to introduce students to topics focused on general ecology in the construction industry.

The basic and supporting topics include:

  1. Basic concepts: ecology, applied ecology, carbon footprint, ecological footprint, history of ecology
  2. History of urban water management
  3. Wastewater management - from conventional to ecological wastewater treatment
  4. The importance of greenery in the landscape and in the urban environment
  5. The greenhouse effect, energy balance on earth
  6. Water cycle, nutrient cycling as waste
  7. Application of ecology in construction - ecological approaches and materials.

Knowledge

Basic knowledge of common ecology
Detailed knowledge of landscpae ecology incl. landscape stability, vegetation in landscape and in urbanized environment.
Overview of present trends: low energetic and passive buildings, problems of brownfields, urban sprawl, open spaces and ecological architecture.

Syllabus

1. Introduction to ecology: definitions, basic terms, literature. Sustainable development. Ecological footprint. Sustainable agriculture. Organic food.
2. Chemicals in environment and its impact on human health.
3. Greenhouse gasses in atmosphere, Climate change and its impact on environment. IPCC.
4. Introduction to landscape ecology. Natural and cultural landscape. Ecological stability. Czech landscape. Landscape protection.
5. Impact of industry and mining on landscape.
6. Water in landscape. River restoration. Water eutrophication, water bloom in reservoirs.
7. Water in urbanized environment. Consumption and price of water. Treatment of sewage water. Rain water use. River in urban environment.
8. Vegetation in urban environment: parks, avenues and green roofs.
9. Eco-counseling, a human being as a consumer.
Waste production and disposal. Environmentally friendly appliances. Ecolabelling.
10. Brownfields. Urban sprawl.
11. Low energy and passive buildings.
12. Public spaces. City for the people.
13. Ecological architecture.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics

Language of instruction

Czech

Credits

3 credits

Semester

summer

Forms and criteria of assessment

graded course-unit credit

Specification of controlled instruction, the form of instruction, and the form of compensation of the absences

Extent and forms are specified by guarantor’s regulation updated for every academic year.

Offered to foreign students

Not to offer

Course on BUT site

https://www.vut.cz/en/students/courses/detail/255839

Lecture

13 weeks, 2 hours/week, elective

Syllabus

  1. Introduction to ecology: definitions, basic concepts, literature. Sustainable development. Ecological footprint. Sustainable agriculture. Organic food.
  2. Carbon footprint - definition, issues, determination, context
  3. Urban drainage - history, development, solution concepts, types of water and urban drainage systems
  4. Natural wastewater treatment plants as an ecological option to conventional wastewater treatment plants
  5. Water features in cities - functions, types, influence of water on microclimate
  6. Green roofs - types, definition, benefits and impact on microclimate, impact on buildings
  7. Drought, manifestations of drought, climate change and its consequences
  8. Ecological water management in the landscape
  9. Buildings made of natural materials: straw houses
  10. Buildings made of natural materials: timber buildings, timber frames and log cabins
  11. Excursions to selected technical solutions, related to previous lectures
  12. Excursions on selected technical solutions related to previous lectures

Exercise

13 weeks, 1 hours/week, compulsory

Syllabus

  1. Determination of carbon and ecological footprint
  2. Calculation of surface runoff from the area
  3. Design of the seepage facility
  4. Green roof design including irrigation
  5. Short student presentations on a selected topic in applied ecology
  6. Short student presentations on a selected topic in applied ecology