Course overview
The use of models to support decision-making is becoming increasingly critical in all areas of environmental engineering and natural resources management. This course will enable students to develop and critically evaluate different types of environmental models, as well as apply them to a realistic environmental problem to support decision-making. By working on a single project throughout the course, students will not only develop fundamental modelling skills, but also gain the ability to work on complex engineering problems in a professional and motivating context, aligning with the program’s intent to prepare students for professional practice.
- Environmental Modelling: Process-Based Models
- Environmental Modelling: Data-Based Models
- Environmental Management Under Uncertainty
Course learning outcomes
- Apply, test, critically evaluate and critically discuss different methods used at each step of the development of process-based environmental models (model specification, calibration and validation) based on the models developed in this course
- Apply, test, critically evaluate and critically discuss different methods used at each step of the development of data-based environmental models (model specification, calibration and validation) based on the models developed in this course
- Interpret, apply and critically evaluate different approaches to incorporating uncertainty into environmental modelling based on the models developed in this course
- Use environmental models and multi-criteria decision analysis approaches to solve complex environmental engineering problems that examine the trade-offs between economic, environmental and social outcomes in an uncertain environment, including the development of solutions to adapt to climate change impacts for the course project
- Describe, discuss and critically evaluate the results of modelling and analysis in the context of a real problem to support decision making
Degree list
The following degrees include this course