Biophysical Planning

Base Knowledge

Geographic information Systems

Teaching Methodologies

In this curricular unit a project-based learning pedagogical approach is followed. Throughout the year students develop a project structured in different sequential modules. The theoretical subjects are introduced at the beginning of each module, followed by their application in the project.

This curricular unit is organized in lectures (60 h),and autonomous work (100 h) in a total of 160 h corresponding to 6 ECTS.

Learning Results

The main objective of this curricular is to provide an introduction to the theoretical principles, methods and tools for land evaluation and forest suitability assessments as well as other bio-physical planning studies. In the end of the course the students should be able to: (1) Assess the value and limitations of biophysical resources for forest resources use; (2) Know the regulations concerning to land use planning and management. (3) Elaborate suitability assessments and spatial plans ensuring sustainability and the ecological equilibrium of ecosystems

Program

Principles of land evaluation for forest uses;
Environmental analysis: Bio-physical variables and its spatial modeling;
Land use, land use classifications;
Morphology of rural areas and principles of ecological planning;
Ecosystems functions and services;
Methods for suitability assessment in forest areas;
Spatial planning regulation.

Curricular Unit Teachers

Grading Methods

Evaluation
  • - Module 1 - 50.0%
  • - Module 2 (field work, report and discussion) - 50.0%

Internship(s)

NAO

Bibliography

Bell S., Apostol, D. 2008. Designing sustainable forest landscapes. Taylor & Francis

 Cullum, C., Rogers, K. H., Brierley, G., & Witkowski, E. T. (2016). Ecological classification and mapping for landscape management and science: Foundations for the description of patterns and processes. Progress in Physical Geography40(1), 38-65.

Cunha, N. S., Magalhães, M. R., Domingos, T., Abreu, M. M., & Withing, K. (2018). The land morphology concept and mapping method and its application to mainland Portugal. Geoderma325, 72-89.

Fadigas L. 2011. Fundamentos ambientais do ordenamento do território e da paisagem. Edições Sílabo, 2ªEdição revista e aumentada.200 p.

Malczewski J. 1999. GIS and Multicritério Decision Analysis. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 392 p.

Ministerio De Medio Ambiente (2006). Guia para la elaboración de estudios del medio físico – contenido y metodologia. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Madrid.

Kennedy, M. D. (2013). Introducing geographic information systems with ARCGIS: a workbook approach to learning GIS. John Wiley & Sons.