ESC3887 - Designing urban futures: Urban climate, water and adaptation - 2017

Urbanisation has profound influences on cities that causes local changes in climate including increased temperature (the Urban Heat Island). Additional impacts include reduced moisture, modified urban waterways, and reduced vegetation. Moreover,

urbanisation is linked to hazards such as poor air quality and heat related illnesses. These matters are of particular concern in the context of climate change. This unit will provide an understanding of the relevant physical processes and impacts, along with the associated technological, and socio-political contexts and examine potential solutions by undertaking a sustainable cities approach including the concept of a water sensitive city as an approach to heat mitigation and climate change adaptation. Emphasis is placed on practical, theoretical, observational, analytical and modeling skills developed through lectures, practical's and project work.

On completion students will be able to:

1. Appreciate urban climate knowledge and the critical role of water in the urban environment.
2. Be able to apply climate knowledge to issues of urban sustainability and adaptation to climate change.
3. Have gained practical experience in problem formulation and solution, and in addition.
4. Level 4 students will have developed specialised skills in research/project formulation.

Within semester assessment: 70%

Examination (2 hours): 30%

• Two 1-hour lectures per week
• One 3-hour practical per fortnight
• Private study/research time.

See also Unit timetable information

Professor Nigel Tapper

Atmospheric science

Geographical science

Human geography

ATS2780 or 18 points of Geography, Climate and physical environments or Atmospheric science or permission of the unit co-ordinator

APG4887, ATM3370, ATS3887