Soil Science Assignment 1 front sheet.

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ASSESSMENT AND INTERNAL VERIFICATION FRONT SHEET (Individual Criteria)

(Note : This version is to be used for an assignment brief issued to students via Classter)

Course Lecturer Name

MSc in Environmental Engineering & Surname
Mr. Randall Cassar
Title

Unit Number & Title Environmental and Soil Science

Assignment Number, Title Assignment 1 – Structured Assay

/ Type
Deadline
Date Set 24th September 2021 23rd October 2021
Date
Student Class /
ID Number Cohort 2
Name Group

Maximum Mark
Assessment Criteria

1. Provide broad general knowledge on soil genesis and classification, soil properties and processes, soil
mapping and geostatistics;
12
2. Understand and critically evaluate the importance of soil resources in certain sectors, as well as the
implementation of environmental issues;
3. Identify GIScience concepts and understand how this is used to gather, manage, quality check, process,
12
analyse, model, and interpret environmental spatial data;
4. Critically evaluate environmental GIS data and information produced by the government, agencies, industry,
6
academia, and popular media;
Total Mark 30

Notes to Students:

 This assignment brief has been approved and released by the Internal Verifier through Classter.

 Assessment marks and feedback by the lecturer will be available online via Classter (Http://mcast.classter.com) following
release by the Internal Verifier

 Students submitting their assignment on Moodle/Unicheck will be requested to confirm online the following statements:

Student’s declaration prior to handing-in of assignment

 I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and that I have read and understood the respective
Plagiarism Policy

Student’s declaration on assessment special arrangements

 I certify that adequate support was given to me during the assignment through the Institute and/or the Inclusive
Education Unit.
 I declare that I refused the special support offered by the Institute.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MCAST Controlled and approved document Unauthorised copying or communication strictly prohibited
MSc in Environmental Engineering - Cohort 2
Environmental and Soil Science Assignment 1 – Structured Essay (30%)

1) Soil biology (12 marks)

a. What are the major components of soil composition?
b. What are the physical and chemical properties of soil?
c. Define the most recognized classification of soil and which ones are prevalent in the Maltese
Islands?
d. What is sustainable soil management?

2) GIS (6 marks)
a. What are the basic components of GIS? What are the basic elements of GIS and main types of
data?
b. What is spatial data analysis and how does GIS support this?
c. What is ArcGIS used for and briefly outline its main components?
d. Outline how data is collected and digitised for GIS systems including the following:
i. Integration of fieldwork using GPS
ii. Use of imagery to field verify EA maps
iii. Applications of aerial photos for census mapping
iv. Main map elements

3) Application of GIS (6 marks)

a. Outline how is remote sensing applied for
i. Marine pollution (oil pollution and eutrophication monitoring in the Mediterranean)
ii. Land cover assessment and change detection (crop monitoring and agricultural
assessment in the EU)
iii. Soil erosion, hydrological networks and flood risk management

4) Analysis of a research article (6 marks)

Numerical Modelling of Soil Erosion Susceptibility in the Maltese Islands using Geographic Information
Systems and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE)

a. What ecological principles or understanding does the paper set out to challenge or substantiate?
b. Briefly summarize the RUSLE
c. How would you have done the study differently? Discuss how you would have structured the
paper differently, included different topics or had a different emphasis. Explain why you would
make the differences.
d. What are the results of the paper? How would you have analysed them differently or altered the
discussion?