University of Sydney Handbooks - 2020 Archive

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Soil Science and Hydrology

Unit outlines will be available though Find a unit outline two weeks before the first day of teaching for 1000-level and 5000-level units, or one week before the first day of teaching for all other units.
 

SOIL SCIENCE AND HYDROLOGY (HONOURS)

The Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours) (Soil Science and Hydrology) requires 36 credit points from this table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 4000-level Honours coursework selective units, and
(ii) 24 credit points of 4000-level Honours research project units

Honours Coursework Selective

ENVX4001 GIS, Remote Sensing and Land Management

This unit of study is not available in 2020

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: A/Prof Inakwu Odeh Session: Semester 2 Classes: One 2-hour lecture per week in weeks 1-7, project work weeks 8-13, , one 3-hour practical per week in weeks 1-7. Prerequisites: ENVX3001 or GEOS2111 or GEOS2911 Assessment: One half hour presentation (5%) in weeks 12 and 13, practical work reports (50%) weekly in weeks 1-6, one 2500wd project report (45%) due by week 13 Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study is aimed at advanced techniques in Remote Sensing (RS), linked with Geographical Information Systems (GIS), as applied to land management problems. We will review the basic principles of GIS and then focus on advanced RS principles and techniques used for land resource assessment and management. This will be followed by practical training in RS techniques, augmented by land management project development and implementation based on integration of GIS and RS tools. The unit thus consists of three separate but overlapping parts: 1) a short theoretical part which focuses on the concepts of RS; 2) a practical part which aims at developing hands-on skills in using RS tools, and 3) an application-focused module in which students will learn the skills of how to design a land management project and actualize it using integrated GIS and RS techniques.
Textbooks
Reference Textbook: Jesen J. R. 2006. Remote sensing of the environment: an earth resource perspective. 2nd ed. Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle, New Jersey.
SCIE4002 Experimental Design and Data Analysis

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive March Classes: 4 x 1 hr lectures/week, for six weeks, either online or face-to-face and 1 x 2 hour workshop/week for six weeks Prerequisites: 144 credit points of units of study and including a minimum of 24 credit points at the 3000- or 4000-level and 18 credit points of 3000- or 4000-level units from Science Table A. Prohibitions: ENVX3002 or STAT3X22 or STAT4022 or STAT3X12 Assumed knowledge: Completion of units in quantitative research methods, mathematics or statistical analysis at least at 1000-level. Assessment: design critique (20%), research plan (30%), analysis critique (20%), 2 x analysis quizzes (15% each) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Block mode
An indispensable attribute of an effective scientific researcher is the ability to collect, analyse and interpret data. Central to this process is the ability to create hypotheses and test these by using rigorous experimental designs. This modular unit of study will introduce the key concepts of experimental design and data analysis. Specifically, you will learn to formulate experimental aims to test a specific hypothesis. You will develop the skills and understanding required to design a rigorous scientific experiment, including an understanding of concepts such as controls, replicates, sample size, dependent and independent variables and good research practice (e. g. blinding, randomisation). By completing this unit you will develop the knowledge and skills required to appropriately analyse and interpret data in order to draw conclusions in the context of an advanced research project. From this unit of study, you will emerge with a comprehensive understanding of how to optimise the design and analysis of an experiment to most effectively answer scientific questions.
The following unit will not run in 2020: ENVX4001
[[i||LIFE4XXX and SOIL4XXX to be developed for offering in 2021]]

Honours Core Research Project

SOIL4103 Soil Science and Hydrology Honours Project A

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Budiman Minasny Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: individual work supported by the supervisor Assessment: oral presentations (15%), thesis (85%) Practical field work: Honours in Soil Science and Hydrology typically involves practical fieldwork. Arrangement will differ between students and be tailored to the specific requirements of research topics. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Independent research can be a life changing experience. In this unit you will complete a research project in the discipline of Soil Science and Hydrology. Together with your supervisor, you will identify a novel research question and develop a hypothesis. You will then design and carry out experiments to test your hypothesis. In terms of assessment, you will communicate the research plan and findings through written tasks and oral presentations culminating in an (approx. 12, 000 word) honours thesis. Successful completion of your Honours will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers.
SOIL4104 Soil Science and Hydrology Honours Project B

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Budiman Minasny Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: individual work supported by the supervisor Corequisites: SOIL4103 Assessment: oral presentations (15%), thesis (85%) Practical field work: Honours in Soil Science and Hydrology typically involves practical fieldwork. Arrangement will differ between students and be tailored to the specific requirements of research topics. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Independent research can be a life changing experience. In this unit you will complete a research project in the discipline of Soil Science and Hydrology. Together with your supervisor, you will identify a novel research question and develop a hypothesis. You will then design and carry out experiments to test your hypothesis. In terms of assessment, you will communicate the research plan and findings through written tasks and oral presentations culminating in an (approx. 12, 000 word) honours thesis. Successful completion of your Honours will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers.
SOIL4105 Soil Science and Hydrology Honours Project C

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Budiman Minasny Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: individual work supported by the supervisor Corequisites: SOIL4104 Assessment: oral presentations (15%), thesis (85%) Practical field work: Honours in Soil Science and Hydrology typically involves practical fieldwork. Arrangement will differ between students and be tailored to the specific requirements of research topics. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Independent research can be a life changing experience. In this unit you will complete a research project in the discipline of Soil Science and Hydrology. Together with your supervisor, you will identify a novel research question and develop a hypothesis. You will then design and carry out experiments to test your hypothesis. In terms of assessment, you will communicate the research plan and findings through written tasks and oral presentations culminating in an (approx. 12, 000 word) honours thesis. Successful completion of your Honours will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers.
SOIL4106 Soil Science and Hydrology Honours Project D

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Budiman Minasny Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: individual work supported by the supervisor Corequisites: SOIL4105 Assessment: oral presentations (15%), thesis (85%) Practical field work: Honours in Soil Science and Hydrology typically involves practical fieldwork. Arrangement will differ between students and be tailored to the specific requirements of research topics. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Independent research can be a life changing experience. In this unit you will complete a research project in the discipline of Soil Science and Hydrology. Together with your supervisor, you will identify a novel research question and develop a hypothesis. You will then design and carry out experiments to test your hypothesis. In terms of assessment, you will communicate the research plan and findings through written tasks and oral presentations culminating in an (approx. 12, 000 word) honours thesis. Successful completion of your Honours will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers.