Modules

Core Module Information
Module title: Habitat Assessment and GIS
SCQF level: 09:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10
Module code: ENV09108
Module leader: Jay Mackinnon
School School of Applied Sciences
Subject area group: Life Sciences
Prerequisites

Requisites: Pre-requisite: A level of skill in identifying dominant and indicator plant species equivalent to that covered in ENV08108 Practical Skills in Biodiversity and Ecology AND
Description of module content:

In this module you will develop practical skills in habitat assessment through fieldwork and develop practical skills in data manipulation using geographic information systems (GIS) software. You will become familiar with habitat classification schemes for freshwater, marine and terrestrial habitats. You will report the findings of field surveys and other data-gathering exercises for habitat assessment and interpret the reports of others. Ordnance Survey (OS) maps and global positioning systems (GPS) will help you to integrate field and desk studies, plan field surveys, navigate in the field and collect spatially-referenced data.You will explore a range of data sources to assess the habitats and species present in an area and understand the benefits and limitations of these datasets. Developing expertise in GIS will enable you to retrieve previously-collected datasets, overlay these on a base map and interrogate them; identify areas with a high frequency of features of conservation interest and upload information from GPS handsets or apps to display spatial data collected in the field.You will become familiar with legislation protecting habitats, species and areas of special conservation interest.
Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will be able to

LO1: Implement a habitat survey and report your findings.

LO2: Collate, interrogate and summarise spatial data.

LO3: Interpret the conservation value of a site from a range of data sources.
Full Details of Teaching and Assessment
2026/7, Trimester 1, IN PERSON,
VIEW FULL DETAILS
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: IN PERSON
Location of delivery: SIGHTHILL
Partner:
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Jay Mackinnon
Module Organiser:


Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)NESH Description
Face To Face Lecture 10 Lectures will introduce habitat classification systems, explain the professional contexts in which you might apply the skills you learn in this module, explain core concepts and processes and talk you through examples.
Face To Face Tutorial 10 Activities will include question-and-answer sessions, feedback on formative tasks, a quiz and small-group tasks around retrieving and evaluating ecological information.
Face To Face Fieldwork 8 We will visit local sites where you will practice surveying using relevant habitat classification schemes and professional guidelines.
Face To Face Practical classes and workshops 16 During practical classes and workshops, you will practice specific skills and tasks in GIS with teacher support.
Online Guided independent study 156 Throughout the trimester, you are expected to structure in time to reflect upon the learning you have undertaken in your scheduled sessions and how to apply this to your assessment tasks. Most of your guided independent study time will be directed towards your assessment tasks, which are learning activities as well as assessments. You are also encouraged to engage with Moodle activities and resources and read more widely around the topics you are studying.
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words Description
Report 40 1 Week 6 , WORDS= 800 words You will carry out and report a habitat survey of a local site following a field visit. This assessment tests your skills in applying a habitat classification system; evaluating habitats in terms of their quality, ecological function and processes to make appropriate notes describing and interpreting the habitats you see; navigating and mapping in the field using a paper map and GPS handset; preparing a map in GIS for presentation and writing a professional report.
Report 60 2~3 Exam Period , WORDS= 2200 words This assessment requires you to search for, collate and interpret information on protected areas and their special features, spatial data on habitats and spatially referenced records of species occurrences to evaluate the conservation value of an area. You will combineand practice all the skills developed in the module and apply feedback from earlier tasks. This assessment tests your critical appraisal skills as you evaluate and prioritise the most important ecological features and present these clearly in a professional report. Following on from yourappraisal of the data available and data needed, you will propose a suitable field survey which could be applied in this scenario. The exercise emulates part of a professional task and you will be guided to understand how your skills can be applied in a professional context.
Component 1 subtotal: 40
Component 2 subtotal: 60
Module subtotal: 100

Indicative References and Reading List - URL:
ENV09108 Habitat Assessment and GIS
 

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