Desk Study of a Brownfield Site
Contact details
Stella Christie
Department of Environmental Sciences
University of Hertfordshire
College Lane
Hatfield
Herts
AL10 9AB
Tel: +44 (0) 1707 328630
Email: Christie@herts.ac.uk
Classification Category
1 - Developing student appreciation in the disciplines.
4 - Using assignments which involve elements of research processes (eg literature
reviews, bidding for grants, drafting bids or project outlines, analysing
existing project data, presenting at a conference,
6 - Bringing data/findings from staff research/consultancy (professional practice)
into the curriculum.
Context
- Module titles: Geology of the Human Environment
- Level: 3rd Year Undergraduate
What does the teacher do?
Staff at the University of Hertfordshire (UH) have developed site histories for brownfield redevelopment areas in collaborative research with a consultancy and a local authority. The materials generated have been used to develop practical workshops for groups of final year undergraduates to involve them in producing a site history for an area, within a given time, and with generalised cost constraints. The groups have to report their findings to a "client".
Students are offered a variety of documentation and this enables them to:
- select appropriate materials to construct a realistic site history and explain it in detail
- distinguish between relevant and non relevant material
- appreciate the variety of information and time required to produce a useful site history
- understand the constraints of working to deadlines and budgets
Hot tips and things to look out for
Do not make the area being surveyed too large, in view of time constraints.
Do not organise the documentation too much, or the students do not look at
a wide enough spectrum of materials.
Does it work?
This has only been done twice and the reaction has mostly been positive from the students on each occasion. Minor modifications were made on each occasion to do with practical running of the workshops. There has been no formal evaluation, but several students have since been employed in consultancies engaged in this type of work.
What problems/issues have arisen?
The reluctance of some students to fully participate if this exercise is not being formally marked. This was largely overcome by emphasising that the work was potentially examinable.
New sites need to be bought into the teaching arena, but this requires time
to prepare the necessary materials.
Details of support material/course work/assessment
Copies of all the relevant documentation necessary to complete the site history.
For some, multiple copies are required. Base maps for all groups.