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AESC30250

Academic Year 2025/2026

Environmental Data and Modelling (AESC30250)

Subject:
Agricultural&Environmental Sci
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Magdalena Necpalova
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The first part of this module is designed to introduce students to general data management, handling and visualization, and basic statistics as applied to environmental data.
The second part of the module provides an introduction to environmental modelling in the context of agricultural systems, with special focus on carbon and nitrogen cycles. It covers the general background and principles of modelling biogeochemistry (e.g., plant growth and development, soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics and soil greenhouse gas emissions) with a focus on the understanding of the process-based ecosystem model DayCent and its site level application as a practical case study.
The aim of the module is to advance students' data management skills as well as to provide theoretical and practical knowledge of ecosystem process-based modelling of agroecosystems.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:

Handle, manage and visualize environmental data using an Excel
Apply ANOVA and linear regression analysis to experimental data in SPSS software
Conduct a DayCent modelling project considering model assumptions and limitations (from establishing the research question, modelling approach, to designing modelling scenarios, and interpretation of the results)
Critically evaluate the model performance
Set up, execute and compare outputs for modelling scenarios

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

11
Computer Aided Lab

22
Specified Learning Activities

67
Autonomous Student Learning

25
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module consists of lectures and exercises, covering both the theoretical background and practical application of data analysis and agroecosystem modelling. The level of students’ understanding and skills gained from the lectures and exercises will be continuously evaluated et the end of each exercise session. The content of the lectures and the speed of delivery will be fine-tuned to the students’ needs. Short video tutorials will assist students to learn modelling skills and solve technical problems more independently and thus will improve students’ overall performance and module time management. Flipped classroom teaching strategy (i.e., instructional assignments) will be employed to better meet the needs of individual students.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Students signing up for this module as an Elective should have a strong interest in data analysis and modelling of agroecosystem processes.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Individual Project: Final project is a written report on the module project at the end of trimester. It includes introduction, material & methods, results, discussion of the results, conclusions and references Week 15 Graded No
40
 No
Individual Project: Presentation of the student final project providing information about the objective, hypotheses, modelling/statistical approach
and preliminary results.		 Week 12 Graded No
30
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Reports on exercises during the semester Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9 Pass/Fail Grade Scale No
30
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

On weekly reports - Group/class feedback, post-assessment in the following week On presentations - Individually to students, post-assessment On final project report - Group/class feedback, post-assessment

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Mon 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Mon 11:00 - 12:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 2 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Mon 11:00 - 12:50
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