6 EC
Semester 2, period 5
51329DEL6Y
This course aims at learning how different landscape elements are interconnected in a complex (eco)system, and how this knowledge can be used to address environmental issues. This will be done by carrying out a geo-ecological field inventory and additional field measurements techniques in a desertification threatened area in SE Spain. The obtained data will be used to understand landscape patterns, processes and complexity and also to determine its vulnerability to desertification. The course is a part of the semester focusing on water-related issues. In this course the results of water shortage, as expressed by groundwater over-drafting, irrigation, salinization, desiccation, and erosion problems will be studied in the field. It addresses typical water-related issues in dryland regions, which is in contrast to the ecosystems which have an excess of water, and that are being dealt with in the other courses in the program. The course has also a function in providing a translation of landscape properties from the classroom to the field. As such it integrates earlier theoretically studied objects with real-world field conditions by carrying out an integrated landscape field inventory and analysis. Field experience is an important part of the education of earth and ecosystem science students and this course enables the development of required field skills. GIS techniques are used to handle field spatial data, both by preparation of pre-field material, as well as for collecting and processing field data and by implementing field knowledge into a model-based scenario study on the effects of climate change on desertification and biomass production.
General Layout
Introduction into the theoretical aspects of drylands and their threats such as desertification (land degradation, desiccation, salinization) in general and more specific for the field area to be studied. This is divided into the following sub-sets:
-In the course introduction an earth and ecosystem sciences framework for the landscape studied will be provided.
-Instruction and application of fieldwork in which geo-ecological field inventory techniques, along an illustrative gradient of landscapes including areas with different degrees of desertification vulnerability.
-An introduction into measurement techniques to quantify soil degradation, desiccation, water quality parameters, and desertification processes and patterns, and the application of one or more of these methods in a spatial setting.
-Providing an explanation of the produced geo-ecological maps and elucidating the areas’ vulnerability to desertification
Syllabus Fieldwork SE Spain 2026
ArcGIS Pro 3.0
ESRI Field map app
Students are required to pay a personal contribution of €400 for this course.
(Working) lectures and computer classes before fieldwork
An almost two weeks field course in southeastern Spain.
Computer classes after fieldwork
Organizing data and reporting results
|
Activity |
Hours |
|
Lectures |
18 |
|
Computer lab session |
20 |
|
Fieldwork |
72 |
|
Practical sessions |
2 |
|
Self-study |
48 |
Additional requirements for this course:
The maximum number of practicals and laptop practicals that can be missed is 1. The entire fieldwork practical in Spain is mandatory. The (laptop)-practicals and fieldwork in Spain are mandatory. During the tutorials, the following learning objectives are covered: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8. During the fieldwork, all learning objectives are covered. The supervision and exercises during the tutorials and fieldwork are necessary to achieve these learning objectives. These learning objectives are assessed in a quiz, during the fieldwork, in the geodatabase, and in the report.
| Item and weight | Details |
|
Final grade | |
|
30% Field work part 1 | Must be ≥ 5, Mandatory |
|
30% Field work part 2 | Must be ≥ 5, Mandatory |
|
30% Final Report Desertification | Must be ≥ 6, Mandatory |
|
10% GIS Geo-database | Must be ≥ 6, Mandatory |
Fieldwork part 1 (30% of the total mark) is assessed during quiz-test and at the end of the first week in the field and is based on:
* Field practice (1/3)
* Field performance (1/3)
* Effort and perseverance, motivation, and development during the fieldwork (1/3)
Fieldwork part 2 (30% of the total mark) is assessed at the very end of the fieldwork period. The assessment in the field will be condensed into:
* Excursion and quality of field presentation (3/10)
* Completeness of the dataset in the field app (3/10)
* Draft map quality and reliability 3/10)
* Theme map cooperation (1/10)
Geodatabase (10% of the total mark)
For the details see the syllabus
Assessment of the field report (30% of the total mark).
For the details see the syllabus
| Learning Outcome | Field work 1 | Field Work 2 | Geo-database | Final Report |
| #1. | x | x | x | |
| #2. | x | x | x | x |
| #3. | x | x | ||
| #4. | x | x | x | |
| #5. | x | x | x | x |
| #6. | x | x | ||
| #7. | x | x | x | |
| #8. | x | x |
Contact your supervisor to make an appointment for inspection.
The report is written jointly by the field team, halfway through the reporting period feedback will be given on the draft report. The text must be your own work, the use of AI is not allowed. In case of suspicion the Examination Board will be informed.
Feed-back will provided after the report has been submitted.
The geo-database is constructed by the field team and comprises the collector app data and the GIS-based data.
The collector app data will be evaluated during and directly after the fieldwork. Halfway through the reporting period feedback will be given on the draft database.
Feedback will provided after the final version has been submitted.
The final concept field maps have to be ready and approved before leaving the fieldwork area and will be assessed under part Field work 2.
The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl
| Weeknummer | Onderwerpen | Studiestof |
| 1 | Introduction lectures | Syllabus |
| 2 | Follow-up lectures | Syllabus |
| 3 | Fieldwork | Syllabus |
| 4 | Fieldwork | Syllabus |
| 5 | Labwork and GIS work, Reporting | |
| 6 | GIS work and reporting (draft report) | |
| 7 | GIS work and reporting | |
| 8 | GIS work and reporting (final report) |
During the course, you will stay almost 2 weeks abroad continuously
See also the canvas page “Safety" within the Desertification course section
The courses Plant-Soil Interactions, as well as Digital Earth, should have been followed for enrollment. The report of the Plant-Soil Practical course should be passed with at least a 6.0.
Maximum capacity: approx. 75 students
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