This short course acquaints participants with the principles, techniques and management issues used in environmental monitoring and assessment. Course subjects cover classroom lectures, workshops, laboratory sessions and excursions. During the course, the participants will be exposed to innovative concepts and approaches in a multidisciplinary environment.

Target group

This course is aimed at professionals involved in the monitoring and assessment of the different environmental compartments, e.g. stationed at river basin authorities and at environmental departments and agencies.

Course content

This three weeks course offers the following subject matter:

Water and groundwater quality monitoring: introduction: integrative environmental monitoring. Natural water quality and water pollution; designing and optimisation of water and groundwater quality monitoring programmes; data analysis and presentation; case studies and exercises.
Air quality monitoring: sources and fates of air pollutants; air quality monitoring networks; WHO-GEMS programme for global air pollution assessment; workshop and practical applications.
Water quality modeling: definitions and concepts; mathematical backgrounds; modeling BOD/DO in a river system using the SOBEK model; modeling the Danube river water quality; hands-on computer exercises.
Environmental Information Management using eg GIS and DSS.
Laboratory course: training in advanced environmental analysis techniques, using Gas chromatography (GC) and Atomic adsorption spectrophotometry (AAS).
Fieldwork water quality monitoring: water and sediment sampling; storage and preservation methods; field measurements.
Excursion in the field of water quality monitoring and/or modelling.

Examination

It is possible to take part in the examination of this short course. If you obtain a passing mark for this examination and return to UNESCO-IHE within four years after completion of the short course to follow a full MSc programme, you will receive exemption for this short course/module. The costs for this exam are €250 extra and should be borne by yourself. Taking part in the examination is not compulsory.