Academic year2016/17
CourseENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Code587AA
Credits12
PeriodSemester 1 & 2
LanguageItalian
| Modules | Area | Type | Hours | Teacher(s) |
| MODELLISTICA AMBIENTALE | MAT/09 | LEZIONI | 104 | |
Programma non disponibile nella lingua selezionata
Knowledge
The student who successfully completes the course will have the ability to formulate mathematical models concerning environment sciences; he will be able to demonstrate a solid knowledge of the main mathematical topics commonly used to design dynamic models, as dynamical systems; he will be able to demonstrate advanced knowledge in the use of suitable computationals tools that can be employed to perform mathematical simulations of the analysed models, in particular the VENSIM program.
Assessment criteria of knowledge
The student will be assessed on his/her demonstrated ability to discuss the main course contents using the appropriate terminology.
In the written exam (3 hours), the student must demonstrate his/her knowledge of the course material by solving written exercises concerning both theoretical and practical topics.
With the oral presentation, the student must show his/her ability to approach a circumscribed problem concerning environment modeling, and organise an effective exposition of the results.
The student must demonstrate the ability to put into practice and to execute, with critical awareness, a mathematical simulation of a chosen model carried out under the guidance of the teacher during the course.
Methods:
- Final oral exam
- Final written exam
- Final laboratory practical demonstration
- Periodic written tests
- Laboratory report
Further information:
Evaluation weights:
1) Final written exam 50%; the final written exam may be susbstituted by periodic written tests.
2) Final oral exam includes a discussion on theoretical aspects of the course (20%) and the final laboratory practical demonstration (30%).
Teaching methods
Delivery: face to face
Learning activities:
- attending lectures
- preparation of oral/written report
- participation in discussions
- individual study
- group work
- Laboratory work
- Bibliography search
Attendance: Advised
Teaching methods:
- Lectures
- laboratory
- project work
Syllabus
Mathematical basic preliminary concepts. Generalities on mathematical models. Differential equations. Discretization of differential equations. Models of population growth based on differential equations. Dynamical systems. Stability of a dynamical system. The Volterra Predator-Prey model.
Models on environment pollution. Simulations of material flows. Simulations of differential equations by means of the VENSIM program.
Bibliography
Slides and a textbook of the delivered lectures will be available in the course web site.
Recommended readings includes the following works:
1) A. Ford: Modeling the Environment, Island Press, Washington D.C., Covelo California, 1999.
2) M.L. Deaton and J.J. Winebrake: Dynamic Modeling of Environmental Systems, Springer Verlag, New York, Berlin-Heidelberg, 2000.
Updated: 14/11/2016 17:27
