Course Overview
This course is offered primarily as on-line course with the two classroom-based sessions. The course starts off with defining the main goals of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process: gathering comprehensive information on potential projects with respect to the foreseen impacts; public, Aboriginal and other stakeholder engagement in the early stages of the process; and evaluating projects' compatibility with the community's sustainable development strategies. The stages of the EIA along with the tools used in the process, such as Geographic Information System (GIS), are discussed. Case studies from a variety of industrial sectors are critically analysed in order to invoke learners' understanding primarily of common but also specific technical elements and components of various projects, and consequently the magnitude and nature of their effects on Valued Environmental Components (VECs). Applicable regulations and guidelines are also discussed.
Prerequisite(s)
Credits
2.5
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Outline the stages of a comprehensive EIA process.
- Understand basics of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
- Evaluate industrial processes and activities to assess their potential environmental impacts.
- Assess the potential impacts of proposed projects on: human health & safety, air & climate, aquatic & terrestrial ecosystems, infrastructure, land and resource use, as well as social and economic values.
- Propose strategies to minimize the adverse effects potentially caused by a proposed project.
- Use available guidelines and regulations under the Environmental Assessment Act to prepare an outline for an EIA study.
- Prepare a critique of an assessment report for the assigned proposed project.
Effective as of Winter 2012
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.