M1 - Water and Coastal Zones (EL)

Project management encompasses all the methods, tools, and techniques used to organize the execution of a project and achieve its objectives, from the initial concept through to completion.

Practical, real-world scenarios will be incorporated through exercises or case studies to help students develop the right habits and learn how to use project management tools.

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Introduction to Risk and Vulnerability Management. Definition of Key Concepts, Case Studies from Thailand and Sommières 

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The EU Bibliographic Project consists of training in literature review, including the use of search engines, databases, and bibliographic reference management tools. Students work in pairs on a topic they have chosen themselves, related to their field of study. This literature review culminates in the preparation of a summary and a poster.

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The module “Major Issues in Coastal Dynamics” takes place at the beginning of the academic semester during an orientation seminar for the master’s program in “Coastal Engineering and Sustainable Coastal Dynamics” and the master’s program in “Water and the Coast,” which is generally held at an iconic coastal location. During this event, organized around a key theme in coastal science that changes each year, an introductory lecture is given on the definition of the coastline and the typology of terrestrial coastlines. This is followed by one or two presentations by specialists on a current topic in coastal science. Shortly after the seminar, students must write, either individually or in pairs, an analytical paper on the agreed-upon topic.

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The EU curriculum is organized into three parts:

1) The Water Cycle and Water Balance
• The Main Water Reservoirs
• The Mechanisms of the Water Cycle
• Water Circulation: From the Global Scale to the Watershed Scale
• Humans: Their Impact on the Water Cycle

2) The Atmospheric Phase of the Water Cycle – Hydrology
• The watershed
• Atmospheric circulation and precipitation
• Evapotranspiration
• Infiltration
• Runoff

3) The underground phase of the water cycle – Hydrogeology
• Porous media and their hydrodynamic properties
• Different types of aquifers
• Piezometric levels and maps

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English tutorial course for students in the Water Sciences program who are working toward professional proficiency in English.

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The issue of contaminants in the aquatic environment is addressed from a multidisciplinary scientific perspective (chemistry, geochemistry, microbiology, etc.), while also addressing the regulatory aspects:

• Overview of the main contaminants in the aquatic environment: chemical contaminants such as major elements, trace metals, organic micropollutants (pesticides, hydrocarbons, endocrine disruptors, microbiological contaminants, etc.), radioactive elements, and biological contaminants such as microorganisms, pathogenic bacteria, viruses, etc.

• Focus on certain contaminants based on aquatic environments, taking into account, in particular, the hydrochemical characteristics of the water in relation to the geological and environmental contexts of hydrologic and hydrogeologic basins.

• An overview of interactions between microorganisms and organic and inorganic contaminants, and their impact on the fate of contaminants in the aquatic environment; applications in bioremediation.

These lessons are illustrated using examples from current events, such as antibiotic resistance, and/or the speakers’ research topics.

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The course primarily consists of a detailed overview of the fundamentals of land-use planning: The main legal frameworks and their constant evolution (codes, laws, regulations), as well as the “ doctrines ” that shape their implementation, as well as the various technical “tools”—whether procedures or the preparation of applications (urban planning documents, or public or private construction or development projects). The tools and conditions for dialogue and coordination (examination of the various operational methods), as well as the land management approaches (land management and the tools for managing it), and the assessment of the various issues (financial, socioeconomic, and political), and finally, the decision-making. The various aspects mentioned above are highlighted as factors that determine the success—and thus the successful spatial implementation—of all development projects, regardless of their nature and scale.

Designed to cover all regions, the module also aims to focus on issues specific to coastaland similar areas. Because coastal zones have unique characteristics, a specific approach to these areas is essential to complement general approaches (the Coastal Zone Act, the Water Act, easements, and changes to regulatory frameworks and legislation).

Finally, the underlying theme of this module is the systematic examination of the many debates and issues involved in the confrontation between theemergency (or priority) socioeconomic and the environmental urgency (or priority) environmental, with an understanding of the trade-offs and constant adjustments that this tension gives rise to. The current urgency of the ecological and transitional crisis, as well as the acceleration of confrontations / conflicts of interest are examined and put into perspective.

With regard to the “ management ” of territories—presented in the course title (“From Land-Use Planning to Territorial Management”) as stemming from the land-use planning phase—this theme is also described and analyzed for each of the specific points covered under land-use planning, both as a consequence of the actions taken and as a condition for success —in the medium and long term—of projects being implemented in a territory, regardless of their scale.

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This course unit is designed to enable students to gain in-depth knowledge of how aquatic ecosystems function and to identify threats and vulnerabilities in the face of local pressures and climate change.

It will also enable students to 1) understand the specific characteristics of how benthic ecosystems function and the ecological roles of their components, 2) acquire in-depth knowledge of how aquatic ecosystems function, 3) gain knowledge about the impact of chemical and biological contaminants (toxic and pathogenic microalgae), climate change, and human activities on aquatic ecosystems, their functioning, and their components, including the associated socioeconomic repercussions. This course unit will develop monitoring networks for the marine environment and the health of harvested marine animals by addressing mortality issues.

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Water lies at the heart of multiple and conflicting issues, visions, and interests. The interplay of these various elements raises questions about integrated water resources management (IWRM) and regulation (particularly through public policy), the balance between collective and private values, and decision-making processes concerning collective issues—in short, governance. Decentralization, water and sanitation services, basin-level management, the European Water Framework Directive, and financial flows, in particular, illustrate various facets of governance.

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This course is divided into two parts: one focusing on surface water and atmospheric water, and the other on groundwater. This course builds on the “Water Cycle” course from the first semester and lays the essential foundation for the specialized courses in hydrodynamics and physical hydrology that will be offered in the second semester. It therefore serves as a transitional course between fundamental knowledge of the water cycle and specialized knowledge related to the study and characterization of surface and groundwater resources.

Lectures combined with integrated tutorials are supplemented by practical exercises in the lab using computers and hydrogeological maps.

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The “Ocean, Atmosphere, Climate” module aims to present the fundamental principles of atmospheric dynamics and ocean dynamics and offers a critical and well-documented perspective on climate change. The course is based on the analysis of official documents describing global change, well-documented discussions of key issues, and case studies applied to various global contexts.

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This learning unit focuses on mastering communication tools for the professional world, specifically learning: -(i) how to write a resume, a cover letter, and an email for an unsolicited application; -(ii) how to introduce oneself briefly, either verbally or in writing; -(iii) how to answer interview questions and avoid common pitfalls.

Learning these tools involves a theoretical introduction to them, but also—very quickly—putting them into practice. To this end, students will work in small groups, simulating realistic situations such as job interviews and presentations. The goal is to help them master these various tools as effectively as possible.

All courses are taught in the form of lab sessions, with a particular emphasis on:

• during “reality show”-style sessions, where each participant will have to introduce themselves to the others in less than 3 minutes, will be placed in job-interview scenarios, or will have to submit unsolicited applications or give impromptu presentations.
• On workshops for writing emails, cover letters, and resumes.

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Classification of Coastal Environments
 

Physical processes driving coastal dynamics,

climate processes,

meteorological processes,

oceanographic processes.

Geomorphodynamics at the following scales:

geological,

historical,

seasonal,

events.

A case study examined in detail: the sandy coastline of Languedoc

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The GIS Practice course consists of training in the use of Geographic Information Systems, covering basic concepts related to geographic information and proficiency in the open-source software QGIS. The majority of the course is devoted to an introduction through a combination of lectures and hands-on exercises. A personalized capstone mapping project allows students, at the end of the course, to apply the concepts they have learned. An introductory lecture by industry professionals provides context for the relevance of GIS approaches in general hydrology.

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Optimized management and protection of water resources (both surface and groundwater) require consideration of water quality. The assessment of the qualitative status of water bodies—particularly in light of current legislative frameworks—is based on specific chemical and microbiological quality criteria, as well as standards tailored to the intended uses of these resources.

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English tutorial course for students in the Water Sciences program who are working toward professional proficiency in English.

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This module aims to provide students with a practical understanding of the implementation of IWRM and public participation in water management through an active learning approach.

It is centered on “Cooplage,” a support system for implementing participatory approaches to water management developed by researchers at the UMR GEAU, and the associated Agreenium MOOC, Terr’eau & co.

Students will work in small groups—comprising students from different tracks within the Master’s in Water program—on case studies drawn from the instructors’ ongoing research projects. Learning will take place through the application of certain tools from the “Cooplage” program to their case studies, particularly modeling and participatory simulation in the form of role-playing. To ground their work in real-world context, students will be connected with the stakeholders involved in these case studies. 

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In Water Sciences, the use of probability and statistics for analyzing hydroclimatic and water quality data is essential. Lectures and application-based tutorials will help students brush up on their skills (covering high school and undergraduate-level problems), after which several new concepts will be introduced (including the test of conformity to a distribution).

The course is organized around the following chapters:

1. Elementary Probability Theory, Combinatorial Analysis. (Lecture 1, Tutorial 1)
2. Discrete and continuous random variables. Probability distribution and probability density function. Expectation, variance, covariance. (Lecture 2, Lab 2)
3. Simple Linear Regression (covered in Tutorial 3)
4. Multiple Linear Regression (covered in Tutorial 3)
5. Some Common Probability Distributions (Binomial, Poisson, Normal, Gamma, Gumbel) and Their Applications (Lecture 3, Lab 4)
6. Tests for Membership in a Law (covered in TD5)

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In-situ observation of coastal hydro-sedimentary processes in natural or human-altered environments is a central component of any scientific or engineering research in hydro-morphodynamics, coastal risk, coastal development, sand and water resources, or the search for protective solutions. In-situ observation provides objective evidence of the existence of a process, the performance of a development or protective measure, and the quantification of a resource for its exploitation. Observation, far beyond modeling or physical experimentation, serves both as the ultimate validation of an approach and as a source of new ideas.

The “In-Situ Measurement Techniques and Data Analysis” module is students’ first step into the world of in-situ measurement of coastal hydrodynamics and morphodynamics. The module is structured around an initial experience involving (i) formulating a scientific question in terms of in-situ observation in a coastal environment, (ii) designing a measurement device to address it, (iii) making logistical preparations for deployment, (iv) carrying out the deployment, monitoring the equipment, and retrieving the data, and (v) analyzing the data to answer the research question. Students are responsible for carrying out each of these steps within a highly structured framework for this initial experience.

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