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Landscape Planning and Environmental Systems
Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:07:51
Abstract
The objective is to understand how the interactions of humans with their environments shape landscapes and vice versa. This understanding provides the basis for managing and planning landscapes in ways that foster resilience to future climate and socio-economic changes. Therefore, essential theory, concepts and case studies are introduced and discussed.
Objective
By the end of the course, students will be able to: - Explain the historical development and contemporary conceptualizations of landscape. - Describe the structure and function of environmental systems and their role in shaping landscapes. - Interpret landscape metrics and conceptual frameworks for landscape patterns and change. - Identify and discuss key ecosystem services, plural landscape values, and landscape aesthetics. - Explain the goals, methods, and instruments of landscape planning in Swiss and European contexts. - Critically reflect on trade-offs and synergies that occur in landscapes and stakeholder interests. - Discuss application areas including nature-based solutions, area-based conservation, and integrated spatial planning.
Content
The lecture is structured in four parts. Part I introduces landscape as a concept and frames environmental systems as its biophysical backbone. Part II addresses landscape structures, the data and metrics used to assess them, and the dynamics of landscape change. Part III covers the valuation of the landscape through ecosystem services, plural and economic landscape values, and landscape aesthetics. Part IV addresses application and implementation with nature-based solutions, area-based conservation and connectivity, and integrated spatial planning, with attention to Swiss landscape policy instruments.
Resources
Lecture Notes
The lecture script, exercise script and slides are provided via Moodle.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- written 120 minutes
- Aids
- Calculator (not capable of external communication)
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Landscape Planning and Environmental Systems | No time listed | 2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Elective Modules (For all majors.)
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EM: Landscape (Elective Module for Majors "Environmental Technologies", "Resource Management", "River and Hydraulic Engineering" and "Urban Water Management". Note: Students taking both of the modules LAND and RIVER must take the course 101-1250-00 Transport Processes in Torrents as replacment for for River Basin Erosion that is listed in both modules. Remark: Students also taking module "Remote Sensing and Earth Observation" as replacement of 102-0617-01L Methodologies for Image Processing of Remote Sensing Data in module "Landscape" have to chose one out following list: -701-1241-00L Atmospheric Remote Sensing (HS, 3 KP) -701-1232-00L Radiation and Climate Change (FS, 3 KP) -701-1644-00L Mountain Hydrology (HS, 5KP).)
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Vertiefungsfächer (Im ersten Semester der Ausbildung werden keine Vertiefungsfächer angeboten.)
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