About the Course

This course introduces students to the topics and issues related to soil and water quality in urban systems. There are asynchronous lectures, activities, assignments, and online discussions through which students will learn and discuss consequences and opportunities of population growth on soil and water systems in urban areas.

Topics covered include:

• Urban Systems (Introduction to Systems Science, Introduction to Urban Ecosystems, Introduction to Ecosystem Services, History of Urban Infrastructure)
• Urban Soils (Characteristics of Urban Soils, Urban Contaminants, Urban Biogeochemistry, Urban Agriculture)
• Urban Water (Water Impacts on Urbanization, Urbanization Impacts on Water, Urban Wastewater, Components of Urban Water Systems)
• Urban Resiliency (Green Infrastructure, Climate Change Adaptation, Regulatory Tools, Urban Planning, Urban Ecosystem Health)
• Urban Challenges (Water Availability, Food Demand, Infrastructure, Climate Change, Population Density)