Aims and objectives
To describe the causes and consequences of land degradation and contamination arising from industrial, mining and civil engineering activities; to discuss the scientific basis of reclamation and remediation options for 'soft' end-uses which are sustainable.

Content
The lecture course begins with a review of the extent of rehabilitation need in the UK, of the varying objectives for differing end use and of differing national approaches to contaminated land issues. Specific problems are then considered including htose arising from acid/alkaline spoils, metal and organic contaminatiin, soil physical degradation and nutrient deficiency. Various land clean-up technologies and the design of soil cover/barrier systems are explained. Rehabilitation of such sites to agriculture, amenity and woodland is described in relation to both reclamation specifications and subsequent management. The special problems associated with landfill sites and with conservation end-uses are also considered.

Learning outcomes
Students completing the module should
i) be aware of the range of problems and treatments associated with major examples of degraded or contaminated land
ii) understand how rehabilitation objectives vary and how this influences choice of reclamation option and
iii) appreciate how engineering and ecological approaches to land rehabilitation may be integrated.