Course Description

Urban soils are soils significantly influenced by human activity, including construction, traffic, industrial operations, and waste disposal. Unlike natural soils, they are often heterogeneous and may exhibit altered physical, chemical, and biological properties. Evaluating urban soil suitability is critical for safe and sustainable land use, whether for building infrastructure, creating recreational spaces, or urban agriculture. Issues such as contamination, compaction, erosion, and reduced fertility can compromise both environmental quality and human health. Understanding how urban activities impact soils is essential for designing effective remediation and protection strategies that support sustainable city planning.

What you'll learn in this course?

• Define urban soil suitability and its importance in environmental management.

• Identify key physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils.

• Evaluate contamination risks in urban soils and associated environmental hazards.

• Interpret soil test data to determine suitability for construction, agriculture, or green spaces.

• Apply guidelines and standards for urban soil assessment and remediation.

• Understand soil sampling, analysis, and monitoring techniques.

• Recognize common urban soil pollutants and their sources.

• Develop risk management strategies for contaminated urban sites.

Prerequisites

• Basic understanding of environmental engineering, soil science, or urban planning

• Familiarity with basic soil properties and contamination concepts is helpful