Subject Datasheet
Completion requirements
Subject Datasheet
Download PDFI. Subject Specification
1. Basic Data
1.1 Title
Environmental Geology
1.2 Code
BMEEOGMMSFST07-00
1.3 Type
Module with associated contact hours
1.4 Contact hours
| Type | Hours/week / (days) |
| Lecture | 2 |
| Lab | 1 |
1.5 Evaluation
Midterm grade
1.6 Credits
5
1.7 Coordinator
| name | Dr. Török Ákos |
| academic rank | Professor |
| torok.akos@emk.bme.hu |
1.8 Department
Department of Engineering Geology and Geotechnics
1.9 Website
1.10 Language of instruction
hungarian
1.11 Curriculum requirements
Compulsory in the Specialization in Geotechnics and Geology, Strcutural Engineering (MSc) programme
1.12 Prerequisites
1.13 Effective date
1 September 2025
2. Objectives and learning outcomes
2.1 Objectives
The students are getting familiar with the pollution sources that endanger the environment, hamper engineering works and understand the mitigation methods. The subject provides in-formation on the transport mechanism of pollutants in subsurface area and the conditions that influence their dispersion. The studied topics include the legal regulation of environmental geological surveys and the geological constrains of environmental impact assessment of exist-ing and planned engineering structures. By studying remediation techniques the course leads a better understanding of various methods of pollutant removal from the geological environ-ment. Special focus area is mining related pollution and site remediation. Waste disposal and pollution control also form important parts of the course. The exercise classes help students to learn environmental geological practice that helps in the sustainable operation and design of engineering structures. The course provides perspectives in environmental pollution reduction and in cost effective mitigation of polluted sites.
2.2 Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject, the student:
A. Knowledge
1. knows the pollutants and their properties
2. knows the engineering activities risking geological environment
3. knows the transport mechanism of pollutants in geological environment,
4. aware of methodology of measuring pollutants,
5. knows the environmental geological site survey, and its legal background
6. understand the environmental impact assessment
7. aware of the ‘pollution sensitivity’ of various rock types,
8. knows the fundamentals of remediation techniques,
9. understand the geological constraints of waste disposal,
10. knows the environmental geological risk assessment
B. Skills
1. able to describe pollutants and their effect on living and built environment,
2. can identify the hazardous materials,
3. able to determine the critical concentrations of pollutants,
4. can assess the pollution sensitivity of geological formations,
5. able to choose specific sites for waste disposal,
6. can select a proper remediation action in cleanup projects
7. able to supervise cleanup projects
8. able to select the parameters necessary for environmental geological risk analysis
9. can read and interpret international references and written reports
10. able to express her/his thoughts orderly in written and oral.
C. Attitudes
a) improve her/his knowledge with continuous learning,
b) open to use the information technology tools,
c) pursue to know and use of the toolkit which need for the environmental geological problem solution,
d) pursue to the exact and errorless task solution.
D. Autonomy and Responsibility
1. thinks through and solve independently the environmental geological tasks and problems ac-cording to given sources,
2. open to understand the severity of pollution and make responsible decisions in environmental remedial and cleanup actions
3. open to accept the critical comments,
4. use the systematic approaches in her/his mind.
2.3 Methods
Lectures, practical tasks, communication in written and oral form, use of IT tools and tech-niques, task solved independently and in groups as well, work organization techniques.
2.4 Course outline
week: Topics of lectures and/or exercise classes
1. Environmental geology topics, local and global perspective.
2. Types and characteristics of pollutants occurring in geological environment.
3. Sources of pollutants and the pathways to geological environment.
4. Conditions that influence the pollution transport and dispersion in geological formations.
5. Engineering geological aspects of environmental impact assessment.
6. Environmental geological site surveys and their application in engineering.
7. Pollution in lithosphere.
8. Remediation methods and the legal background.
9. Environmental impact of mining.
10. Waste and waste disposal in geological formations.
11. Site selection methods and environmental geological considerations of waste disposal.
12. Geological protection, site preservation and environmental geological protection
13. Role of environmental geology in engineering design and the methodological approach, legal constrains.
14. Pollution risk reduction and environmental geologically sustainable design.
.
The above programme is tentative and subject to changes due to calendar variations and other reasons specific to the actual semester. Consult the effective detailed course schedule of the course on the subject website.
The above programme is tentative and subject to changes due to calendar variations and other reasons specific to the actual semester. Consult the effective detailed course schedule of the course on the subject website.
2.5 Study materials
a) Textbooks
1. Keller E., D. (2011): Environmental Geology. Pearsons
2. Seegers-Szablewski G, Montgomery W.C. (2023): Environmental Geology, Mcgraw-Hill
b) Online materials
1. Lecture notes
2.6 Other information
1) The topics lectures provide information on of Hungarian and international case studies re-lated to environmental geology.
2.7 Consultation
The instructors are available for consultation during their office hours, as advertised on the de-partment website. Special appointments can be requested via e-mail: torok.akos@emk.bme.hu
This Subject Datasheet is valid for:
2025/2026 semester II
II. Subject requirements
Assessment and evaluation of the learning outcomes
3.1 General rules
The assessment of the learning outcomes specified in clause 2.2. above, and the evaluation of student performance occurs via tests, homework assignments.
3.2 Assessment methods
| Assessment Name (Type) | Code | Assessed Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. midterm test | MT1 | A.1-A.5; B.1; B.2; B.6; C.2; C.4; D.3 |
| 2. midterm test | MT2 | A.6-A.10; B.6-B.10; C.2; C.4; D.3 |
| 1. homework | HW | A.1-A.10; B.1-B.10; C.1-C.4; D.1-D.4 |
The dates of deadlines of assignments/homework can be found in the detailed course schedule on the subject’s website.
3.3 Evaluation system
| Code | Weight |
|---|---|
| MT1 | 35% |
| MT2 | 35% |
| HW | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
3.4 Requirements and validity of signature
There is no signature for this subject.
3.5 Grading system
| Grade | Score (P) |
|---|---|
| excellent (5) | 80≤P |
| good (4) | 70≤P<80% |
| satisfactory (3) | 60≤P<70% |
| pass (2) | 50≤P<60% |
| fail (1) | P<50% |
3.6 Retake and repeat
1) There is no minimum requirement for the individual midterm tests therefore it cannot be retaken separately.
2) Homework – after the payment of the fee given in the regulation – can be submit with delay until 16.00 or in electronic format until 23.59 of the last day of the completion week.
3) The submitted and accepted homework can be corrected without any fee until the dead-line described in the point 2.
4) The two midterm test can be retaken in merged form in the completion week free of charge. In case of correction the better result will be taking into account from the new and previous results.
3.7 Estimated workload
| Activity | Hours/Semester |
|---|---|
| contact hours | 14×3=42 |
| preparation for the courses | 14×1=14 |
| preparation for the tests | 2×18=36 |
| homework | 40 |
| home studying of the written material | 18 |
3.8 Effective date
1 September 2025
This Subject Datasheet is valid for:
2025/2026 semester II