College of Engineering and Technology

ASSIGNMENT 1

Programme Title: MSc Civil Engineering and Construction Management

Programme Code: MK2AC

Module Title: Flood Risk Engineering Management

Module Code: 7BU502

Module Leader: Michael Gallanagh

Lecturer: Michael Gallanagh

Assignment Title: Flood Management Policy and Legislation

Weighting: 40% of Assessment

Issue Date: 30th September 2015

Hand-in Date: 30th October 2015

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College of Engineering and Technology

Introduction

All around the world, choices have to be made on a number of levels if future flood risk is to be well managed and responsible flood managers are to work within the economic, political and institutional constraints of the day. Within those constraints, Governments must decide on the risk of flooding they are prepared to accept. In effect they can choose from a range of options:

(a) Maintain current flood policies and expenditure, accept reduced standards of flood protection and hence a substantial increase in flood risk, and live with the increase in expected annual economic damage.(b) Reduce flood risk by the application of a portfolio of flood response measures to levels at or similar to the present.(c) Reduce flood risk further, which may be difficult in economic and sustainability terms under some scenarios, but feasible under others.

As the range of options above demonstrate, the choices for government and other accountable stakeholders in managing flood risk are complex and it is therefore the aim of this assignment to investigate the effectiveness of the policies and associated legislation which have been put in place to manage flood risk scenarios.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, the student should be able to:

Investigate and critically evaluate the effectiveness of UK and EC policy and legislation which is designed to address flood risk amid concerns related to climate change.

The Brief

The diagram below shows the degree of control by government over different drivers of flood risk (with responses to flood risk lying towards the right-hand side).

Using the diagram as a framework for your written content, critically analyse and evaluate the potential effectiveness of UK and EC policy and legislation in addressing flood risk amid concerns related to climate change. Include examples of how legislation is implemented by responsible bodies at local, regional, and/or national level.

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College of Engineering and TechnologyResources & Reference Materials

Module lecture support notes, including UK and EC legislation and implications for stakeholders; Civil Contingencies Act 2004, Flood and Water Management Act 2010, EC Directives, including EU Floods Directive 200760/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks, Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk, Draft Flood and Management Bill, Recommendations made in the 2007 Pitt Review, Roles and responsibilities for flood defence and risk management in the UK, Overview of methods for implementation; Environment Agency, Local Authorities, Local Area Agreements, DEFRA, British Waterways, The National Adaptation Programme 2013.

Submission Requirements

The assignment will be in either essay or report format, approximately 2000 words in length, conforming to appropriate written assignment standards. Dividing the submission into sections by using sub-headings makes presentation and reading easier; and a robust conclusion (drawing on arguments presented in your writing) is a vital element. Reference sources can be freely drawn on, but remember to cite the source(s) used, and identify them properly in the References section.

Submission Date

Friday 30th October 2015 The assignment should be submitted electronically on or before the date of submission. Late submission risks being penalised.

Assessment Criteria

The grading scale applying to level 7 of the University’s Integrated Credit System will be used. All grades given for assignment work are provisional until confirmed or otherwise by the next Module Assessment Board.

Performance Criteria

For (Excellent, 70 – 100%) the student will have demonstrated a thorough understanding of flood management policy, associated legislation and their potential impact. There will be many examples of research into commentaries on their effectiveness and the conclusions will have been strongly linked to research and convincingly drawn out, using references and citations. Presentation, including images and tables, will be to an impressive standard with all conventions observed.

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Return of WorkIt is University policy that assignment work will normally be returned within a maximum of three weeks after the date of submission, when report grades will be available. Under exceptional circumstances eg due to illness or where work is retained for external examiners, extended return dates may be published, but a copy of the marking sheet will always be given to you. Please note that the three-week period refers to semester weeks and does not include student holidays like the Christmas or Easter break.

College of Engineering and TechnologyFor (Very Good, 60 – 69%) the student will have demonstrated a strong awareness of flood management policy, associated legislation and their potential impact. There will be several examples of research into commentaries on their effectiveness, and the conclusions will be substantially linked to the research using references and citations. Presentation, including images and tables, will be to a commendable standard with the majority of the submission complying and clearly written.

For (Good, 50 – 59%) the student will have presented a competent appraisal of flood management policy, associated legislation and their potential impact. There will be sufficient evidence of research into commentaries on their effectiveness, and conclusions will be drawn with relevant support. Presentation, including images and tables, will be to a competent standard and demonstrate an attempt to satisfy conventions and references will be given and cited.

For (Satisfactory, 40 – 49%) the student will have presented a reasonably competent appraisal of flood management policy, associated legislation and their potential impact. There will be some evidence of research into commentaries on their effectiveness, and conclusions will be drawn with relevant support. Presentation, including images and tables, will demonstrate an attempt to satisfy conventions and references will be given and cited.

To FAIL (<40%) the student will not have covered the topic in sufficient depth, and the research will be lacking in both amount and evidence of usage. Conclusions will be inadequately supported, and the presentation will be lacking in clarity and not complying with written work conventions.

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