Course detail

Forensic Ecotechnology

ÚSI-ERFEDAcad. year: 2020/2021

The subject focuses on the acquisition of professional knowledge and practical skills enabling the assessment of the physical state of trees using visual and instrument-based methods. Subsequently, students will be able to assess the operational safety of trees, evaluate their function and apply selected arboristic standards of the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic. They will be able to carry out the individual steps in practice as part of a case study and interpret the results in the manner required in forensic investigations.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Students will gain knowledge both via a multidisciplinary approach and via interdisciplinary blending (considering both quantitative and qualitative assessment methods) in the Czech legal environment.

Prerequisites

Forensic engineering – general methodology

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Tuition takes place in the form of lectures and seminars. The lectures present basic principles, the methodology of the given discipline, problems and example solutions. The seminars focus on the practical mastery of the subject matter presented in the lectures or set for individual study, with the active participation of students.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Preparation and defence of a seminar paper – a case study – for a specific tree species in an urban area. It should be focused on the visual and biomechanical assessment of the condition of the tree and its operational safety, and on the valuation and function of the tree.
Another requirement is the active participation of the student in lessons.

Course curriculum

1. Introduction to the subject, the fundamentals of arboristics.
2. Basics of tree physiology and stress theory. Basics of tree morphology.
3. Health, vitality and stability – concept and examples.
4. Biomechanics of tree species – ways of loading and reactions of trees to stress.
5. Mechanical stability – fractures and windthrow.
6. Evaluation of the condition of trees – visual evaluation according to the VTA and a standard published by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic
7. Evaluation of the condition of trees – instrument-based methods.
8. Operational safety, QTRM – quantified tree risk management.
9. Arboristic standards of the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic – checking, evaluation and planning of technical procedures for tree care.
10. Arboristic standards of the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic – legislation, valuation of trees growing outside forests, protected trees
11. Arboristic standards of the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic – protection of tree species during construction activities, care for tree species around public infrastructure.
12. Functions of trees in the landscape and in settlements.
13. Case studies from real-world practice, practical application of knowledge in the field.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The study aims of the subject are the acquisition of selected and specialized knowledge for the systematic discovery and assessment of real objects of forensic relevance within the forest-tree-human system (the forest ecosystem, and particularly tree taxa) in a manner appropriate to the needs of forensic investigations.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Not specified.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

KOLAŘÍK et. al. Péče o dřeviny rostoucí mimo les. 1. díl. 2. vyd. Vlašim: ČSOP. 2003. 261 s. ISBN 80-86327-36-1 (CS)
KOLAŘÍK, J. et al. Péče o dřeviny rostoucí mimo les – II., ČSOP Vlašim, 2010. 696 s. ISBN 9788086327853. (CS)
ŠPINLEROVÁ, Z. Ekofyziologie dřevin. Mendelova univerzita v Brně, Lesnická a dřevařská fakulta, Ústav lesnické botaniky, (CS)
dendrologie a geobiocenologie, Brno, 2014 (https://akela.mendelu.cz/~xcepl/inobio/skripta/Ekofyziologie_drevin.pdf) (CS)
KOLAŘÍK, J., SZORÁDOVÁ, A. Hodnocení stavu stromů. In Zahradnictví. 2012. (CS)
Standard péče o krajinu a přírodu – arboristické standardy A101-A102, A201-A212 (http://standardy.nature.cz/seznam- (CS)
standardu/) (CS)

Recommended reading

LARCHER, W. Physiological plant ecology: Ecophysiology and stress physiology of functional groups. (CS)
Vyd. 4. Berlin: Springer, 2003. 513 stran. ISBN 3540435166 (CS)
Zákon 183/2006 Sb. o územním plánování a stavebním řádu v platném znění) (CS)
Zákon č. 151/1997 Sb.,o oceňování majetku a o změně některých zákonů, ve znění pozdějších předpisů. (CS)
Prováděcí vyhláška 8/2008 Sb., kterou se provádějí některá ustanovení zákona č. 151/1997 Sb., o oceňování majetku a o (CS)
změně některých zákonů, ve znění pozdějších předpisů (oceňovací vyhláška). (CS)
Zákon č. 114/1992 Sb., o ochraně přírody a krajiny, ve znění pozdějších předpisů. (CS)
Prováděcí vyhláška č. 395/1992, kterou se provádějí některá ustanovení zákona České národní rady č. 114/1992 Sb., o (CS)
ochraně přírody a krajiny. (CS)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme REI_P Master's, 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer