Physical Geography Teaching Laboratory

Over summer 2006, we refurbished and completely kitted out our physical geography teaching laboratory. You will have the opportunity of spending the next three years working in clean, state-of-the-art laboratories for the biogeographical and geomorphological analysis and processing of your samples.

Student Study Centre

At the heart of the department is our newly-refurbished, dedicated, student study centre. This is a place for Undergraduates to meet to discuss their work, check their email, access digital learning resources or use the Internet. The room has wireless networking available for students with laptops.

Our Large Computing Laboratory Facility

The Department is exceptionally well-equipped with high specification computer facilities. A large computer room (50 PCs) that is used for teaching and general use is located in the Department. The computers have installed specialist software for the analysis of geographical data (GIS), the analysis of satellite data (remote sensing) and the modelling and visualisation of environmental information. The department has computer and printing facilities to produce professional A0 sized posters for assessment. For instance fieldtrips often involve the production of posters, which display the results of a group research project undertaken in the field.

The Environmental Stable Isotope Laboratory

The department was recently awarded a grant to install a state-of-the-art research laboratory dedicated to environmental stable isotope research. The facility is ideally suited for organic compound analyses. The facility will also be used to determine the isotopic composition of carbonates, water and air. A laser particle size analyser is available for determining particle size distributions of soils and sediments.

The Geomorphological Hardware Modelling Laboratory

This laboratory is an experimental facility that allows us to study processes of erosion by water under carefully controlled conditions. It consists of a rainfall simulator that can simulate rainstorms of differing duration and intensity and a flume channel. The former is used to study processes of soil erosion on hillslopes whilst the latter facilitates the study of river channel processes.

3D Stereo Virtual Reality Theatre

New to Leicester in 2006 and updated in 2010, is the department's virtual reality theatre, seating 12 people. We will be using 3d methods to visualise the way in which GIS methods work to achieve everyday tasks and to portray how landscapes have evolved over time connected, for example, with the department’s physical geography field trip to Almeria in Spain. Here at Leicester however, developing Virtual Reality projects is not just for staff; two former BSc students have received student bursaries to develop Virtual Reality projects while another 3rd year BSc student has undertaken a dissertation on visualising vegetation and topography relationships in the Tabernas badlands of South East Spain.

Other Equipment

As a department we are well stocked with basic equipment such as recording devices (loggers), digital cameras, pH kits, flowmeters, surveying equipment, soil temperature and moisture probes etc. We also have a range of GPS equipment including a differential unit capable of providing centimetre location accuracy. We have a significant number of hand-held PDA's so that you can make and record measurements and view satellite data whilst in the field. In addition, we have interview recording and transcribing equipment.

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