Module GEOG3261: ENVIRONMENTAL REMOTE SENSING

Department: GEOGRAPHY

GEOG3261: ENVIRONMENTAL REMOTE SENSING

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To develop advanced knowledge and skills in one specific branch of geographic enquiry.
• To give experience in the use of remotely sensed data for geographical applications.

Content

• Basic principles of remote sensing.
• Image enhancement - practical.
• Image classification - practical.
• Spectral analysis - practical.
• Applications and interpretations.
• Electromagnetic radiation.
• Formative test and seminar.
• Multispectral imaging.
• Spectrometry.
• Imaging spectrometry - practical.
• Thermal imaging.
• Radar imaging and seminar.
• Geology.
• Land-use mapping.
• Agriculture.
• Coastal environment.
• Archaeology.
• Seminar by visiting lecturer.
• Student project seminar.
• Course review and feedback.

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion of the course students are expected to be able to: understand the physical and institutional basis of environmental remote sensing.
• show a basic theoretical knowledge of the most important methods for computer processing and the interpretation of environmental remote sensing data.
• discuss and evaluate relevant peer review papers on the subject.
• evaluate the use of remote sensing for some important environmental problems in a critical way.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures introduce students to theoretical material and indicate how to develop knowledge through wider reading.
• Practicals introduce students to basic analytical techniques that will be required by the group based project.
• Seminars allow students to develop skills in evaluating and presenting scientific data.
• Formative assessments 1.
• A timed essay sat in class time that is marked and comments returned to students.
• 2.
• Oral feedback on group project presentation.
• Summative assessments: 1.
• A 1000 word individual critique on group based project.
• Students are provided with a choice of project ideas for which suitable data is available.
• The project will develop research skills.
• Students will, as a group, think about research design, hypothesis testing, data processing, data analysis and presentation.
• Individually, students will evaluate and interpret the results of group work and try to place their results in the context of the peer review scientific literature.
• The assessment explicitly addresses OBJECTIVES 2, 3 and 5.
• 2.
• Two hour unseen written examination.
• Rubric to answer two questions from six in two hours.
• The unseen examination will test students ability to marshal and focus evidence gained from reading and practical experience of using remote sensing data.
• The examination questions will cover theory, practice and case studies.
• Particular reward will be given to students who display an ability to integrate theory, practice and case study evidence in a coherent and well argued essay.
• The assessment explicitly addresses OBJECTIVES 1, 2, 4 and 5.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Written test with written feedback

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University