Module GEOG3261: ENVIRONMENTAL REMOTE SENSING

Department: Geography

GEOG3261: ENVIRONMENTAL REMOTE SENSING

Prerequisites

• GEOG2591 (GIS AND REMOTE SENSING)

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

• In-depth enhancement techniques
• In-depth classification techniques
• Applications and interpretations
• Electromagnetic radiation
• Formative test and seminar
• Spectral imaging
• Thermal imaging
• Radar
• Applications: Forestry, Archaeology, Fluvial, Cryosphere
• Student project seminar
• Course review and feedback

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion of the course students are expected to be able to:
• 1: Understand the physical and institutional basis of environmental remote sensing
• 2: Show a basic theoretical knowledge of the most important methods for computer processing and the interpretation of environmental remote sensing data
• 3: Discuss and evaluate relevant peer review papers on the subject
• 4: Evaluate the use of remote sensing for some important environmental problems in a critical way

• Apply the theoretical material covered in the lectures to real world environmental remote sensing data sets
• Use advanced remote sensing software in a student led project
• Develop a quantitative appreciation for the errors in remotely sensed data

• Students are expected to:
• Present logical written arguments supported with quantitative evidence
• Be able to critically analyse remote sensing data in a given application
• Be able to work as a team and independently on a remote sensing project
• Understand remote sensing methods and critically select the most appropriate in a given application

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

• Lectures introduce students to the theory and practice of remote sensing and indicate how to develop knowledge through wider reading
• Practical exercises will enable the students to gain 'hands on' experience with some of the tools and techniques in remote sensing. They will also have the chance to apply the concepts introduced in lectures to solve real-world problems. Practical exercises introduce students to analytical techniques that will be required by the group and individual based projects.
• The field trip will introduce students to skills of collecting scientific data in the field and the principles of ground truthing of remotely sensed data. Students will work in small groups to interpret imagery, navigate to survey points and collect a range of scientific data. After the field class, students will learn how to analyse the data they collected in a subsequent computer-based practical class. Some lectures will build on ideas introduced in the field
• Seminars allow students to develop skills in evaluating and presenting scientific data
• 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 project assessment explicitly addresses Learning Outcomes 2, 3 and 4 (see above)
• 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 examination assessment explicitly addresses Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4 (see above)

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative feedback will be provided through an online test and verbal feedback on individual presentations.

■ 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