Course code: BIO-3111

GIS and remote sensing

Campus

Semester / Year Autumn 2012

Credits 10

NOTE! This course belongs to a previous semester/year

About the course

Theoretical. The course may be taken as a singular course.

An important tool when performing ecological and environmental analysis is GIS and satellites as providers of spatial data. The theory and application of satellite remote sensing will be covered in the course. The lectures focus on the fundamentals of electromagnetic radiation, reflection and absorption, satellite and sensor technology, map projections, and digital image analysis. The main features and principles of raster GIS will be covered. In addition the theoretical background of geographical positioning systems (GPS) will be given, along with practical use of GPS and its integration with GIS. The course emphasizes practical PC-exercises using the GIS software like IDRISI and ArcGIS Desktop with emphasize on application of the Spatial Analyst module extension. Exercises focus on basic GIS-operation, image processing and the use of remote sensing data. During the course students will collect field data and complete their own GIS-project.

Objectives of the course

Give students the necessary theoretical background and practical skill to be able to work independently with GIS, GPS technology and remote sensing data. Make the students understand the analytic potential that GIS and remote sensed data represent in ecological an environmental studies. Prerequisite: General ecology, some familiarity with geographic information systems (GIS), basic statistics and general knowledge of practical use of PC and MS-Windows operative system desirable.

Prerequisites

Credit reduction

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

BIO-3111 GIS and Landscape Ecology 10 stp
MILJØ-310 Quantitative ecology 9 stp
BIO-8102 Geographical information systems (GIS) and remote sensing data 10 stp

Teaching methods

10 hours lectures (intensive), 24 hours self learning PC-lab, 30 hours instructor lead PC-lab, 10 hours field work, 30 hours and project work. Total 104 hours.

Language of instruction and examination

The language of instruction is English and all of the syllabus material is in English. Examination questions will be given in English, but may be answered either in English or a Scandinavian language.

Assessment

PC-lab self learning. Grade: Approved/not approved. Project report. Grade: Approved/not approved. All PC-labs are obligatory.

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Previous years and semesters

Contact us

Responsible unit: Department of Arctic and Marine Biology

Siv Andreassen

Kontorsjef

siv.andreassen@uit.no

Lennart Nilsen

Førsteamanuensis

lennart.nilsen@uit.no