451-312 GIS & Remote Sensing for Environmental Science


 

Subject Details for
Semester 2, 2007

(updated 28-June-2007)

  

Subject website URL: http://www.geom.unimelb.edu.au/hunter/lectures/451312/451312.html

Official university handbook entry
View timetable
Lecturers:

Dr Gary Hunter (GIS)
Associate Professor and Reader
Department of Geomatics
University of Melbourne
Located in CGISM (2nd floor, B Block)
Tel. 8344-4626
E-mail. garyh@unimelb.edu.au

Dr Joe Leach (Remote Sensing)
Lecturer
Department of Geomatics
University of Melbourne
Located on 4th floor, C Block
Tel: 8344-8124
E-mail: leach@unimelb.edu.au

Subject objectives:

  • The objective of this subject is to introduce students to remote sensing and geographic information systems.
  • By the end of the subject students should have an understanding of the acquisition of remotely sensed imagery and be familiar with the basic principles and procedures of digital image processing. They should have developed practical skills in the interpretation and use of remotely sensed data.
  • They should also have an introductory knowledge of the range of GIS applications; understand the fundamental role of GIS in decision making; be familiar with the basic principles and procedures associated with GIS; and have developed basic practical skills in the use of GIS software.

Generic skills acquired in this subject:

  • ability to apply knowledge of basic science
  • ability to communicate effectively, not only with other professional scientists but also with the community at large
  • ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
  • understanding of the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of the professional scientist, and the need for sustainable development
  • understanding of the principles of sustainable design and development
  • capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning

2006 Quality of Teaching student scores, comments and action taken:

  • Score (out of a maximum of 5.0) = 4.1
  • General comments: "Pracs were good", "Pracs of suitable length and content", "Gary gave good lectures and feedback"
  • Specific comments: Nil
  • Action taken for 2007: Nil

Lecture and practical exercise details:

  • Four hours per week during Semester 2, 2004, have been allocated for lectures on Wednesdays 9:00am - 11:00am Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering-Theatre, and practical work on Wednesdays 11:00am - 1:00pm ECR Lab 1. Students are automatically timetabled by the university administration system for one of these two lab sessions.
  • As a rule, two demonstrators will be on duty to assist students in each laboratory at the scheduled prac times during the semester.
  • Students are also able to (legally) install the GIS and Remote Sensing software used in the prac classes on their home computers, permitting them to finish uncompleted pracs in their own time. It is available on overnight loan from the Reserve Desk in the Engineering Branch Library.
  • GIS prac assignments are conducted weekly and must be submitted by 5.00pm a week after each prac class.
  • Penalty for GIS practical work submitted after the due date: 1% off the total subject mark per day overdue.

Download your GIS practical exercise data from here

 


 

Link to Dr Joe Leach's Remote Sensing teaching website below:

http://www.geom.unimelb.edu.au/research/mers/downloads.htm

Assessment:

  • There will be a 3-hour written examination at the completion of the semester worth 60% of the total subject marks, plus practical exercises during the semester worth 40%.
  • The GIS and Remote Sensing components are each worth 50% of the total subject marks. 
  • The lecturers for each component of the subject will provide details of the syllabus and weighting of the various assignments at the beginning of their component.
  • Students must pass both sections of the subject (that is, GIS and Remote Sensing) to obtain a pass overall
  • An important note about answering exam questions: When answering exam questions, students should be guided by the marks allocated to each question when deciding how much time should be spent answering them. For instance, if there are 4 questions having equal marks to be answered in the GIS section of the exam, then in a 3-hour paper approximately 20 minutes should be assigned to each question. Given this amount of time, a short 1-paragraph or half-page answer is unlikely to receive high marks - particularly when the topic may have required several pages of explanation (including diagrams) in the course notes. As a rule, the material needed to successfully answer questions well is provided in the course notes and during lectures, and diagrams should be used whenever possible to enhance your answers.

Recommended references:

  • 451-105/312 GIS lecture notes, practical exercises and past examp papers will be available for purchase from the University Bookroom.
  • Dr Leach's PowerPoint slides are available from his remote sensing website.

Class schedule:

 Week

Weekly Lectures

Weekly Practical Exercises

    1.

Remote Sensing lectures

Remote Sensing prac

    2.

Remote Sensing lectures

Remote Sensing prac

    3.

Remote Sensing lectures

Remote Sensing prac

    4.

Remote Sensing lectures

Remote Sensing prac

    5.

Remote Sensing lectures

Remote Sensing prac

    6.

Remote Sensing lectures

Remote Sensing prac

    7.

GIS lectures

No GIS prac in the first week

    8.

GIS lectures

GIS prac #1

    9.

No classes (University Break)

No classes (University Break)

    10.

No classes (University Break)

No classes (University Break)

    11.

GIS lectures

GIS prac #2

    12.

GIS lectures

GIS prac #3

    13.

GIS lectures

GIS prac #4

    14.

GIS lectures

GIS prac #5