GIS and Remote Sensing Tools (5 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

After completing this course student:
- knows and understand the processing, storage and analysis of spatial information using geographical information systems GIS
- knows how to apply GIS in practical situations in ecological landscape planning and monitoring of the state of the environment
- can interpret aerial photographs and make maps using relevant methods

Content (course unit)

Principles of GIS and remote sensing tools and applications in land use planning and making and interpreting maps

Location and time

Lecture times are available in LUKKARIKONE (https://lukkarit.tamk.fi/).

Exam schedules

10.12.2018 Tabula exam, carried out in adp class F1-31
19.12.2018 Retake, Tabula exam, carried out in adp class F1-31

Evaluation methods and criteria

Exam 50% : Open computer/book Tabula exam executed at TAMK in adp classroom by using ArcMap, assessment 1-5
Course work 30 %: compulsory, assessment by grade classes 1/3/5
Report on the use of QGIS: not compulsory but possibility to improve the final grade
Environmental applications for GIS and remote sensing 20%: assessment 1-5 or 1/3/5

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

The main teaching methods include contact teaching, exercises done in groups and individually, coursework, and exam. The exam will be held in the end of the course and it is mostly based on ArcGIS exercises.

Learning materials

Lecture slides and other materials will be available through the course's Tabula page.
Other materials:
Ebert, J I 2007, Chapter 3: Photogrammetry, Photointerpretation, and Digital Imaging and Mapping in Environmental Forensics, in: Murphy, B, & Morrison, R, Introduction To Environmental Forensics, Amsterdam: Academic Press. Available in the library's eBook Collection (EBSCOhost).
contact teaching
Wise, S. 2013 GIS Fundamentals
Heywood, Sarah Cornelius and Steve Carver. An introduction to geographical information systems. Harlow : Prentice Hall, 2002.
ArcGIS for Destop : http://desktop.arcgis.com/en/arcmap/
QGIS: software downloading in own computers, exploring the functions of it with the course work data

Student workload

Contact teaching and guided computer excercises approximately 50 h, self-study and excercises approximately 85 h. Total approximately 135 h.

Content scheduling

Open file data and download services
Coordinate systems
Spatial data models, database management, visualization and thematic maps, searching functions, data entry, elementary proximity and overlay analysis
Environmental change observations based on different-aged aerial images
Satellite positioning

Completion alternatives

If you have work experience or studies on some other GIS software, please discuss alternative ways to do the course with the teacher(s).

Practical training and working life cooperation

The course exercises are related to the skills that environmental engineers commonly need in their working life.

Further information

Attendance at lectures in adp class is essential because the fundamentals of GIS is studied by ArcMap and also the coursework is carried out with that software.

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student does not reach the level of satisfactory or does not do the exam neither the reports

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student can:
- download open file spatial data
- do the coordinate definitions
- separate vector and raster data from each others
- edit the appearance of the map objects and make thematic maps
- search map objects and save the results as separate files (layers)
- save and transfer data with gps device

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student can in addition to previous mentioned:
- edit map objects and update attribute data
- utilize searching functions for efficient use of spatial data
- produce vector data
- rectify raster images
- maintains data of different coordinate system

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student can apply previous mentioned skills and elementary analysis tools in problem solving.