91120 GIS and Remote Sensing
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09072 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Bachelor of Science OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09073 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Bachelor of Science Diploma Professional Engineering Practice OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10073 Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Science OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10074 Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Science Diploma Engineering Practice OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10126 Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Laws OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10162 Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Business OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10223 Bachelor of Environmental Biology OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10227 Bachelor of Environmental Forensics OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10228 Bachelor of Marine Biology and Climate Change OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10242 Bachelor of Science OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10243 Bachelor of Science Bachelor of International Studies OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10330 Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10347 Bachelor of Advanced Science OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09085 Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Laws (Honours) OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10399 Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Sustainability and Environment OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10422 Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Languages and Cultures
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Requisite elaboration/waiver:
This subject must be taken in the final year of a course within the School of Life Sciences or students must have achieved at least 72 credit points of completed undergraduate study coursework.
Recommended studies:
basic familiarity with mathematic concepts and statistics
Description
Understanding the new landscape of science in which environmental and natural resource researchers and managers work with geospatial technologies is fundamental to any career in environmental science. Increasingly, employers of environmental scientists seek employees with geospatial skills that are essential in sustainable management of water, energy, pollution, forests, croplands, oceans and assessments of human impacts on the environment.
This subject provides students with a basic understanding of geospatial tools and technologies and their applications in environmental sciences and resource management. Geographical information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and digital image processing are employed and applied to the characterisation of ecological landscapes, aquatic systems, biodiversity, disturbance events, and environmental health. In the GIS stream, students learn one of the most widely used GIS software packages, ArcGIS, in industry and science. In the remote sensing stream, students learn the basic physical principles of satellite earth observation systems and process digital satellite images for environmental monitoring applications. Experience on how to input data obtained by remote sensing (as well as other sources) into a GIS is also gained. Students apply their geospatial knowledge in solving hypothetical and real natural resource and environmental management problems in Australia and internationally.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Demonstrate a sound knowledge and understanding of the use and application of geospatial technologies for environmental science applications |
|---|---|
| 2. | Demonstrate basic skills in the operation of GIS software |
| 3. | Describe the process of data collection for GIS purposes, including GPS, satellite imagery, topographic maps, scanned photographs, etc |
| 4. | Apply geovisualisation methods to convey environmental spatial information |
| 5. | Design and develop a GIS project for natural resources and environmental management applications |
| 6. | Utilise satellite measurements (thermal, radar, Lidar, optical) and assess appropriate sensor resolutions for monitoring the dynamics and health of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems |
| 7. | Process satellite images in the spatial, spectral, and temporal domains (filtering, time series analyses, classification, pattern recognition) |
| 8. | Articulate GIS models related to spatially distributed natural phenomena and their evolution through time |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate theoretical and technical knowledge of the principles of biodiversity and ecosystem function and evaluate and integrate principles of sustainability and conservation to protect biodiversity. (1.1)
- Critically evaluate scientific evidence and literature and apply effective and appropriate experimental design and analytical techniques to discover and hypothesise solutions to new and emerging environmental issues. (2.1)
- Demonstrate professionalism, including personal organisation, autonomy, teamwork, literacy and quantitative skills, while ensuring due consideration to ethical guidelines, work health and safety and environmental impact requirements. (3.1)
- Evaluate evolving concepts in environmental science and apply scientific skills to design creative solutions to contemporary or complex environmental issues by incorporating innovative methods, reflective practices, and self-directed learning. (4.1)
- Communicate effectively and professionally (oral, written, visual), generating defensible, convincing arguments for relaying research findings or articulating complex issues, concepts or skill around environmental science, within a multi-disciplinary setting. (5.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject primarily addresses the following graduate attributes that the Faculty of Science at UTS aims to develop in students during their course.
1. Disciplinary knowledge
In this subject you will gain an understanding of geospatial sciences and analyses as applied to the characterisation of ecological systems and environmental phenomena in space and time. This will be achieved using geovisualisation techniques, mathematical and statistical descriptions, and geospatial tools (GIS, GPS, remote sensing, imaging sensors, and use of land cover, land use and socio-ecologic maps). You will learn about these topics and knowledge in the foundation lectures, readings, and practical assignments. Learning of these topics will be assessed through lecture assignments and practical-based quizzes.
2. Research, Inquiry and Critical Thinking
This subject will enable you to better understand the rapidly evolving field of geospatial technologies, and prepare you to draw connections across broad fields of knowledge and relate this knowledge to complex real-world situations. In this subject, you will be tasked to formulate questions, search appropriate GIS models, data and data visualisation tools, imaging sensors, and perform problem solving analyses in the context of geospatial science. An understanding of the scientific method of knowledge acquisition and appreciation of problems and benefits of using GIS and remote sensing to address and solve environmental problems will be obtained by critical examination of case studies and complex environmental questions. The process of formulating and successfully testing a scientific hypothesis is learned through the practice of guided practical exercises of increasing complexity. This aspect of the subject will be assessed through written mid-semester and final scientific reports.
3. Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility
In this subject you will acquire a broad range of skills in the geospatial sciences, including computer skills in the use of GIS and image processing of remote sensing data. You will also be able to query and analyse geospatial data while developing computing, quantitative and graphical literacy skills. These skills will be assessed through the computer-based quizzes and lecture-based assignments as well as in the final written scientific report. Your training in manipulating geospatial datasets will provide you with an improved understanding of the vast array of environmental geospatial applications from evaluating environmental change, mitigating natural disasters, to investigation of the sustainability of land and freshwater resource practices. The ability to communicate complex geospatial information and findings through visual graphics to a lay audience will be assessed through the assignments and scientific written reports. You should be prepared to spend a significant amount of time for this subject as practising these skills is the only way to learn them. To become proficient in geospatial skills (GIS, remote sensing) is to actually often requires much “trial and error” work, which requires a high level of investment in time.
4. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity
In this subject you will be asked to reflect, integrate and synthesise newly acquired skills and knowledge, from both the labs and lectures, into your Final Scientific Report and to a lesser extent in some of your practical/lecture assignments. You will be asked how geospatial tools and knowledge can be applied to contemporary environmental problems and current news events. In the computer labs, you will be asked how the newly learnt skills can be extended, beyond the computer exercise, and applied to more complex and real-life environmental issues. The ability to reflect, synthesise and creatively propose geospatial solutions to the environment will be assessed in through the scientific written reports and practical assignments.
5. Communication
Good written communication is fundamental to any scientific career. Written skills are assessed with a project outline and proposal submitted as a mid-semester report (with instructor feedback provided) and one final scientific report. You will be assessed on your written skills and ability to scientifically describe, visually and graphically convey, interpret, synthesize, and discuss your geospatial layers of information and research results. This is assessed through the scientific written reports.
Teaching and learning strategies
This 6-credit point subject is offered as a set of lectures, self-directed pre-work computer activities, in-class discussions based on case studies, and computer practicals. These are supplemented with a recommended textbook and online reference reading materials, along with your own independent reading. As GIS is a computationally-intensive field, the computer work is the core learning component of this subject.
Each week, a short lecture or video (provided on Canvas) will provide you with theoretical background and case-study applications of the week’s computer exercises. Watching and reflecting on the lecture and video material is essential preparation for each week’s computer class, and will help you to understand the practical context of the exercises.
The computer classes are run in small class groups with an instructor who has practical expertise in GIS research. Full instructions and assistance are provided, and during the computer classes students will have opportunities to collaborate on some exercises to master the GIS software and analyses. These practicals enable you to be active in your learning as you practice using one of the leading GIS software packages commercially available to scientists, industry and government organisations. Completion of the exercises is assessed, and real-time feedback is available during the classes. Additionally, you are strongly encouraged to use the computer labs as often as possible outside of class time for independent or collaborative learning to go over the exercises and repeat procedures until you are confident that you can navigate the software, produce maps and analyse data without the support of the instructions in the hand-outs.
The major project for this subject will be completed outside of formal class time: developing your GIS skills with the group of 4–5 students with whom you will complete your project is recommended.The collaborative research project is a key learning component of 91120. You will work closely with a small group of your peers to develop a workplace-realistic geospatial research proposal, including hypothesis formulation, locating data sets and determining appropriate analyses, with the option of running the analysis to produce a useable geospatial output product. You will work on the research project predominantly outside of class time, and may seek regular feedback, advice and assistance during the weekly computer classes and by email correspondence with the laboratory demonstrators.
You will find lecture hand-outs, data sets and detailed instructions for the computer practicals and additional material in Canvas and ESRI e-training. You are encouraged to ask questions and to contribute to class discussions during the practical classes and face-to-face lectures (if applicable). You are strongly encouraged to form study groups, to collaborate in finding information and answers to questions, and to maintain regular contact with the Subject Coordinator using email and Canvas resources.
Feedback on your work is offered throughout 91120, including face-to-face every week for the computer exercises (which start from the first week of semester, ensuring that you receive feedback early on in your GIS learning process), after the class software tests, and in written form for the major project.
Content (topics)
In this subject you will learn about basic concepts of geographical information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and image processing, including definitions, applications and software. The subject starts with basic fundamental geospatial principles under both GIS and remote sensing streams. Topics include spatial data analyses, logical construction of databases, topology, georeferencing, GIS spatial models, pattern recognition, physical principles of remote sensing, thermal, radar, lidar, optics, and digital image processing.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Computer lab exercises/ quizzes
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, Inquiry and Critical Thinking 3. Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 45% |
| Length: | Lab quiz is 2 hours |
| Criteria: | Correctness of answers; Computer-skills acquired; Soundness of interpretations and conclusions; Accuracy of calculations, plots, and other presentation (this test is based on ArcGIS software). |
Assessment task 2: Lecture Assignments
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, Inquiry and Critical Thinking 3. Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility 4. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity 5. Communication skills |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 25% |
| Criteria: | Clarity of answers (English, spelling); Correctness of information reported; Accuracy of calculations, maps, plots, and other graphics. Ability to ask and formulate questions appropriate to spatial data. Most exercises include a short discussion, where you will reflect on the assignment objectives, the nature of spatial data in a GIS and remote sensing context, and its benefits and usefulness to environmental problems and society. |
Assessment task 3: Written Scientific Final Report
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, Inquiry and Critical Thinking 3. Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility 4. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity 5. Communication skills |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Criteria: | The Scientific report is assessed at 60% for group effort and 40% based on individual contributions (as identified by the group, submitted as an individual written reflection along with the report). The overall assessment is based on: - Framing of geospatial data questions; - Incorporation of feedback provided in task 2 practical assignments; - appropriate use of data to answer questions and problem solve; - appropriateness of the analytical methods to answer the question; - accuracy of data and maps processed; - how well the results were interpreted and discussion associated in context of the questions posed and literature findings; - a demonstrated understanding of context and the ability to apply different tools to a given problem; - a demonstrated understanding of how GIS and remote sensing tools address the needs of society in context of the chosen topic; - organisation and clarity (English and spelling); - adherence to guidelines and outline protocol (assessment rubric provided to students, along with exemplar reports). |
Minimum requirements
As a minimum requirement to pass this subject, students must complete and submit ALL assessment tasks, obtain a mark equivalent to 40% of the maximum mark possible for the project reports, and achieve a total of no less than 50% for the subject.
As a practice-based subject, attendance at all practicals is a requirement. Practical attendance is assessed through submission of activity questions after each practical.
Required texts
- Introduction to Geographical Information Systems EBook, Heywood, Ian ; Cornelius, Sarah ; Carver, Steve 2011, ISBN:9780273722595
- CRCSI (2021). Earth Observation: Data, Processing and Applications. Volume 3A: Applications— Terrestrial Vegetation, Harrison, B.A., Gibson, R., Bastin, G., Thackway, R., Huete, A., Donald, G., Lyons, M., Sparks, T., Byrne, G., Lewis, M.M., and Xie, Q., <https://www.eoa.org.au/earth-observation-textbooks>
- CRCSI (2016) Earth Observation: Data, Processing and Applications. Volume 1A: Data—Basics and Acquisition. (Eds. Harrison, B.A., Jupp, D.L.B., Lewis, M.M., Forster, B.C., Mueller, N., Smith, C., Phinn, S., Hudson, D., Grant, I., Coppa, I.) CRCSI, Melbourne, <https://www.eoa.org.au/earth-observation-textbooks>
- Longley, P. 2005, Geographical information systems and science, 2nd edn, Wiley, Chichester.
- Vegetation dynamics : a synthesis of plant ecophysiology, remote sensing and modelling, Eamus, Huete, Yu (Eds) 2015, ISBN : 9781107054202
Recommended texts
- Earth Observation Textbooks (Volumes 1,2, 3), <https://www.eoa.org.au/earth-observation-textbooks> Availability - free from the web.
- Bolstad, P. 2012, GIS Fundamentals: A First Text on Geographic Information Systems, 4th edn, Eider Press, White Bear Lake, Minn.
- Chuvieco, E. & Huete, A. 2010, Fundamentals of satellite remote sensing, CRC Press, Boca Raton.
- Jensen, J. R. 2000, Remote sensing of the environment: an earth resource perspective, Upper Saddle River, Prentice Hall, N.J., London, Prentice-Hall International.
- Short, N.M. 1999, Remote Sensing Tutorial, <http://www.fas.org/irp/imint/docs/rst/index.html> Availability - free from the web.
- Geospatial Analysis - A comprehensive guide, http://www.spatialanalysisonline.com/
- ArcGIS Online Tutorial http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help../index.html#/ArcGIS_tutorials/00v20000000t000000/
- Hershey, Pa. 2013, Geographic information systems concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications, : IGI Global (701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, USA), ISBN 9781466620391 (ebook)
- Van Sickle, J. 2004, Basic GIS coordinates, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., ISBN 9780203491485 (e-book : PDF)
- Kennedy, M. 2002, Global Positioning System and GIS an Introduction, CRC Press, London, ISBN 0203301064 (electronic bk.), 9780203301067 (electronic bk.)
- An introduction to GIS applications, [London] : Teachers TV/UK Department of Education, 2010
References
As provided on Canvas when appropriate.
Other resources
Computer ArcGIS self-training modules, known as ESRI Training, are provided through ESRI registration. Information and practice data available on Canvas and within ESRI Training.