Environmental applications of geographical information systems (GIS) (5 cr)

Objective

You are able to explain what geographic information, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS) and global position systems (GNSS, GPS) are, and how they are used in environmental monitoring and research. You are able to use and make digital maps, collect spatial data, manage and edit geographic information and make information queries to environmental data archives and analyse data in meaningful ways.

Content

What is geographical information like? What are geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS) and global positioning systems (GNSS/GPS)?
What are the principles, applications and trends of geographic information systems and sciences?
How to visualize spatial data? How to make digital maps, data conversions, geo databases, data queries and data extraction? How to collect spatial data?
How can GIS, RS and GNSS/GPS be used in environmental engineering?

Evaluation

Students can
a. use professional vocabulary and concepts in an expert way in different situations.
b. evaluate information sources critically.
e. choose appropriate models, methods, software and techniques according to the purpose and justify these choices.
g. apply critically the ethical principles of the professional field in different situations.

Course material

The material presented and provided via e-platform of the course. Self-acquired materials.

Study forms and methods

Scheduled track: Participate in exercises, teaching and supervision in accordance with the schedule. (Limited possibilities for self-studying and distance learning are presented in the beginning of the course.)

Student workload

Classroom education for 45 hours, and independent work 90 hours. The total workload 135 hours.

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment methods and criteria

The evaluation is based on course assignments. Detailed evaluation methods and evaluation criteria are shown in the beginning of the course.