Geographical information systems, 15 credits

Contents

The course provides advanced knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing, primarily with applications within environmental science, including ecology and geoscience.
The course focuses on theoretical knowledge within GIS and remote sensing, in addition to practical applications of various GIS programs in order to process and analyse various types of spatial data including raster and vector data and to create maps. The course assumes that the student has a basic understanding of the following aspects within GIS and remote sensing: projections and coordinate systems, basic processing of vector and raster data including creation of files, selections from attribute tables, editing of vector data and attribute tables, digitizing new vector files raster math and georeferencing. The course focuses on processing and various types of analyses of GIS and remote sensing data, including digital elevation models, satellite imagery, interpolations, spatial modelling, etc.
Data will be obtained and handled during the course from various digital databases, maps, orthophotos, and GPS points. Various types of digital data are included as course material, including from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), the Swedish Land Survey (LM), the Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences (SLU), and the European Space Agency Copernicus Earth Observation program.

The course is divided into two modules of 10 ECTS and 5 ECTS.
Module 1:
Theoretical elements: focus on understanding the theory behind GIS analyses and how they are used in scientific studies, through lectures and seminars.
Practical exercises focus on learning to conduct advanced spatial analyses in various GIS software.
Module 2:
Project: Includes a project where the students obtain their own spatial data to answer their own research question.

Expected learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student will be able to:
Module 1 (10 ECTS): Theory and Practice of GIS
ELO 1: Show an understanding of theoretical GIS concepts and terms, be able to describe how various analyses are built, and describe how to theoretically plan and solve a spatial problem.
ELO 2: Show an understanding of, carry out, and report practical GIS analyses for ecological and geoscience questions.
ELO 3: Show an understanding of and describe various mapping techniques to effectively present spatial data.
ELO 4: Discuss and show an understanding of spatial questions and how GIS analyses are used within scientific studies

Module 2 (5 ECTS): Project work
ELO 5: Be able to obtain data to independently answer a scientific question based on analyses of spatial data
ELO 6: Present a project using effective text, maps, and presentation techniques

Required Knowledge

Diversity of Nature, 15 ECTS, Earth Science 15 ECTS and Ecology 15 ECTS, or GIS 7,5 ECTS. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English 6/level 2.

Form of instruction

Teaching is in the form of lectures, labs, seminars, and a project. The labs, seminars, and project work are obligatory.

Examination modes

Examination of module 1 is done through written or oral presentations of labs and participation in weekly seminars. The grades of Fail (U) or Pass (G) are given on the labs. The grades of Fail (U), Pass (G), or Pass with Distinction (VG) are given for module 1 on the overall performance in the labs and active participation in the seminars. Module 2 examines through an oral presentation and written report of the project. The grades of Fail (U), Pass (G), or Pass with Distinction (VG) are given on the project. Grades for the entire course are only given when all mandatory modules have been completed and approved and the grade Pass with Distinction is given when both module 1 and 2 are graded Pass with Distinction. Students who have passed an examination may not take a new examination for a higher grade. A student who has passed two examinations for a course or part of a course without a passing result has the right to have another examiner appointed unless there are special reasons against it (HF chapter 6, § 22). The request for a new examiner is made to the head of the Department of Ecology & Environmental Science (EMG).

For students who have a recommendation of support for students with disabilities the examiner may decide on individual adaption of examination modes set out in the course syllabus. Individual adaption of examination modes must always be considered based on the student's specific needs and the framework of the intended learning outcomes in the course syllabus. For more information, see Procedure for support for students with disabilities and Rules for grades and examination.

Crediting
Students have the right to have their previous education or equivalent knowledge and skills acquired in the profession tested whether it can be credited for the corresponding course at Umeå University. Application for credit is submitted to the Student Centre / Examinations. For more information on credit transfer available on Umeå University's student web, www.student.umu.se, and the Higher Education Ordinance (Chapter 6). A refusal of accreditation may be appealed against (Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 12) to the University Appeals Board. This applies to the whole as well as part of the application if accreditation is refused.

Transitional provisions

Rules for grades and examination govern what applies regarding retakes when a course has been discontinued or a syllabus has undergone major changes.