SOIL&WAT 7007WT - GIS for Environmental Management

Waite Campus - Summer - 2016

The course deals with concepts and theory of geographic information systems and their use for environmental mapping, spatial modelling and analysis. Topics covered include the relationship of GIS models to real world perception and map representation, vector and raster systems; spatial modelling; translation of problems into GIS procedures; attribute manipulation and recoding, operations including arithmetic and Boolean overlay, reclassification, proximity and neighbourhood analyses; input of data to GIS; database structures; interpolation of surfaces form point and vector data; applications and case studies. Practical work uses PC-based software to teach basic skills in GIS data entry, analysis and output, emphasising a problem-solving approach through environmental and agricultural GIS case studies.

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Course Details

Course Code	SOIL&WAT 7007WT
Course	GIS for Environmental Management
Coordinating Unit	School of Biological Sciences
Term	Summer
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	Waite Campus
Units	3
Contact	15 days during the Summer vacation
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Incompatible	SOIL&WAT 3014WT
Assessment	Practical exercises, case study, written exam

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Bertram Ostendorf

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

Course Learning Outcomes

A successful student in this course should be able to:

1	Understand GIS concepts in an interdisciplinary setting
2	Identify and source data for use in evidence-based decision making in environmental management;
3	Apply ArcGIS for spatial data preparation, analysis and visualisation with in-depth skills of vector and raster processing;
4	Use airborne and space-borne imagery to characterise the biophysical environment at landscape and regional scales;
5	Demontrate proficiency in integrating GIS data analysis with simple statistical analysis;
6	Demonstrate ability to conduct a GIS research project in the area of environmental management.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Deep discipline knowledge informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1 accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)	1-6
Critical thinking and problem solving steeped in research methods and rigor based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment	3,6
Teamwork and communication skills developed from, with, and via the SGDE honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning	6
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	1-6
Intercultural and ethical competency adept at operating in other cultures comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges	6
Self-awareness and emotional intelligence a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate	6

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Texts - Online through Adelaide University Library:
Encyclopedia of GIS http://www.springerlink.com/content/978-0-387-30858-6
Book series: Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography
http://www.springerlink.com/content/1863-2246/

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course consists of 2 weeks intensive lecture/practical sessions followed by independent research work.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The subject consists of 2 weeks of intensive lecture/practical sessions followed by independent research work

Learning Activities Summary

Schedule
	Lecture	Lecture/Practical
Day 1	Intoduction to GIS Introduction to practicals	Getting Started with ArcGIS Challenge: Examine spatial data on the computer and create first map without detailed instructions
Day 2		Creating Map Symbology Referencing Data to Real Locations Challenge: Align different sources of environmental baseline information
Day 3	Organizing Geographic Data	Creating and Editing Data Challenge (to be continued on day 4): Download a recent MODIS satellite imagery and create an up-to-date land-use map of the North Para Catchment Day 4 Getting Started with GIS Analysis
Day 4		Getting Started with GIS Analysis Working with Geo-processing and Modelling Tools Designing Maps with ArcGIS
Day 5	Using GIS in Environmental Management	Review and mid-term exam
Day 6	Introduction to Rasters and the Spatial Analyst	Getting Started with ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Working with Rasters / Displaying Rasters in ArcMap Working with Rasters / Managing Raster Data Challenge (to be continued on day 7) Create a new rainfall map from a photocopy of a book – geo-register this map and calculate rainfall/runoff statistics for North Para
Day 7	Topographic Analysis	Analysing Surfaces Map Algebra
Day 8	Interpolation GPS	Interpolating Raster Surfaces Challenge: Using Topography and raster analysis to characterise biophysical environmental properties
Day 9	Spatial Statistics	Mapping Distance and Density Using Cell, Neighbourhood, and Zonal Statistics Challenge: Using own data - estimate joint distributions of rainfall and land-use in the North Para Catchment
Day 10	Introduction to projects	Review and final exam

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Percentage of total assessment for grading	Hurdle Yes/No	Learning Outcome	Due date
Practicals	Formative & Summative	33%	No	1-6	Submitted daily
Mid term exam	Formative & Summative	8%	No	1,2	Day 5
Exam	Summative	25%	No	1-6	Day 10
Reseach Project	Formative & Summative	34%	No	6	Mid-Semester

Assessment Detail

Practicals: 33% of total grades
There is the requirement for daily submission of practical reports. The results will be discussed in class the next morning.

Exams: 33% of total grades
Mid-term exam on day 5, online, open book, internet usage permitted (8% of final grade)
Final exam on day 10, online, open book, internet usage permitted (25% of final grade)

Project: 34% of total grades
Students will conduct an independent research project to apply and deepen the GIS skills. Several research topics will be provided but students are encouraged to define their own topics of interest and start to liaise with industry and government. Research projects will be supported individually during the semester.

Submission

Late Submission
If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through .

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

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Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator

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