SOIL&WAT 3020WT - GIS for Agriculture & Natural Resource III
Waite Campus - Winter - 2016
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code SOIL&WAT 3020WT Course GIS for Agriculture & Natural Resource III Coordinating Unit School of Biological Sciences Term Winter Level Undergraduate Location/s Waite Campus Units 3 Contact 10 days intensive during Winter semester Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Incompatible SOIL&WAT3007WT & SOIL&WAT 3014WT Assessment Practical exercises, written exam, research project Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Bertram Ostendorf
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
A successful student in this course should be able to:
1 Understand the GIS concept in an interdisciplinary setting 2 Understanding of the basic concepts of precision agriculture 3 Understand spatial variability of the biophysical environment and how it affects the sustainable use of natural resources 4 Knowledge of the GIS marketplace and the different tools that are available 5 Skill to use ArcGIS for spatial data preparation, analysis and visualisation 6 In-depth skills of vector and raster processing 7 Demonstrate an understanding of how airborne and spaceborne imaging sensors can provide spatial information for landscape management 8 Show proficiency in integrating GIS data analysis with simple statistical analysis 9 Demonstrated ability to conceptualise, plan and conduct scientific research in the area of agriculture and natural resource management 10 Demonstrated ability for independent, critical and creative research 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
7-10 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
9-10 Career and leadership readiness
- technology savvy
- professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
- forward thinking and well informed
- tested and validated by work based experiences
9-10 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
10 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
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Learning & Teaching Activities
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 course consists of 2 weeks of intensive lecture/practical sessions followed by independent research work.Learning Activities Summary
Schedule Lecture Lecture/Practical Day 1 Introduction to GIS Getting Started with ArcGIS
Challenge: Examine spatial precision agriculture data on the computer and create a first mapDay 2 Creating Map Symbology
Referencing Data to Real Locations
Challenge: Align yield data to spatial information from SA governmentDay 3 Organising Geographic Data
Creating and Editing Data
Challenge: Create a new layer of soil pHDay 4 Getting Started with GIS Analysis Working with Geoprocessing and Modelling Tools Day 5 Using GIS in Agricultural research
Review and mid-term examDay 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: Linking ArcGIS and Google EarthDay 7 Topographic Analysis Practical Map Algebra Analysing Surfaces
Challenge: Comparing apples and oranges – normalising yield maps and linking GIS data with statistical models in ExcelDay 8 Interpolation Interpolating Raster Surfaces
Challenge (to be completed on day 9): Generating soil attribute surfaces and evaluating the results using residualsDay 9 Spatial Statistics Mapping Distance and Density
Using Cell, Neighbourhood, and Zonal StatisticsDay 10 Introduction to projects
Review and final exam -
Assessment
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 Due Weighting Hurdle Learning Outcome Practicals Formative & Summative Daily submissions
33% No 1-9 Exam Summative Day 5 & 10 33% No 1-10 Research Project Formative & Summative 34% No 1-10 Assessment Detail
Practicals (33% of total marks):
Several short online multiple choice quizzes (false answers show web links to lecture material, quizzes can be repeated until successful). Daily submission of practical reports – results will be discussed in class the next morning
Exams (33% of total marks):
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)
Research Project (34%)
Part 1 Project Design (10% of total marks for research project):
The research project is chosen by the student. Students are required to conceptualise and design a small research project to apply and deepen the GIS skills. Project ideas, creativity and research design will be evaluated at 10%
Part 2 Project report (24% of total marks for research project)
Students are required to conduct and communicate GIS-based research through a written report. The report needs to include an introduction with citations from the literature, methods, results and conclusions. Students will receive individual support and feedback on the progress of their research project.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 assignmentCourse 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 .
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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.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
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