Unit (2020)
Information on this page, including unit offerings, is from the 2020 academic year.
GIS for Environmental Management and Planning (ENV303)
| Organisational Unit | Environmental and Conservation Sciences |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Availability | MURDOCH: S2-internal (quota of 70 places), S2-external (quota of 20 places) |
| Teaching Timetables | Murdoch S2 |
| Description | A hands-on introduction to geographical information systems (GIS) and remote sensing as used in environmental management and planning. This course encourages spatial thinking and understanding of the physical and human environments, explores geographic data sources and focuses on basic skills in spatial data analysis. Topics:data sources, spatial data analysis, map construction, GPS, image classification, change detection, cartographic modelling and demographic data sets and analysis. Practical work includes exercises and a minor team-based or individual research project. |
| Unit Learning Outcomes | On successful completion of the unit you should be able to: 1. Have an operational familiarity with GIS and remote sensing having received instruction in the underlying theory and worked through several example exercises. 2. Use your skill and understanding of the subject to undertake modest projects using GIS and remote sensing. |
| Timetabled Learning Activities | Lectures: 2 hours per week; laboratories: 3 hours per week. |
| Unit Learning Experiences | Students learn the theory and applications of GIS and remote sensing through lectures, reading material and answering assignment questions. Practical, computer-based activities give students the opportunity to develop some proficiency in GIS and image analyses. Through a series of guided exercises, students explore a range of applications of GIS and remote sensing in environmental science. Assignments are aimed at practical, hands-on learning and problem solving through the use of software and by applying knowledge gained from lectures and reading material. The final exam tests students on the theory, from lectures and reading material, and their ability to design projects that use GIS and/or remote sensing to meet an environmental management goal. Through the unit website students have access to recorded lectures, pre-lab demonstrations, readings, datasets, and discussion tools. |
| Assessment | Assessments consist of within-term practical components (3 GIS exercises [combined 30% of the overall mark], practical test [15%], GIS project [15%]) and a final exam covering theory (40%). Most of the timetabled lab sessions are devoted to self-paced work on the GIS exercises and project. A passing mark must be achieved in both the combined practical components and the theory component to pass the unit. Students will receive detailed feedback on the practical assessments as to where and why marks were lost. Feedback on the final exam will be provided through consultation with the unit coordinators, on request. |
| Prerequisites | Completion of 24 points or enrolment in an appropriate graduate qualification. |
| Exclusions | Students who have successfully completed ENV203 or ENV503 GIS for Environmental Management and Planning may not enrol in this unit for credit. |
| Notes | Off-campus students must have access to suitable computing facilities, preferably Windows-based computer though Apple computers with Virtual PC and Windows OS are also suitable. |
| Quota | This unit is subject to quota. Availability of suitable computer labs and teaching staff are the main factors limiting our capacity to accept more students. Preference will be given to students enrolled in courses for which this is a core unit, followed by other EC&S students. |
| Appears in these Courses/Majors: see individual structures for context |
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| Appears in these Minors | Fisheries Science Resource Management |
| Internet Access Requirements | Murdoch units normally include an online component comprising materials, discussions, lecture recordings and assessment activities. All students, regardless of their location or mode of study, need to have access to and be able to use computing devices with browsing capability and a connection to the Internet via Broadband (Cable, ADSL or Mobile) or Wireless. The Internet connection should be readily available and allow large amounts of data to be streamed or downloaded (approximately 100MB per lecture recording). Students also need to be able to enter into online discussions and submit assignments online. |
Contacts
| Unit Coordinator | |
|---|---|
| ENV303 | Dr Halina Kobryn Senior Lecturer Environmental Science Murdoch Campus t: 9360 2411 e: H.Kobryn@murdoch.edu.au o: 340.3.034 - Physical Sciences, Murdoch Campus | Unit Contacts |
| ENV303 MURDOCH: S2-External MURDOCH: S2-Internal | Dr Halina Kobryn Senior Lecturer Environmental Science Murdoch Campus t: 9360 2411 e: H.Kobryn@murdoch.edu.au o: 340.3.034 - Physical Sciences, Murdoch Campus |