GISCI 341 : Remote Sensing of Surface Processes
Science
2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Using the power of earth observation, from drone to satellite, we will explore the latest methods that allow us to monitor, evaluate, and affect the world in which we live. The tools applied in this course are Google Earth Engine, Open Drone Mapper and Python. They are used to look at everything from economic activity, and climate change, to disaster response.
A key focus of this course is how we can generate actionable information to empower change for good. This course is highly applied and will give you skills that are valuable in industry. To fix things, you need to know where they are- and what the problem is- in the first place. You will also have the chance to fly a drone!
This course builds on skills learned in GISCI 241, or those that you may have learned in (programming) courses elsewhere in your studies. Do ask for a concession if you have not done GISCI 241 but are interested in this course and are comfortable working in a programmatic manner. You will need to be comfortable with independent learning to solve problems. We provide all the foundations you need- but specific solutions may well require you to seek them out.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Understand and explain physical principles and concepts underlying common forms of remote sensing (Capability 3 and 4)
- Develop expertise in applying remote sensing to assess changing landscapes and patterns of human activity. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)
- Identify and critically assess the needs of solving real-world problems in terms of the best data available and data analysis methods. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Identify, critique and evaluate how remote sensing data can be formatted, cleaned, and imported into a project framework that both brings together diverse data sources and communicates an outcome to non-specialists. (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
- Evaluate a range of methods for their weaknesses, biases, and potential power in order to derive actionable information for change. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratories | 70% | Individual Coursework |
| Project | 30% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| 2 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
| Project | ||||||||||
Special Requirements
You must complete (i.e. hand in and pass) a minimum of 50% of the laboratories in order to pass the course. The labs are the primary learning method of this course and completion of them is essential to your success and ability to use the skills.
Tuākana
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures per week and a weekly 2-hour laboratory. Additional time will be spent on assigned readings and completing assignments and the project. Each lab will take the typical student more than just the 2 hours assigned time to complete and is considered part of the 'reading' time of the course.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Lectures will be available as recordings, but the second half of the lecture slot will often be an interactive lesson that online-only viewers will struggle to get full value from. Other learning activities, including labs, will not be available as recordings. We will be building a course culture and learning experience that is centered on being present as a community/cohort. The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
There are two, free, key text books for the course:
- Cloud Based Remote Sensing with Google Earth Engine: https://www.eefabook.org/
- Remote Sensing Fundamentals: https://www.eoa.org.au/earth-observation-textbooks
Further readings and material will be provided during the course.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
This course uses a 360 feedback approach. During the semester this is handled by the course reps. At the end of the course we run a feedback session where you have a chance to both give and receive feedback on all elements of the course.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.