45150 - Geographic Information Systems

Learning outcomes

Students learn about the main satellite platforms and sensors for Earth Observation, are introduced to ArcGIS and apply a number of commands through a set of lab exercises dealing with Earth Surface dynamics

Course contents

1. Geographic Information Systems as tools for integrating georeferenced data collected across spatial and temporal scales;

2. Raster data, Digital Terrain Models and main topographic variables for the quantitative analysis of the Earth's Surface;

3. Vector-based data for building geo-referenced inventories and performing digital mapping;

4. Aerial photographs, staellite imagery and mapping applications;

5. Multi-temporal mapping for documenting environmental change (e.g., land use, landslide activity, active channel width, glacier change and rock glacier inventories for permafrost evaluation);

6. LiDAR technology for the acquisition of high-resolution digital topography: DTM and DSM.

7. Digital drainage basins and drainage networks;

8. Topographic curvature and surface roughness;

9. Practical examples of remote sensing for compiling geomorphic databases;

10. Integrating remotely sensed, field based and geophysical data;

11. Geomorphic Change Detection applied to sequential Digital Terrain Models.

Readings/Bibliography

Readings and lectures posted online.

Teaching methods

Lectures and six GIS lab sessions. Students are distributed in alphabetical order in two groups.

Lab 1 - Introduction to ArcCatalogues, ArcMap and ArcToolbox.

Lab 2 - Introduction to basic operations on raster and vector-based files.

Lab 3 - Multi-temporal mapping of Ventina glacier and climate change assessment.

Lab 4 - Digital delineation of drainage basins and automated extraction of fluvial channel networks.

Lab 5 - Working with geomorphometric parameters: topographic curvature and surface roughness.

Lab 6 - Group project (students work in teams of two) - Historical multi-temporal mapping (e.g., landslides, rivers, glaciers, rock glaciers, coast lines, land use) and quantitative analysis of geomorphic change. Students select an Italian study area and map changes on WMS-based imagery and Google Earth.

Assessment methods

Report 1: a guided report summarizing the main products and outcomes obtained during the labs (40%);

Digital oral presentation in class and discussion of the work conducted by groups in lab 6 (35%);

Report 2: report based on the group project (25%).

Teaching tools

Computer-based video projections and interactive group presentations/discussions.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Brardinoni