75555 - Remote Sensing and Geographycal Information Systems for Land Analysis

Academic Year 2018/2019

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Geology and Land Management (cod. 8027)

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 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, and glacier extent);

6. LiDAR technology for acquisition of high-resolution digital topography;

7. Digital drainage basins and networks;

8. Topographic curvature and roughness;

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

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

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 (students work in teams of two) - Multi-temporal mapping of active channel width for the assessment of historical trends of fluvial change. Students select an Italian river system and map changes of WMS-based imagery.

Assessment methods

Midterm test (optional) consisting on an ArcGIS exercise (25%);

Report 1: a guided report summarizing the main outcomes obtained in labs 3, 4 and 5 (25%);

Short oral presentation of the work conducted by groups in lab 6 (10%) and written report (Report 2: 30%);

Final oral exam (10%);

If no Midterm assessment is available: supplementary final ArcGIS exercise (25%)

Teaching tools

Computer-based video projections

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Brardinoni