73191 - Digital Mapping and GIS

Learning outcomes

Providing knowledge on modern digital cartography and its production by optical and multispectral satellite images, aerial and uav. Bases of Remote Sensing and high resolution satellite images. Knowledge of cartography available in Italy at national and regional level. Cartographic recognition and use of free GIS software.

Course contents

The student who accesses this course knows the basic elements of the topography: reference surfaces, surveying techniques, basic elements of statistical treatment of measurements, representation of the mapping data, Italian cartography. Such knowledge is acquired, normally, passing the Topography course.

Cartography

Cartographic Mapping. Generality on the problem of representation. Deformation of a map. Sustainable deformations for a map at scale 1:n. Analytical approach to cartographic mapping.

The italian cartography. Regional technical and big scale cartography. Regional topographic database.

Digital data representation: raster and vector form and some exchange standard format.

Digitalization and scanning of existing cartography.

Georeferencing process. Principal transformation models useful to georeferencing and parameters estimate method.

Photogrammetry for the production of digital cartography.

Elements of photogrammetry and laser scanning. Coordinate systems in photogrammetry. The central projection and projective transformation. The "normal case" in stereopair processing; evaluations of errors.

Photographic equipment and techniques (analogic and digital systems), color theory. Geometrical and radiometrical characteristics for digital acquisition, digital images, image processing and analysis. Metric and semi-metric film-based cameras.

Interior orientation. The calibration of non metric digital cameras.

Exterior orientation: of a single image, of a stereopair in two stages, of a stereopair in a single stage. The survey of the Ground Control Points. The Photogrammetric Triangulation by independent models and by bundle block adjustment.

The photogrammetric restitution by means of stereoscopic and monoscopic digital photogrammetric workstations; rectification of digital images.

The digital images and the image matching procedures.

Numerical cartography

General characteristics of numerical cartography.

Nominal scale concept. Metrical contents. Informative contents. Inventory of conventional signs.

Phases of digital map production

Coding, production, maintenance and updating.

Geographic Information Systems

G.I.S. general information. Models. Functionalities. Geometrical component and alphanumeric data.

Geographical data management through a GIS system.

QGIS software presentation and practice.

Practice lessons

Interpretation of coordinates on cartography maps on different scale.

Computer practices: production of digital cartography using semiautomatic and automatic digital photogrammetry.

Computer practices: usage of a largely used GIS software (QGIS).

Readings/Bibliography

Scientific publications, lectures notes and slides in digital form.

Bibliographic references for home study and further reading materials:

Kraus, K., 1998. Fotogrammetria vol.1 Teoria e applicazioni. Editore: Levrotto e Bella. ISBN: 888218028X.

Folloni, G., 1982. Principi di Topografia.

Dainelli, n., Spagnolo, M., Bonechi, F., Canessa, A., 2008. Cartografia numerica. manuale pratico per l'Utilizzo dei GIS. Editore Dario Flaccovio. ISBN 9788877587893.

Teaching methods

Lectures and exercises in Laboratory and on the field.

Analysis and discussion using examples of real cases study.

Assessment methods

The examination at the end of the course is in written form (6 questions) with an oral integration that provides for the map reading and aims to assess the achievement of the learning objectives. To obtain a passing grade, students are required to demonstrate the knowledge of the course key concepts.

Teaching tools

A significant part of the course is organized by practical activities on the field and in the laboratory, by means of commercial, scientific and open source software.

Office hours

See the website of Valentina Alena Girelli

See the website of Antonio Zanutta