Year
2020
Units
4.5
Contact
4 x 2-hour lectures per semester
4 x 2-hour workshops per semester
1 x 5-day field trip per semester
Prerequisites
^ = may be enrolled concurrently
1 ^ 1 of GEOG8700, STEM8002
2 1 of GEOG2700, GEOG1003, STEM1002
Must Satisfy: ((1) or (2))
Enrolment not permitted
1 of ENVS8702, ENVS9790, GEOG1004, STEM1003 has been successfully completed
Assessment
Fieldwork, Laboratory participation, Project
Topic description
This topic is applicable to all disciplines who have a need to collect geographical information. Pre-field trip lectures give students a basic introduction into the theory behind the data collection techniques and technologies they will be using. Pre field trip workshops give students an opportunity to consider survey design and create preliminary databases for their data collection. Students will attend a field camp and complete a variety of activities relevant to the collection of spatial information, using a variety of current technologies that are commonly used in human and environmental GIS. Students will gain practical skills in data processing using GIS and present their results.
Educational aims
This topic will complement the material delivered in Introduction to Geographical Information Systems. Students will gain a basic introduction to survey design and data capture through a series of pre-fieldtrip lectures. Students will undertake a range of data collection techniques relevant to GIS during an intensive field trip and process, analyse and report on the collected data.
Expected learning outcomes
On completion of this topic, students will be expected to be able to:

  1. Perform background research of a field area

  2. Prepare for field work by considering survey design and preparing preliminary database

  3. Undertake a range of field mapping techniques relevant to GIS

  4. Process interpret field data using GIS

  5. Present results of processed field data maintaining cartographic principles in line with assessment requirements

  6. Analyse and discuss the advantages and limitations of these technologies in GIS as they apply to human and environmental problems.