SOIL&WAT 2501 - Spatial Information and Land Evaluation II

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2016

Spatial information is fundamental to decision making in all environmental disciplines. It is widely used in natural sciences areas from agriculture, environmental management to mining industries. The breadth of applications of spatial information is increasing rapidly due to a vastly improved availability of spatial data and the recently accelerated development of geographic information systems and remote sensing tools. The subject introduces theory, history and current methods of spatial information presentation, generation, and analysis. It gives an overview of major Australian and South Australian mapping programs and spatial information in government agencies. Students are introduced to factors that shape the landscape and learn how to interpret land surface features. In field exercises students are introduced to surveying, the use of Global Positioning Systems, field navigation and safety.

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Course Details

Course Code	SOIL&WAT 2501
Course	Spatial Information and Land Evaluation II
Coordinating Unit	School of Biological Sciences
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 5 hours per week, plus field trip
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Assessment	Practical reports, theory examination, field trip report

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Bertram Ostendorf

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

A succesful student in this course should be able to:

1	Understand processes that shape earth surfaces;
2	Use global coordinate systems to determine locations at global and local scales;
3	Read and topographic maps;
4	Use computing techniques to handle spatial data;
5	Use modern online mapping tools with their own spatial data;
6	Understand the theory of GPS and be able to use GPS to collect spatial data;
7	Apply advanced data computing skills and GIS methodology to map landscape features.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Deep discipline knowledge informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1 accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)	1-3,6
Critical thinking and problem solving steeped in research methods and rigor based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment	4-7
Teamwork and communication skills developed from, with, and via the SGDE honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning	7
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	4,5
Intercultural and ethical competency adept at operating in other cultures comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges	7

Learning Resources

Recommended Resources

Bourough, P.A., McDonnell,R.A. Principles of Geographic Information Systems (1998)

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course consists of the following:

1 X 2-hour lecture per week
1 X 3-hour practical per week
1 day field trip held in class time

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).

Learning Activities Summary

**Schedule**
	Lecture	Practical
Week 1	Introduction to maps	Topographic map reading, Scales, Distances, Bearing
Week 2	Quantifying spatial data	Practice using Excel, Equations, database functionality, visualisation, pivot tables
Week 3	Spatial databases and computing aspects of spatial data	Basic computer sciences, structures of databases, Introduction to Access, Data entry and visualisation of tabular dat
Week 4	Introduction to ArcGIS	ArcGIS intro - using own data sourced from the internet
Week 5	Spatial information sources and data formats	GPS outside prac, waypoints, mapping own data, open source spatial data, government data access, spatial data formats: raw data, kml, kmz, gpx and shapefiles
Week 6	Airphotos – old method, new technologies	Merits and Limits, space-time issues, photos vs. maps, Field of View, Parallaxes
Week 7	Surveying	Outside prac, Levelling and Traverses, computer data entry/report preparation
Week 8	Introduction to remote sensing	Introduction to image analysis software, interpretation of satellite images for environmental monitoring
Week 9	The third dimension: terrain and topography	Interpreting and analysing topography from different forms of data
Week 10	Natural Resource mapping	Interpretation of aerial photos for natural resource mapping, preparation for field day
Week 11	Field Day- Wirra Conservation Park	GPS-based mapping, site characterisation and Navigation
Week 12	Presentation of Spatial Data	Getting the map and field data into the GIS, final report preparation

Specific Course Requirements

This course has a one day field trip in class time.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Type of Assessment	Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes	Hurdle Yes/No	Outcomes being assessed/achieved	Due date
Practical reports	Formative & Summative	45%	No	1-6	Weeks 1-9
Field Trip reports	Formative & Summative	15%	No	1-7	Week 12
Exam	Summative	40%	No	1-7	Exam period

Assessment Detail

Practical reports: (45%)
There will be 9 practical reports, worth each 5%. These reports cover material in the theoretical lectures and require students to reflect on the learned, conduct exercises under guidance and work out problems that require transfer of knowledge. Practical reports are 1-2 page long with graphical or numerical answers. Only minimal individual feedback is given but the practical is followed up by extensive discussions during the next lecture and practical. Students ared engaged in group discussions under supervision of lecturers and demonstrators.

Field trip report (15%)
During a period of three weeks, students form groups and prepare the field data collection, conduct the data collection during the field trip, and use their data for a scientific report that includes a GIS visualisation of their own spatial data. Students are required to write a scientific report that includes introduction, their own detailed method of field data collection, presentation including GIS artwork, and conclusion from their own data. Students will also complete an assessment of the relative contributions of group members.

Exam: (40%)
The final examination will evaluate theoretical knowledge and the ability to write coherent and concise statements. It is a 3-hour exam.

Submission

Late Submission
If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
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Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator