Duration
14h Th, 26h Pr
Number of credits
| Master in environmental sciences and management, professional focus | 4 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Remote sensing part, theory
- Electromagnetic radiation
- Interaction between electromagnetic radiation and surface
- Surface signal acquisition and transfer
- Analyse and interpretation of images
- Application to environmental problems
- Data, information and knowledge
- Information system
- Geographical information : concept and specificities
- Questions raised by the geographical information
- Definition and classification of GIS
- Application to environmental problems
- Introduction to the use of software, applications, and data related to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing through a series of case studies focusing on environmental monitoring and management.
- In particular, practical exercises cover the creation, management, and manipulation of GIS projects and spatial data (vector and raster data, satellite imagery, etc.); commonly used GIS concepts, techniques, and operations (data creation and editing, symbology management, joins, selections, visualization, spatial statistics, georeferencing, etc.); cartographic representation of data (including indicators, in both 2D and 3D); spatial analysis (development of geoprocessing workflows to derive new information from primary data, identification of risk-prone areas using buffer zones, general hydrological analysis, and watershed characterization based on Digital Elevation Models); spatial modelling (multilayer raster-based modelling of a biophysical process subject to anthropogenic impacts); the use of reference web-based servers and platforms (e.g., spatial data geoportals, data servers, Google Earth, Google Earth Engine, EO Browser, Digital Earth Africa, and platforms for monitoring forests, water bodies, and agricultural vegetation conditions); and the study of land-use and land-cover dynamics (change detection and supervised classification of satellite imagery to produce land-cover maps), among other topics.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and image processing tools.
In the context of environmental monitoring and management projects:
- Master the fundamental theoretical knowledge required for the use of GIS and remote sensing in such projects;
- Understand the relevance and benefits of GIS and remote sensing for the implementation of such projects;
- Be able to identify and use appropriate reference GIS and remote sensing software, applications, and datasets to address a specific objective, and in particular, be able to design and implement a spatial data processing workflow to produce the desired output.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Basis in Physics and Mathematics and good notions of computer sciences
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Theory
- 12 hours of lectures.
- 24 hours of computer-based practical sessions to be completed semi-independently using the manuals and video tutorials provided. Support from a designated resource person is available through question-and-answer sessions, by email, and via videoconference. The practical work is mainly carried out using QGIS, the leading open-source GIS software (https://www.qgis.org/fr/site/).
- Exercises and data-processing activities are carried out semi-independently using a flipped-classroom approach. A general introductory session is held in person to present students with the main course resources (software, data, teaching materials, etc.), the key concepts to be applied, the overall approach and rationale of the practical component, and the steps to be followed for its successful completion, as well as the assessment procedures and instructions. Students then progress at their own pace, semi-independently, either individually or in groups, using the clear and comprehensive learning resources provided. They may interact with the instructor as needed, either remotely (by email or videoconference) or in person, to address questions regarding course content, technical difficulties, or other issues. In addition, question-and-answer sessions for the entire class are scheduled at regular intervals.
- Finally, the assessment requires students to apply the skills acquired during the previous phase by carrying out a case study that they design themselves on a topic of their choice related to environmental monitoring and management.
- One particular advantage of this flipped-classroom approach is that it addresses questions that arise from the students' own learning process rather than providing answers to questions they have not yet encountered. The process can be summarized as follows: personal engagement with a problem ? emergence of questions ? search for and development of solutions.
- The assessment method, which requires students to conceptualize and solve an environmental problem related to their own interests, encourages greater involvement and engagement and enables them to more readily envision how the skills they are acquiring can be applied in practice.
- All practical work is carried out using free and, where applicable, open-source software and web applications, primarily QGIS, the leading open-source GIS software (https://www.qgis.org/fr/site/), together with freely available learning resources and datasets.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Blended learning
Further information:
Theory : lectures in classroom
Practice : confer section " Planned learning activities and teaching method
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
Theory
- Powerpoint presentations
- Papers and book references and internet sites adresses
- GIS: a part of the manual available here https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/190559
- Remote sensing: a part of the manuals available here: https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/240835
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions )
Written work / report
Further information:
Theory: Written exam
Practise : evaluation of the student's report
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Bernard TYCHON Bernard.Tychon@ULIEGE.be
Antoine DENIS Antoine.DENIS@ULIEGE.be