Teaching in the Desert. © Dr. S.D. Gurney
Textbooks for the following Modules
Textbooks for the following modules can be purchased via the Amazon widget
Year 1 Geographical Techniques (GG1GT)
The aim of the module is for students to develop skills in studying, IT, computing, and data analysis. These skills are required throughout the degree course and are necessary for all professional careers.
On completion of this module it is expected that a student will be able to manage, evaluate and reflect upon their own learning, demonstrate that they have gained good study habits, word process all work, gain information relating to a particular topic using electronic referencing systems, construct and manipulate spreadsheets using Excel, compose, send, and receive e-mail and gain information from the www, perform statistical analysis using appropriate software, and interpret the results, work independently and organise work assignments into a pre-determined format.
The emphasis in this module will be on gaining transferable skills. In particular, the module covers Study Skills, IT and Computing Skills and Analytical Skills. These include document layout, spreadsheets and Excel, e-mail, www, on line databases, map design and cartographic software, descriptive statistics, regression-correlation analysis, time series analysis, sampling and significance testing. There will be a series of analytical exercises to be completed that make use of these Skills.
Year 2 Remote Sensing (GG2P9)
This module will introduce students to a variety of remotely sensed data and how to turn these data into useful information for a wide range of applications.
On completion of this module it is expected that a student will be able to describe and explain the physical basis of optical and radar remote sensing, distinguish between and evaluate the main types of remote sensing system, name the most important remote sensing missions, and discuss their utility for environmental monitoring, understand and explain the physical controls over what we can and cannot see in different types of remote sensing images, and recommend appropriate data from specific remote sensing missions for a range of environmental applications.
The module will cover development of remote sensing, aerial photography and stereopsis, the structure of digital image data, electromagnetic radiation and the electromagnetic spectrum, energy-matter interactions, spectral characteristics of vegetation, soils, rocks and water, remote sensing systems, remote sensing platforms, applications in geology, geomorphology, soil science, vegetation monitoring, meteorology and climatology, coastal zone and oceanography.
Year 2 Image Processing (GG2P10)
This module will develop skills in extracting useful information about the environment from a wide range of Earth Observation data, using industry-standard software tools.
On completion of this module it is expected that a student will be able to describe and explain the form and structure of digital image data, compare and contrast a range of image processing algorithms, select appropriate techniques to analyze and interpret a range of remotely sensed data, adopt a systematic approach to accuracy, precision and uncertainty, use IT effectively and appropriately to select, analyze, present, and communicate spatial data, and apply basic and more advanced numerical skills effectively and appropriately to spatial data
The module will cover the nature and structure of digital image data, acquiring and importing remote sensing data, contrast stretching and density slicing, false colour composites, vegetation ratios, spatial filtering, image preprocessing, image enhancement, classification, time series analysis, processing of synthetic aperture radar data.
If you are registered for the above courses, you can access learning resources by logging in to Blackboard.
In addition, I contribute to the teaching of the Year 2 Team Projects module (GG2TP), Year 2 History and Philosophy of Geography module (GG2HP), and the Year 2 Physical Geography, and Human and Physical Geography Fieldclasses (GG2FP and GG2FC2).