GEO4520 – Advanced Remote Sensing and Topographic Analysis

Course content

The course introduces advanced methods of remote sensing in geosciences, in the particular generation of digital elevation models from satellite sensors, measurement of Earth surface displacements from satellites, change detection methods, and thermal remote sensing.

Special emphasis is given to current research, and the topics covered may therefore be adjusted depending on the background of the students and the present research focuses in the research group.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, you are able to

  • explain how optical digital images can be used to generate digital elevation models
  • describe the physical principles behind thermal radiation and how it can be exploited in remote sensing
  • compare different methods to detect changes in digital images and to calculate surface displacements based on them
  • apply satellite imagery to derive important land surface parameters such as surface temperature, snow cover, soil moisture or vegetation parameters
  • communicate results from two of your own remote sensing projects in oral and written form
  • reflect on your own experiences from analysis of digital elevation models, topographic classification methods and thermal remote sensing, and their application in environmental sciences

Admission to the course

Students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may apply to take this course as a single course student.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

Also, good basics in physics and geosciences are useful.

Overlapping courses

Teaching

Teaching consists of lectures, lab/computer training, project work, e-learning, and student presentations.

1-2 scientific essays on curriculum literature and 2 project presentations must have been approved before you sit the final examination. 

Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Student administration (studieinfo@geo.uio.no). 

We reserve the right to change the teaching form and examination of the course in semesters where 5 or fewer students have been admitted.

Examination

  • 1-2 scientific essays on curriculum literature and 2 project presentations must have been approved before you sit the final examination.
  • 2 project reports count ca. 50% (ca. 25% each) towards the final grade.
  • A final written examination counts ca. 50% towards the final grade.
  • Both the 2 project reports and the final examination must be passed separately in order for you to pass the course.

If there are less than 10 students admitted to the course, the final examination will be given as an oral examination. 

Mandatory assignments are valid for 5 semesters starting from the semester they were approved the first time.

It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

It will also be counted as 1 of the 3 attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for the following course:

Examination support material

Approved calculator

Language of examination

Courses taught in English will only offer the exam paper in English.

You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.

Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Common Student System) Mar. 19, 2024 6:32:05 AM

Facts about this course

Level
Master
Credits
10
Teaching
Autumn
Examination
Autumn
Teaching language
English