EuroGIS
This module (entirely in English language) deals with the European aspects of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). As the technical (systems) part of GIS does not have many specifically European aspects, the main focus of the module is on geographical information and ways to provide access to it. A Geographical Information Infrastructure (GII) is a phrase that is commonly used to describe the organizational and technical prerequisites for giving access to Geographical Information. The theme of the module can therefore be summarized as: "Towards a European Geographical Information Infrastructure".
Oracle Spatial
The Oracle Spatial module has been developed entirely in English language. Themes are: Overview of Oracle Spatial , Location-enabling your applications, SDO_GEOMETRY data type, Loading and transporting spatial data, Validating and debugging spatial data, Geocoding, Spatial indexes, Spatial operators, Geometry processing functions, Topology data model in Oracle, Storing raster data in Oracle, Creation of a sample application, Case studies, Tips, Common mistakes and common errors, Generating maps using MapViewer.
Remote Sensing (expected at the earliest in December 2007)
Remote Sensing is the most valuable source for the acquisition of actual geodata, e.g. land use land cover (lulc). Remotely sensed imagery is acquired by high resolution spaceborne sensors with ground resolutions up to 0.6m, airborne imagery nowadays provide spatial resolution better than 0.1m. Both types of imagery record the reflected electromagnetic energy in several spectral bands, ranging from the visible wavelength to the near infrared.
This Remote Sensing module follows a multi step education, the typical workflow of remote sensing process: recording, processing, analyzing, and applying. The introduction gives a fundamental background about the theory of spectral data origin and its digital acquisition first. Operational sensors and platforms available for on demand data acquisition will be described in the next part. Remotely sensed data processing means the elimination of system errors and the georeferencing of the image data. A very important part in the process is the data analysis, e.g. extracting real value from the raw image, such real world objects, and land use land coverage. Therefore two different methods are available: a statistical pixel-per-pixel approach and the more sophisticated object-based image analysis. Finally the results of the image analysis will be transferred into and stored in a Geographical Information System (GIS), where they can be combined with additional data for a more advanced modelling and visualization.
A number of electives is offered that require less time to complete and are therefore awarded with ECTS points:
Applications in Forestry
This optional module focuses on some representative aspects of forestry as natural resource industry. You will have the opportunity not only to learn more about monitoring of forest areas and mapping of landuse changes in those areas over time but also create models thereof. Several suitability analyses will be carried out in order to define forest areas meeting specific criteria, such as physical and economic ones that are associated with different forestry management scenarios. The relationship between forests and other factors in general, as well as the role of the forests in several environmental processes in particular, will be examined.
Applications in Coastal Zone Research and Management
Research and management of coastal zones is highly challenging but at the same time very demanding because of the complexity of those areas resulting from the interaction between the marine and terrestrial environments. Costal zones are of great economical significance that is influenced by many physical factors. This elective allows you to study the results of different scenarios using datasets that represent several physical factors and to model changes resulted from natural processes taking place in those areas. Methods for monitoring and suitability analysis of such areas will also be discussed.
GIS and Mountain Environments
The study of the mountainous areas despite the difficulties due to the distinctiveness of respective environments is fascinating as well. Although several techniques (both GIS and Image Processing) can be used for monitoring and mapping of mountain environments, their advantages and disadvantages can still be subject of further discussion and a part of this discussion is included in this elective. Which are the dominant factors in those areas and which is the relationship between them? Which is their impact on those environments in general, but also from the economic point of view? Methods such as suitability analysis can answer such questions and are included in this optional module.
ESRI Virtual Campus
Through a special arrangement between ESRI and UNIGIS International Association we have access to most of the ESRI Virtual Campus courses. Many of them you will go through in various modules. Some of them you might choose to expand and/or specialise your knowledge and skills.