UNIVERSITY OF KHARTOUM FACULTY OF GEOGRAPHICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF GIS AND CARTOGRAPHY Proposed Program for DIPLOMA/MASTER OF GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND REMOTE SENSING (MGR) (M.Sc. By Courses) November 2012 1
I. INTRODUCTION The Diploma/Master of Science in GIS and Remote Sensing (D/MGR) is built of components, which are based on modern technology designed to furnish research and practice in a variety of industries. Geoinformatics is coined as a combined space technology and ICT-based science of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and internet/web mapping have become key technology tools for the collection, storage and analysis of spatially and non-spatial referenced data and information. Academics, research, government and non-government entities, as well as industries that utilize these spatial technologies include agriculture, forestry, fishery/marine,, Geography, mining, market research, various industrial sectors (transportation, banking, oil and petroleum, etc), environmental analysis as well as the social and medical sciences. The (D/MGR) allows graduates to build their knowledge and practical expertise in GIS, GPS, RS, and internet/web mapping technologies and applications from an advanced graduate degree level through to a high level of expertise with independent study and project experience at the Master level. Students undertaking the course will develop their knowledge and understanding through formal coursework and a program of independent reading. Their research, analytical and problem-solving skills will be developed through analysis and the completion of a research project or a literature review. Khartoum University has therefore introduced this program besides its objectives mentioned below within the framework of its message towards the State, aiming at assisting the state to promote performance and development. Through this program, the University also hopes to contribute in serving knowledge and humanity in general. II. RATIONALE OF THE PROGRAM 1- The limited opportunities of modern means and ways of studying Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing as a newly emerging science. 2- The need for availing training opportunities in different academic and technical specializations based on modern geographical systems that cope with the information revolution, which the world witnesses today. 2
3- The State s need for such specializations to implement its developmental program in the areas of agriculture, natural resources, health and preservation of sane environment. III. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM 1- Preparation of specialized academics and researchers in Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing capable of benefitting from geospatial technology in the areas of agriculture, environment, fishery, natural resources, and commercial and industrial researches. 2- Development of theoretical and practical knowledge of the students enrolled in this program as well as promotion of their abilities and skills in geographical information system and remote sensing to the extent that enables them to use modern technology effectively in achieving the works and solving the problems related to their areas of specialization. 3- Promotion of the students abilities in the field of geo-spatial studies to meet the increasing technical needs in emergency management, sane environment preservation, water cultivation, food production, intelligence and general security skills, communication, services and others. 4- Development of knowledge and critical understanding of the main areas of Geoinformatics (including theories, new principles and concepts and advanced applications). 5- Teaching and training all members of the private and public sectors as well as non-profit sectors whose daily activities and businesses require use of geospatial technology. IV. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS 1- Candidates for Diploma / Master Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing must satisfy the general regulations relating to the Masters Degree of the University of Khartoum. 2- Candidates must have obtained a B.A. in geography or B.Sc. in any other discipline from the University of Khartoum or their equivalent from another recognized University. 3- Holders of postgraduate diploma in GIS or remote sensing from the University of Khartoum or equivalent universities can also apply to join the MRG programme, starting from the second year. 3
V- EXAMINATIONS: 1- The student shall be subject to the general examination regulations of the Graduate College, University of Khartoum. 2- At the end of each semester, the candidate sits for examinations in the courses completed in that semester. 3- The student has the right to take supplementary examination if he/she fails in not more than one-third of the subjects. 4- The students is allowed to re-sit the whole examination if he/she fails in more than one-third and up to half of the subjects. 5- Any student who fails in more than half of the subjects or any of the supplementary or re-sit subject shall be dismissed. 6- Supplementary and substitute examinations are held once a year. 7- A candidate who, at the end of the first year (first and second semester), scores a credit of good (60%) and above in the average can continue to complete his study for the M.A. degree. 8- A candidate who, at the end of the first year (first and second semester), scores a credit of less than good (60%) in the average may be offered a Postgraduate Diploma and not be allowed to re-register for M.Sc. any time again. VI. AWARD OF THE DEGREE The Diploma in GIS and Remote sensing Degree and MSc is awarded by the Senate upon recommendation of the Graduate College Board. VII. PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND TEACHING SYSTEM This program is designed to be covered in three semesters (15 weeks per semester). The first two semesters of the program aim at providing the students with the theoretical knowledge on which the programme is based. This is in order to help them develop their personal and interpersonal skills. The courses of the third semester, on the other hand, provide them with the practical and application knowledge to be complemented by the project research paper. A diploma certificate will be awarded to graduate student who completes the first two semesters of the program but fails to satisfy the requirements needed to proceed for the Master degree, OR unwilling to proceed, though qualified to do. Those students who satisfy the requirements will proceed to complete the third semester in order to obtain the Master degree. 4
The mode of instruction can be followed in two ways; namely, (a) the traditional face-to-face lecture and laboratory teaching and learning process, and the (b) online or e-learning through modules process. Such online course will be one of the first online D/MGR graduate programs in the country, meeting the needs of today s researchers and professionals, equipping them with the fundamental science and skills to cope with increasing data complexity and more sophisticated applications. The courses and the corresponding credit hours are provided here-below. The subjects are well founded based on the international standards and referees such as the IEEE, UNESCO, UN Space Science Institute, ISPRS, AARSE and Association of Computing Machinery, among other universities and colleges worldwide. VIII. Programme language English is a basic language for the programme Semester One Course Code Course name Credit Weekly contact hours Theory. Practical MGR 501 GIS I MGR 503 Remote Sensing I MGR 505 MGR 507 Data collection and Database Management Spatial Statistics analysis and mapping MGR 509 Technical Issues in GIS 2 1 2 Total 14 5
Semester Two Course Code Course name Credit Weekly contact hours Theor. Pract. MGR 502 Advanced GIS-II MGR 504 MGR 506 Radar and Hyper-spectral Image processing Global Positioning system and GNSS Applications MGR 508 Research Methodology and Project Management MGR 510 Applications of GIS/RS Total 15 Semester Three Course Code Course name Credit Weekly contact hours MGR 601 MGR 602 MGR 603 MGR 604 Applications of GIS and RS in Natural Resources Applications of GIS and RS in Population and Human studies Applications of GIS and RS in Environmental Studies and Satellite Meteorology Application of GIS and RS in Planning and Development Studies Theor. Pract. 2 1 2 2 1 2 6
MGR 605 Decision Support Systems 2 1 2 MGR 606 Research paper project 3 Total 15 Total number of credit hours Item Credit hours Credit hours for the teaching courses 41 Credit hours for the research paper project 3 Total 44 VIII. COURSE DESCRIPTION MGR 501 - GIS 1: This course provides students with a foundation in the science and technology of geographical information systems (GIS). GIS science focuses on ways to describe and explain geographical patterns and processes. GIS technology focuses on data modelling, databases and map visualization. The course described the spatial and a spatial structures data input, data management, data analysis and output digital elevation models. MGR 502 - Advanced in GIS II: This course will cover the advance topics in the GIS and focuses on six fundamental areas of geographic information science (1) geospatial ontologies; (2) enterprise and cloud computing frameworks for web GIS services; (3) GIS application design; (4) spatial data mining and knowledge discovery; (5) data structure and algorithms; and (6) visual analytics and 3-D representation. This course provides in-depth technical knowledge and skills to enable students to author, serve, and use geospatial data in a more creative and innovative way than simply clicking the mouse. The learning approach here is to use small study group discussions and presentations to support an inquiry-based GIS education. The whole class is organized into four groups based on three criteria (1) prior knowledge and critical skills, (2) passion and demonstrated potential in a specific technical area, and (3) student s interest in fundamental areas: GIS programming, cognitive science, database design and systems, computational geometry, analytical, conceptual, and mathematical competency. 7
MGR 503 Remote Sensing 1: Interaction, Spectral Reflectance Curves, Image Characteristics) Introduction to Aerial Photograph, Sensor Systems (Space and airborne, MSS, TM, ETM, HRV, LISS, IKONOS-2, Quick bird-2, AVHRR and others), Platforms (Types and Orbital characteristics),thermal Infrared (Characteristics, TIR Band Properties, TIR Image Interpretation, Intro to Microwave (Importance and applications), Digital Image Processing (Over view of computer based image processing), Applications (agriculture, urban, natural resources etc.); hyperspectral and radar imageries; Multidisciplinary Applications of Remote Sensing, Digital Image Processing Cycle Overview, ERDAS Imagine Environment, Data Formats, Image Pre-processing, Noise Corrections, Geometric Rectification, Registration and Re-sampling, Radiometric Corrections, Image Classification Types and Algorithms, Accuracy Assessment Techniques, Confusion Matrices, Data Fusion and Mosaicing. Multidisciplinary Applications MGR 504 - Radar and Hyper-spectral Image Processing: Introduction to optical and microwave remote sensing and also they become familiar with the basic principles and advantages of thermal and Microwave RS; Thermal Remote Sensing; Passive Microwave Remote Sensing; Precision Remote Sensing; Active Microwave Remote Sensing; LIDAR Remote Sensing; Hyper-spectral Remote Sensing: High resolution hyper-spectral satellite systems: Sensors, orbit characteristics, description of satellite systems, data processing aspects, applications; major aspects of active and hyperspectral image acquisition, exploitation, interpretation, and mapping and monitoring applications. Imaging spectrometers, including an explanation of spectral range, resolution, sampling, in multispectral, hyperspectral, Radar, and LIDAR sensor systems, techniques and Applications of Hyperspectral Image Analysis introduce the field of image analysis using hyperspectral techniques, and include definitions and instrument descriptions. Other imaging topics that are covered are segmentation, regression and classification. The course discusses how high quality images of large data files can be structured and archived. MGR 505 Spatial Statistics Analysis and Mapping: This course provides an overview to a number of quantitative methods for GIS spatial data. The course covers both descriptive and inferential methods that are used for the analysis of geographically-referenced data. Descriptive methods covered include basic geo-statistics, measures of central tendency and dispersion, and cartometrics. Spatial interpolation, including distance-based methods and kriging, 8
will be covered. Inferential methods include point-pattern analysis, joint count statistics, and spatial autocorrelation. This course also provides a detailed examination of, and 'hands-on' exercises on common spatial analytical tools available in GIS software and its variety of extensions. Fundamental statistics concepts, including descriptive and inferential statistics, sampling, interpolation, and extrapolation theories, will be reviewed. Spatial analysis such as measurements and layer operations will be explored using available GIS software. Spatial analyses and spatial statistics will be undertaken. MGR 506 - Global Positioning system and GNSS Applications: This course aim to offer the student with the Integration of GPS data in GIS Environment, Multidisciplinary Applications of GIS and GNSS; Combined use of GIS, Global Positioning System (GPS) and the wider Global Navigation Satellite System. GPS constellations of earth-orbiting satellites that broadcast and their locations in space and time, a network of ground control stations, and military and civilian receivers; working knowledge of current and future GPS and GNSS capabilities linked to GIS applications. MGR 507 - Data Collection and Database Management: Basic geodatabase concepts; Entity Relationship modelling, Relational data model and algebra, Structured Query language; RDBMS; Database design, functional dependencies and normal forms; Transaction processing and optimization concepts; concurrency control and recovery techniques; Database recovery techniques; Database security and authorization. MGR 508 - Research Methodology and Project Management This course is aim to offer an introduction to research: Definition & Nature, the Scientific Method, the Research Process, and Errors in Research. Research Design and Data Sources: Types of research and research designs, Primary data and its sources, Secondary data and its sources. Data Collection Procedures: The Measurement Process, Concepts of validity and reliability, The casual design procedures, Data Collection Methods, Observation, Documentary-Historical Method, Linear Correlation, Multiple Regressions, Analysis of Variance & Covariance, Discriminate analysis. Research Project Proposal: Rationale for the study defining the problem, Research Objectives, Information needs, Research design, Data collection procedure, Data processing & analysis, Research Team and its profile, Budget, Time Table; Definition of plan, project, program and 9
scheme. MGR 109 - Technical Issues in GIS-Global database engines: This course covers the technical issues of GIS and relationship to implementation and application on GIS. Topics include the GIS programming, GIS modeling, GIS web design, GIS/Remote sensing data publishing and loading in the internet. The aim of this course to offer student with skills of through the processes necessary to use the software well: configuration, synchronization and data collection. Upon completion of the software training, you should be comfortable with the complete process from geotechnical and geoenvironmental data collection through geotechnical and geoenvironmental data reporting. MGR 510 - Applications of GIS/Remote Sensing: This course with offer a basic of using GIS and RS applications in multidiscipline (natural recourses, Human studies application and environment) Functions of planning and management, also will focus in the components of GIS and remote sensing project. Overview of GIS and remote sensing projects, types of projects. GIS Project Planning; Project Costs; Project Appraisal; Project Time, Quality and Cost Management Planning A Geo-informatics Project; Project Scope and Risk Management; GIS Organisations; Management Issues in GIS: Making GIS efficient, effective and safe to use, data as management issue, GIS as a management tool, impact of broad societal issue. MGR 601 - Application of GIS and Remote sensing in Natural Resources Management: Use of RS/GIS software and various modeling tools in integrated natural resources management. They will have been exposed to geo-informatics applications to oceanography, glaciology, hydrometeorology, irrigation, watershed development, water pollution studies, sustainable use of water resources; Integrated water resources management, Spatiotemporal hydrological modeling in GIS domain. The Multi-Criteria Analysis and visualization, spatial decision support systems for water resources management, soil resources, forestry and other natural resources. MGR 602 - Application of GIS and remote sensing in Population studies: 10
This course focuses on the theory behind neighborhood determinants of population studies, which is an important area in population research. It is a survey course that covers the fundamental theory behind neighborhood effects and the approaches for measuring population factors. The course involves a review of empirical and theoretical work from several different fields including geography, sociology, and public health. Also this course will be interdisciplinary and partly participatory, with student interests determining part of the content through class presentations and research projects. While primarily a seminar, it will include lectures by the instructor. Lectures will cover topics such as economic development and the persistence of poverty and inequality and other factors; trends in population dynamics and environmental change in developing countries; theories of population-environment linkages; and empirical evidence in several areas. In reviewing the literature, empirical studies will be critically appraised to evaluate how they could have been done better. In the last half of the course, students will produce a research paper based on a topic of their choosing developed in consultation with the instructor and mainly link with using of GIS and remote sensing in the population studies and studies of poverty and poverty projection. MGR 603 - Application of GIS and remote sensing in Environmental studies and satellite metrology: The Environmental Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Systems (ERS/GIS) course is designed for students with diverse natural science and social science backgrounds who desire specialized training in the use of remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in environmental and natural resource analysis and management. Instruction addresses the theories underlying remote sensing and GIS and their practical applications. Students are trained for careers in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors where there is increasing demand for professionals with advanced technical skills who can organize and analyze spatial environmental data. Applicants to the ERS/GIS program must have completed calculus through integration and statistics through multiple regressions. The course focuses on applications of remote sensing the atmosphere using satellite observations, including cloud detection and the retrieval of atmospheric temperature, and atmospheric moisture and ozone content. The course also teaches the interpretation of imagery collected from weather satellites. At the end of this course you should be able to: 1. Relate advantages and limitations to microwave satellite products. 2. Relate meteorological events to satellite imagery. 3. Interpret wind flow using satellite imagery. 11
MGR 604 - Application of GIS and remote sensing in Planning and Development Studies: The program in GIS and RS for Planning and development studies prepares the students for understanding the benefits to apply the world's most advanced computer mapping technologies and spatial analysis to address crucial issues concerning socioeconomic development and planning science. MGR 605 - Decision Support Systems: This course provides an overview of the theoretical and practical aspects of decision support systems (DSS). The course consists of three modules. The first module concentrates on the managerial aspects of decision-making, the role of automation in decision making, and decision models. The second module discusses the design and development of decision support systems, with an emphasis on data management. The third module addresses the integration and implementation challenges in Enterprise DSS, intelligent DSS, web-based DSS, as well as their future trends. The last module includes knowledge based theories, knowledge based system, expert system and how they can be designed and formulated to support the decision making. MGR 606 - Project Research Paper: Preparation of Master research and conceptualization; discussion with major adviser and members of the research committee; internet search and write-up of project paper research proposal; presentation and final submission to the Research Committee through a seminar with internal evaluators. Conducting of research thesis; project implementation, monitoring and evaluation; gathering of primary and secondary data; systems analysis and interpretation; final thesis presentation of research results with internal evaluators; submission of final copy of thesis (research paper) manuscripts. IX. Teaching Resources and Facilities a- Teaching staff The faculty includes the following full-time teaching staff: 12
Title Professor Associate Professor Assistant professor Numbers 1 4 5 This is in addition to 5 Associate Professors and 4 Assistant Professors serving at the moment on part-time basis specialized in areas relevant to the program. b. Laboratories: At present the faculty has one computer laboratory besides a number of surveying and field equipment that can be used in teaching and research activities related to the proposed program. Relevant laboratories in the faculty of computer and mathematics can also be used for that purpose. Also various computer and Internet laboratories in the Faculty of Geographical and Environmental sciences can be availed to serve the proposed program. c. Library Facilities The Faculty of Geographical and Environmental Sciences has a fairly large library furnished with references and text books. 13