Course Overview
This course covers two distinct aspects of geomatics engineering technologies: remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS). The remote sensing portion explores both passive and active sensors operated from satellite platforms during data acquisition. This part of the course covers the fundamentals of remote sensing, including the technology, data collection, processing, and interpretation of space-borne remotely sensed imagery. Students are introduced to the theory, processes and techniques related to the capture and analysis of passive and active (radar) remote-sensing data. The GIS information covers definitions, concepts and technology, including different sources of spatial data, metadata, spatial data models, databases, query, analysis, data input and editing. Students learn to use open-source and commercial GIS software through hands-on exercises.
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Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Explain the fundamentals of remote sensing, including its applications and common terms such as active/passive remote sensing and different types of resolution.
- Classify and label the electromagnetic spectrum and describe interactions between EMR and matter.
- Explain how different sensors work.
- Describe and differentiate atmospheric, target scatter and absorption.
- Justify the use of ground validation for remote-sensing projects.
- Evaluate advantages and disadvantages of remote-sensing versus other data-collection techniques.
- Outline and carry out the process of image correction, enhancement, filtering, and fusion.
- Describe and complete the process of geometric correction, selection of ground control points, image re-sampling, and image-to-map and image-to-image registrations.
- Conduct supervised and unsupervised image classification and describe the difference between the two approaches.
- Evaluate the results of classification and assess the sources of error.
- Describe the fundamentals of SAR, the radar image formation process, applications, and different sources.
- Conduct basic radar image processing.
- Explain advantages and disadvantages of radar imageries.
- Define GIS, its components and applications, and the corresponding technical terms.
- Describe data sources, metadata, standards, and role of standards in interoperability.
- Explain the problems associated with integrating spatial data from different sources.
- Apply the fundamental concepts of GIS and databases to carry out spatial and aspatial query operations.
- Differentiate between spatial data models.
- Utilize ArcGIS software to perform common analytical operations.
- Import and edit data in ArcGIS and create a map layout.
Effective as of Winter 2025
Related Programs
Remote Sensing & GIS (GEOM 4016) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
School of Construction and the Environment
- Geomatics Engineering Technology
Diploma Full-time
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