faculty of geo-information science and earth observation

Geo Data Processing & Spatial Information (GPSI) 2011-2012

Geo Data Processing & Spatial Information (GPSI), the minor of ITC

The Geo Data Processing & Spatial Information (GPSI) minor introduces students to geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS) and digital image processing, global positioning systems (GPS), visualisation and cartography and their use in governance and the information society.

Target Group
With effect from 1 January 2010 the International Institute for GeoInformation Science and Earth Observation (ITC) has been embedded as the sixth faculty in the University of Twente (UT). The GPSI minor is meant for students from all other UT faculties with an interest in geo-data processing and its potential in supporting decision-making. The GPSI minor is designed to meet the needs of students from the technical and the social sciences. The minor is hosted by and given at the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), Hengelosestraat 99, near the railway station of Enschede.

What is a minor?

A minor is a balanced, coherent, well-structured and self-contained set of (at least) 20 EC of various courses at a third-years academic level. The main intention of a minor is to offer the participating students a platform for the (further) development of their academic competencies. You will be introduced to a specific subject outside your own discipline in a theme minor or get acquainted with a bachelor study other than your own in a programme minor. Within broad boundary conditions, students are free to take the minor of their own personal preference. The few exceptions to this rule are determined by each of the bachelor studies. In some combinations between your own study and minor, problems in your time-table will be inevitable. In special cases, you can compose an individual minor. Please refer to the Major-minor website for more details (www.utwente.nl/majorminor/en/).

Background
As the World moves further into the information age, the availability of reliable and up to date data has become an increasingly important requirement for informed decision making. In many cases, the data required to support decision making are geographical in nature. Geographic information systems (GIS) is the science, engineering and technology associated with answering geographical questions. GIS is a generic term for the use of computers to study and visualise geographical patterns and processes (natural and manmade) that occur on the surface of

A sensors view of the Earths surface

the Earth. There are many uses for GIS in different scientific and operational domains. Common application areas are urban planning, public administration, environmental monitoring, utilities, telecommunications, transport, hazard analysis, topographic mapping, and the management of agriculture, forest and water resources. In the past few decades, GIS has developed into a major area of application and research and into an important global business. Today, GIS is an active and rapidly expanding field, which generates considerable public and private interest. Remote sensing (RS) is a powerful technology, which is mainly concerned with data capture. Broadly speaking, RS encompasses sensors, platforms and data processing techniques that are used to derive information about physical, chemical and biological properties of the Earths surface without direct physical contact. Sensors are mostly mounted on Earth orbiting satellites or aircraft and measure electro-energetic emissions from objects and material on the earths surface. Data processing techniques subsequently transform raw

digital imagery into meaningful information sources for a large variety of applications. Processed RS data are an important data source for GIS. Global positioning systems (GPS) allow positioning, navigation and measurements in a reliable and cost effective manner. GPS in itself does not provide any functionality beyond being able to receive satellite signals and calculate position information. Depending on the equipment, GPS is capable of recording position to a high level of accuracy. GPS technology is frequently applied in navigation systems, tracking devices, and for GPS surveying and mapping. GPS have developed strongly over the past decade; nowadays increasing use is made of handheld GIS/GPS devices. Spatial data quality has emerged as an important area of research over the last 15 years. This is a broad subject area that encompasses aspects of social science (e.g., analysis of user attitudes to data quality), database design (e.g., reporting and storage of metadata) and quantitative statistical analysis.

Quantitative analysis applies both to the data itself and to any processing or modelling chains employed. This course is divided into three components. We begin with an overview of spatial data quality and then use examples from remote sensing and GIS to address specific elements of spatial data quality. Visualisation and cartography represent technology and methodology to visualise geographical data and reveal spatial patterns and relations. Good visualisation improves our understanding of the temporal as well as the spatial dimensions of the studied phenomena. Governance and the information society are sociological and political concepts in which information provision and its use in an open and transparent policy environment play a big role. E-governance is a development within the public sector that frequently uses spatial data. Land policy links the physical environment and the natural resources to society and the economy whereby aspects of sustainability play an important role. Relation to regular study programmes The minor is by nature complementary to the regular study programmes. The niche of the GPSI minor is that it explicitly addresses the spatial dimension of information handling.

Programme overview
The GPSI minor consists of six subjects (some of these are offered in parallel): Remote sensing theory and practice GIS theory and practice GPS theory and practice Spatial data quality Cartography and visualisation Applications of GI technology in the Netherlands Research assignment (individual or group) During the first five subjects emphasis is on establishing a firm theoretical and practical background in geo data processing and spatial information handling. Educational activities consist of a theoretical component that focuses on concepts and a practical component that aims at developing hands-on software skills. The theoretical component is addressed via literature study and supporting lectures; the practical component takes the form of a series of computer practicals. A short case study assignment in which course participants apply GI tools to analyse a typical application problem and present their finding is also part of the programme. Short presentations that illustrate how GI technology is conceptualised and used in various academic disciplines (e.g. utility management, transportation planning, hazard response) are scheduled on a regular basis. The sixth module is about exposure to practice. During this part of the course, a series of (guest) lectures and -if time permits- an excursion is organised so that course participants obtain insight in the use and added value of GI technology in various organisational settings. Examples range from local (municipal) information systems up to national level systems. During the final subject course participants carry out an individual (or group) research assignment. Participants can select a topic of personal interest provided that it has clear link with previous modules. If needed, ITC can make study materials available.The research assignment is documented in a report and presented to fellow course participants.

Module content
Subject 1: Remote sensing theory and practice
Main objective To learn how to generate information about the Earth from remote sensing data. This subject introduces the principal concepts and techniques of remote sensing.

Subject 3: Global positioning systems (GPS)

Main objective Become familiar with the principles and uses of global positioning systems, spatial reference systems and coordinate transformation. This module is about global positioning systems (GPS) techniques for location finding, measurement and navigation. Attention is given to coordinate systems, GPS and GIS data sets and how these data are integrated in a GIS environment.

The module covers the following topics: The electromagnetic spectrum Sensors and platforms Multi-spectral, hyperspectral and thermal sensors Aerial photography Radar and lidar sensors Radiometric aspects of remotely sensed data Geometric aspects of remotely sensed data Image enhancement and visualisation Image interpretation and classification
Study forms Lectures 40% Literature study, exercises and practicals 60%

The module covers the following topics: GPS, theory, platforms and techniques GPS and coordinate systems Exercises with GPS, differential GPS measurements GPS and GIS
Study forms Lectures and literature study Exercises and practicals

50% 50%

Subject 4: Spatial data quality (SDQ)

Main objective The aim of this subject is to provide an overview of key issues in spatial data quality and to equip students with the basic intellectual and practical skills necessary to evaluate the quality of a spatial dataset. The subject is split into three components. The first gives a broad overview of the topic and then focuses on key elements of spatial data quality. It is taught through lectures and designated reading. The second two components develop key elements in the context of (i) GIS and (ii) remote sensing. These components are taught through a mixture of lectures, practical classes and assigned reading.

Subject 2: GIS theory and practice

Main objective To learn how to generate information about the Earth from data stored in geographic information systems (GIS). This module introduces the main concepts and techniques of GIS. At the end of this module participants are able to explain the principles and use the vocabulary of GIS, carry out basic GIS operations and apply appropriate GIS methods for problem solving.

The module covers the following topics: Geographic phenomena and their representation Geographic information and spatial data types Data processing systems Spatial data entry and preparation Spatial data analysis and visualisation Quality assessment of spatial data
Study forms Lectures and literature study Exercises and practicals

40% 60%

The approximate division of study forms is as follows: Lectures 20% Literature assignments and private study 40% Practical assignments 40% Assessment is done through a closed-book examination.

Subject 5: Visualisation and cartography

Main objective Learn to apply visual approaches for the exploration, analysis, synthesis and presentation of spatial data. The course starts with visualisation techniques and the use of cartography and explores recent developments such as internet GIS and e-governance.

Subject 6: Practical applications of GI technology in the Netherlands

Main objective Obtain insight in the practical application and added value of GI technology in organisational settings. During this module, a number of examples of organisations that deal with spatial data are presented and analysed. Issues addressed are (i) the added value of GI technology, (ii) problems associated with the introduction and effective use of GIT and (iii) aspects of spatial information system development. Examples range from local (municipal) information systems up to national level systems. Study forms Guest lectures 35% Excursion 15%

The module covers the following topics: Visualisation of geospatial data Design aspects Visual exploration Multi-scale and geometric aspects of mapping in a GIS context (scale, cartographic generalisation, map projections) Dissemination and use of (visualised) spatial data Data products, use and users of products Dissemination methods and environments, with emphasis on the World Wide Web
Study forms Lectures 40% Literature study, exercises and practicals 40% Assignments and other 20%

Land cover information from a multispectral image

Subject 7: Individual (or group) research assignment

Main objective Conduct a research assignment. Participants can develop a case study of personal interest in which elements of the modules can be applied. Course participants are invited to bring their own cases and data and work on them. If needed, study materials (mostly from developing countries) can be made available by ITC. The research assignment is documented in a report and presented to fellow course participants.

The International Training Centre was established in 1950 by Willem Schermerhorn, a civil engineer and the first post-war prime minister of the Netherlands. The UN was not entirely satisfied with the aerial mapping of third-world countries and colonies so it asked whether a training institute could be set up in the Netherlands. ITC is an institute for international higher education, dedicated to training of professionals from abroad. ITC offers a Graduate, Master of Science (MSc) and Master degree programme in Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation. These programmes are offered in the Netherlands and abroad by ITC itself or by ITC in collaboration with partners in the Netherlands and in- and outside Europe. Beside the courses in the degree programmes ITC offers a large variety of (Postgraduate) diploma and certificate (distance education and short) courses in the field of geo-information science and earth observation ITC specialises on the capture and processing of earth data. Spatial information management is what links all the different disciplines and departments at ITC together. The Geo Data Processing & Spatial Information (GPSI) minor is open to students from all UT faculties and introduces participants in concepts, tools, techniques and application of spatial data. GIS (geographic information systems) and remote sensing (aerial photography and satellite images) play an important role in this minor.

Examples of topics that can be taken Urban planning and management Urban poverty assessment and alleviation Sustainable natural resource management Hazard analysis and mapping Environmental monitoring Image processing Web based GIS and Cartography
Study forms Research assignment 75% Presentation 25%

Assessment
Each course subject is assessed by means of a written examination, presentation and/or assignment. In some instances - e.g. subject six - the assessment is based on participation. The individual module assessments together result in a single overall mark for the GPSI minor as a whole. In all cases the ITC assessment regulations apply.

Registration
Register according to the procedure on: www. utwente.nl/majorminor/inschrijven/index.html

History
With effect from 1 January 2010 the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) was embedded as the sixth faculty in the University of Twente (UT). Both parties see great advantages at national and international levels in the integration. Through the integration, ITC will be more firmly embedded in the Dutch academic education system, while the UT expects to be able to profit from ITCs international network.

Brochure
Download the GPSI brochure. You need Acrobat Reader to view and/or print. More information: www.itc.nl/gpsi

Contact
For further information please contact: Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) Hengelosestraat 99 P.O. Box 217 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands
Dr. Ir. S.J. (Sander) Oude Elberink, Department Earth Observation Science T: 053-4874350 F: 053-4874335 E: oudeelberink@itc.nl Room: 2-033 Prof. Dr. Ir. A. (Alfred) Stein, Department Earth Observation Science T: 053-4874552 F: 053-4874335 E: stein@itc.nl Room: 2-048