gpsi_2011

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Geo Data

ProcessinG

& sPatial

information

(GPSI)2011-2012

faculty of Geo-information science

anD earth observation

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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.

Geo Data ProcessinG

& sPatial information

(GPSI), the mInor of ItC

target group

With effect from 1 January 2010

the International Institute for Geo-

Information 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 facultieswith an interest in geo-data process-

ing and its potential in supporting

decision-making. The GPSI minor is

designed to meet the needs of stu-

dents 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.

BaCkgroundAs the World moves further into the

information age, the availability of reli-

able 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 answer-ing 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

What is a minor?A minor is a balanced, coherent, well-structured and self-containedset of (at least) 20 EC of various courses at a third-years academiclevel.

The main intention of a minor is to offer the participating students aplatform for the (further) development of their academic competen-cies. You will be introduced to a specic subject outside your owndiscipline in a theme minor or get acquainted with a bachelor studyother than your own in a programme minor.

Within broad boundary conditions, students are free to take theminor of their own personal preference. The few exceptions to

this rule are determined by each of the bachelor studies. In somecombinations between your own study and minor, problems in yourtime-table will be inevitable.

In special cases, you can compose an individual minor. Please referto the Major-minor website for more details(www.utwente.nl/majorminor/en/).
http://www.utwente.nl/majorminor/en/http://www.utwente.nl/majorminor/en/

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the Earth. There are many uses for GIS

in different scientic and operational

domains. Common application areas

are urban planning, public administra-

tion, 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 ex-

panding eld, which generates consid-

erable 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 physi-

cal, chemical and biological properties

of the Earths surface without direct

physical contact. Sensors are mostlymounted 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 infor-

mation 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 measure-

ments 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 theequipment, GPS is capable of record-

ing 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 areathat 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.

A sensors view of the Earths surface

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Quantitative analysis applies both to the data

itself and to any processing or modelling chains

employed. This course is divided into three com-

ponents. We begin with an overview of spatial

data quality and then use examples from remote

sensing and GIS to address specic elements of

spatial data quality.

Visualisation and cartography represent technol-

ogy 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 socio-

logical 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 thatfrequently 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 overvieWThe 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 rst ve subjects emphasis is on

establishing a rm theoretical and practical

background in geo data processing and spatial

information handling. Educational activities con-

sist of a theoretical component that focuses on

concepts and a practical component that aims at

developing hands-on software skills. The theoreti-

cal component is addressed via literature study

and supporting lectures; the practical componenttakes the form of a series of computer practicals.

A short case study assignment in which course

participants apply GI tools to analyse a typical ap-

plication problem and present their nding 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 or-

ganised 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 nal subject course participants carry

out an individual (or group) research assignment.

Participants can select a topic of personal inter-

est provided that it has clear link with previous

modules. If needed, ITC can make study materialsavailable.The research assignment is documented

in a report and presented to fellow course partici-

pants.

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suBjeCt 1: remote sensing theory andpraCtiCe

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.

The module covers the following topics:

The electromagnetic spectrum

Sensors and platforms

Multi-spectral, hyperspectral and thermal sen-

sors

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 classication

study forms

Lectures 40%

Literature study, exercises

and practicals 60%

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 ofthis 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.


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 40%

Exercises and practicals 60%

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 nding, measurement

and navigation. Attention is given to coordinate

systems, GPS and GIS data sets and how these

data are integrated in a GIS environment.


GPS, theory, platforms and techniques

GPS and coordinate systems

Exercises with GPS, differential GPS measure-

ments

GPS and GIS

study forms

Lectures and literature study 50%Exercises and practicals 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 compo-

nents. The rst gives a broad overview of the

topic and then focuses on key elements of spatialdata 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.

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.

module Content

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suBjeCt 5: visualisation and Cartography

main oBjeCtive

Learn to apply visual approaches for the explora-

tion, analysis, synthesis and presentation of spatial

data. The course starts with visualisation tech-

niques and the use of cartography and explores

recent developments such as internet GIS and

e-governance.


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%

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 exam-

ples 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%

Land cover information from a multi-

spectral image

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suBjeCt 7: individual (or group) researChassignment

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 ma-

terials (mostly from developing countries) can be

made available by ITC. The research assignment

is documented in a report and presented to fellow

course participants.

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 processingWeb 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 assign-

ment. In some instances - e.g. subject six - the as-sessment 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.

history

With effect from 1 January 2010 the International

Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth

Observation (ITC) was embedded as the sixth fac-

ulty 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 rmly embedded in the Dutch

academic education system, while the UT expects

to be able to prot from ITCs international net-

work.

The International Training Centre was established

in 1950 by Willem Schermerhorn, a civil engi-

neer and the rst post-war prime minister of the

Netherlands. The UN was not entirely satised

with the aerial mapping of third-world countries

and colonies so it asked whether a training insti-

tute could be set up in the Netherlands.

ITC is an institute for international higher educa-

tion, dedicated to training of professionals from

abroad. ITC offers a Graduate, Master of Science

(MSc) and Master degree programme in Geo-

information 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) diplomaand certicate (distance education and short)

courses in the eld 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 depart-

ments at ITC together. The Geo Data Processing

& Spatial Information (GPSI) minor is open to stu-

dents from all UT faculties and introduces partici-

pants in concepts, tools, techniques and applica-

tion of spatial data. GIS (geographic information

systems) and remote sensing (aerial photographyand satellite images) play an important role in this

minor.

registration

Register according to the procedure on: www.

utwente.nl/majorminor/inschrijven/index.html

BroChureDownload the GPSI brochure. You need Acrobat

Reader to view and/or print.

More information: www.itc.nl/gpsi
http://www.utwente.nl/majorminor/inschrijven/index.htmlhttp://www.utwente.nl/majorminor/inschrijven/index.htmlhttp://www.itc.nl/gpsihttp://www.itc.nl/gpsihttp://www.utwente.nl/majorminor/inschrijven/index.htmlhttp://www.utwente.nl/majorminor/inschrijven/index.html

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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: [email protected]

Room: 2-033

Prof. Dr. Ir. A. (Alfred) Stein,

Department Earth Observation Science

T: 053-4874552

F: 053-4874335

E: [email protected]

Room: 2-048
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

gpsi_2011

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