GE4S003 - Applied Geospatial Analysis 01 Sep 2021 - 31 Aug 2025 | Version 3

Associated Module Information

Module Code: GE4S003
Module Title: Applied Geospatial Analysis
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Chemical and Environmental Sciences
Faculty Sub Group: Earth and Environmental Science
Module Leader: Niamh Breslin
Module Team: Amelia Grass, Emma Higgins, Gareth Powell
First Intended Intake: SEP 2015 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100409 - geography
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 3
Valid From 01 Sep 2021
Valid To 31 Aug 2025

Module Aims

1. To provide an introduction and review of Remote Sensing and G.I.S. techniques and applications.
2. To provide appropriate practical skills in data collection manipulation and exposure to the use of geospatial analysis in a variety of settings

Content Summary

This module will equip students with the ability to solve real-world problems and answer contemporary questions in wildlife conservation and management through the acquisition, manipulation, and presentation of available spatial datasets. Students will develop an understanding of how to effectively manage large datasets and extract relevant data to carry out spatial analysis. Cartographic principles will be applied to design informative maps providing clear science communication and actionable intelligence.

Theory: Principles of Cartography, Fundamentals of GIS and Remote Sensing, and Applications of GIS/RS for wildlife conservation and management

Practical skills: Use of ArcGIS and QGIS to process data and create maps, including use of advanced spatial analysis tools. Acquisition of geospatial data from a variety of sources and in a variety of formats, and subsequent cleaning of data. Collection and application of GPS and DGPS data. Drone imagery mapping in Pix4D. Mapping in R and Data management Skills.

Examples of topics: Environmental impact of developments (e.g., roads in the Amazon, HS2), Land cover and land use change (e.g., lake shrinkage, mangrove loss), Invasive species monitoring, Land suitability assessment (e.g., for large mammal reintroduction), Movement ecology (e.g., delineating migration pathways), and Climatic hazard assessment (e.g., Australian bushfires).

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Practical classes and workshops 36
Independent Study 164
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate critical awareness and advanced practical skills, using a variety of specialist software, in the areas of GIS 
LO2 To demonstrate the ability to manage, analyse and visualize spatial data and to critically evaluate the outcomes of GIS modelling operation in light of contemporary research.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Practical Coursework 1 (Asynch) Geospatial skills folio displaying GIS processing and cartographical skills, providing a critical appraisal of the data and techniques used. 0 3000 70 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Poster 1 Spatial analysis of a contemporary conservation issue. Map presented on an infographic exploring the use of GIS/RS for the topic. 0 1000 30 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Practical Coursework 1 (Asynch)
Poster 1

Reading List

Longley, P., Goodchild, M. F., Maguire, D. J., Rhind, D., & Maguire, D. J. (2015) Geographic information science & systems. Fourth edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.

Harvey, F., & Francis, J. (2016) A primer of GIS: fundamental geographic and cartographic concepts. Second edition. New York: Guilford Press.

Peterson, G. N. (2021) GIS cartography: a guide to effective map design. Third edition. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Wegmann, M., Leutner, B., & Dech, S. W. (2016) Remote sensing and GIS for ecologists: using open-source software. Exeter: Pelagic Publishing.