GEO3515 – Remote Sensing of the Earth surface
Course description
Course content
This course covers the practical and theoretical principles of remote sensing for observing the Earth from air and space. The course's main focus is monitoring Earth's surface processes from satellites. The main parts of the course are the (i) physical principles behind remote sensing, in particular electromagnetic radiation, (ii) sensors, platforms and orbital configurations used in Earth observation, and (iii) methods for analyzing the data obtained. The course is closely coordinated with the GEO3512 – Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and both courses can be combined.?
Learning outcome
After completing the course, you are able to
- explain the properties of the visible, infrared and microwave parts of the electromagnetic spectrum
- compare various platforms for remote analysis and image sensors
- analyze remotely sensed data of Earth's surface processes and evaluate results from such data
- communicate results from your own remote sensing project in oral and written form
- reflect on which remote sensing techniques and analysis methods are suitable for different applications of monitoring with a focus on the Earth's surface processes
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
The courses GEO3515 and GEO4515 have a joint admission with a joint capacity of 20 students.
If there are more than 20 applicants, the applicants will be ranked after the following categories:
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Students admitted to the following programme options (not prioritized order):
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Other programme students at the Department of Geosciences, UiO
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Exchange students at bachelor's and master's level and other bachelor's- and master's-level students at The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, UiO
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Single-course students
Applicants will be ranked by the number of ECTS credits within each category: all applicants within category 1 are ranked before applicants in category 2. If there are space limitations in the course, available places will be given to students selected randomly among those with the same amount of ECTS credits.
Special admission requirements
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
- Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2)
And in addition one of these:
- Mathematics R2
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
Mathematics R2 was a requirement up until and including the study year 2021/2022, as part of a trial arrangement. From and including the study year 2022/2023, Mathematics R2 is no longer a requirement.
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with GEO4515 – Remote Sensing of the Earth surface.
- 10 credits overlap with GEG2240 – Introduction to remote sensing (continued).
- 5 credits overlap with GEO3512 – Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere.
- 5 credits overlap with GEO4512 – Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere.
Teaching
Teaching consists of 2 hours of lectures and 2 hours of computer exercises per week. There is a mandatory presentation of a project and submittal of a project report (approx. 5 pages) where the topic is given. The project report counts towards the final grade.
Lectures and computer labs of this course are closely coordinated with those of course GEO3512. Both courses can be combined.
Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Student administration (studieinfo@geo.uio.no).
We reserve the right to change the teaching?form and examination of the course in semesters where 5 or fewer students have been admitted.
Examination
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A mandatory project presentation must have been approved before the final examination.
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A written project report counts 30% towards the final grade. The project report must have been passed before the final examination.
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A final written examination counts 70% towards the final grade.
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The written project report and the final written examination must be passed separately in order to pass the course.
Mandatory assignments are valid for 5 semesters starting from the semester they were approved the first time.
When writing your exercises, familiarize yourself with the rules for using?sources and citations. Breach of these rules may lead to suspicion of?attempted cheating.
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
It will also be counted as 1 of the 3 attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for one of the following courses:
Examination support material
Language of examination
Courses taught in English will only offer the exam paper in English.
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are?offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.