| Unit name | Geospatial Data Analysis |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EASC20053 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Matthew Watson |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Successful completion of a Year 1 Earth Sciences programme. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important?
This unit is designed to train the students in two important areas – the use of GIS software and scientific coding.
Both are critical skills employers demand which significantly increase employability. GIS and coding competency increases efficiency and significantly reduces the amount of time complex tasks take to complete. STEM jobs demand numerical competency, which this unit will provide.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit builds on year 1 units. Specifically introducing handling of geospatial and time series-type data. This unit supports many higher-level units such as year 3 projects.
An overview of content
Students will be introduced to a modern GIS interface and scientific programming using a code development environment. They will learn about data visualization and analysis as well as data handling skills. Following this, students will be trained in effectively presenting and processing complex geospatial data. All of this will focus on real-world examples, that Earth Science students will be able relate to and potential employers will value.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
GIS and coding skills are expected by employers. The ability to code differentiates you from other students, increasing your employability. You will be able to complete complex, time-consuming tasks more efficiently and robustly, gaining confidence through completing data processing and visualisation tasks quickly and professionally.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit you will be able to:
Teaching will combine practicals and lectures. Practicals will consolidate lecture material and provide inquiry- and problem-based exercises, with some applied content. Guided background reading will also be provided.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)
Formative assessment and feedback is throughout the hands-on practical sessions. Students will be able to receive formative feedback near to the end of the first part of the unit, once their initial basemaps are complete. This will inform the second half of the unit and facilitate the successful completion of the assessment.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
The summative coursework assessment (100%) combines skills learned in GIS and scientific coding whilst addressing the intended learning outcomes. The assessment will incorporate GIS and coding elements to address an environmental challenge, brought together in a graphical submission.
When assessment does not go to plan
The University's Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes outline the requirements for progression on and completion of degree programmes. Students who miss an exam and self-certify their absence may complete a supplementary assessment for an uncapped mark as if taken for the first time. Resit and supplementary exams are habitually taken during the reassessment period later in the summer. As far as is practicable and appropriate, resit and supplementary assessments will be in the same form as the original assessment but will always test the same intended learning outcomes as the initial missed or failed assessment. In the case of group work, failure by a whole group would result in an appropriate group task being set and reassessed for all group members. If a single student fails a group assessment or is unable to participate for an evidenced reason, an individual reassessment will be set.
There are rigorous and fair procedures in place to support students who are ill or whose studies and assessments are affected by exceptional circumstances.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EASC20053).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
