Welcome to GEOS810: GIS Skills in habitat and wildlife management

Elective Unit (Habitat Group 1)
Offered annually, in Semester 2
Value - 4 credit points

About the unit

This unit focuses on the underlying principles of GIS and the development of fundamental GIS skills for applications in the field of environmental management. It has three components: introduction to GIS, applied topics and skills for environmental purposes, and case studies and applications. Practical skills are a key component of the unit and students will acquire skills with software that is used by environmental management agencies. Basic skills include working with vector and raster data, data capture, georeferencing and data management. Applied skills include GIS analyses, remote sensing and image processing, digital terrain modelling and GPS. Case studies exemplifying the use of GIS for environmental management are an integral part of the unit.

Assessment tasks include a major project using GIS data provided by one of the NSW agencies concerned with environmental management (NPWS, Forests NSW, and the former Lane Cove Catchment Management Committee). Other tasks involve data capture and use of remotely sensed data in environmental scenarios.

The unit is delivered online. For practical work, students are provided with a copy of ArcGIS software for the duration of the unit. (Note: this software requires a computer with a Windows XP operating system. Metropolitan students without access to a computer should contact the convenor about using on-campus facilities.)

Students need to purchase a workbook with details of practical exercises - this is available through the University Co-op Bookshop.

A two-day on-campus workshop includes specialist skills with remote sensing data, problem-based learning with conservation-based scenarios and guest-lecturers from relevant fields. Attendance is compulsory for those students in the Sydney metropolitan region, Newcastle, Wollongong and Blue Mountains, and is strongly recommended for all students. Any student who is unable to attend should contact the unit convenor to discuss their situation.

GEOS810 is offered by the Department of Physical Geography, Macquarie University.