Geographic Information Systems

Overview

The rapidly expanding areas of remote sensing, GIS and digital terrain modelling are increasingly valued by employers in both the public and the private sector. Our vocationally orientated programme will provide you with surveying, mapping and satellite positioning skills which can lead to a wide variety of career options.

Remote Sensing

This is the science of observation of the Earth's surface using images obtained from sensors on board aircraft and satellites. Examples of remote sensing range from weather satellite images to low altitude air photos used in ecological mapping or urban planning.

Using remote sensing technology, you will learn to map and to monitor both local and remote areas and to further your understanding of our natural environment and human impact upon it.

Remote sensing has been used to map deforestation, to measure the extent of the ozone hole, to monitor the tracks of hurricanes and even to map movements of icebergs to assist shipping.

Geographic Information Systems

These are used to collect, transform and display spatial data from the real world. Spatial data describe objects both in terms of their location (for example grid reference, longitude and latitude) and their attributes (for example age, ownership, species). You will learn to use GIS to explore spatial relationships between geographic features and to understand how decision-makers predict the consequences of a course of action.

A related subject is surveying and digital terrain modelling in which computer systems and graphics are used to represent the Earth's surface, often using 3D display.