Advanced Earth Observation
Mar 11 - May 3
| R8000Download the course prospectus
Advanced Earth Observation is a course aimed at intermediate earth observation (EO) practitioners who require instruction in the principles and techniques fundamental to GEOBIA, including image segmentation, object features, supervised and rule-based classification, use of thematic and ancillary data, and assessment of accuracy in an object-based environment. Upon completion, participants should understand the basic principles of GEOBIA and be able to carry out a GEOBIA workflow in the remote sensing software package of eCognition.
BASIC SKILLS NEEDED TO DO THIS COURSE?
Participants need to have an introductory level of understanding of earth observation.
ACCREDITATION
This course is accredited by Stellenbosch University, an accredited higher education provider.
OUTCOMES
Students who complete the full course will be able to:
- Understand and explain the need for pre-processing satellite imagery;
- Understand and explain the principles of supervised, unsupervised and expert system (rule-based) classification approaches;
- Describe frequently used image classification algorithms;
- Understand and explain the need for and application of image transformations;
- Understand the principals of accuracy assessment and sound field work;
- Describe the fundamentals of geographical object-based image analysis (GEOBIA);
- Understand object creation and describe a range of image segmentation algorithms;
- Describe various image object features, including spectral, textural, geometrical, contextual and relational features.
- Implement a simple image processing workflow in an object-based environment;
- Select, apply and assess various image transformations within an object-based environment;
- Perform a simple accuracy assessment of a object-based classification product;
- Integrate an earth observation product into a GIS application.
PRESCRIBED READING
There is no prescribed textbook for this course, but participants are encouraged to read the following articles:
– Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis – Towards a new paradigm by Blaschke et. al (2014), Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924271613002220
– Object based image analysis for remote sensing by Blaschke (2010). Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924271609000884
– Multiresolution Segmentation: an optimization approach for high quality multi-scale image segmentation by Baatz & Schäpe (1999). Available at: http://www.ecognition.com/sites/default/files/405_baatz_fp_12.pdf
Software requirements
Students need not be on campus during the duration of this course but need access to a computer loaded with ArcGIS Pro software and suitable remote sensing software (ENVI). Temporary software licences (valid for two months) can be supplied if necessary. To make sure your system meets the minimum requirements to run ArcGIS Pro click here. To check your computer’s ability to run ArcGIS Pro, click here.
ASSESSMENTS
Students who register for the full course will write an exam at the end of the 5th week of the course. The test will count towards 50% of the final course mark and will contain questions relating to the lectures, exercises, and the prescribed reading. An assignment will have to be completed within the 3 weeks following the exam. The assignment will be a practical task and will count towards 50% of the final course mark.
COURSE STRUCTURE & COST
Accredited option @ R 8 000
The course duration is a total of 8 weeks. The first 4 weeks students receive access to lectures and practical exercises requiring about 8 to 10 hours of effort per week. At the end of the 5th week students are required to write an examination. This is followed by a final 3 weeks during which students’ complete assignments. Students will be assisted during the course by having access to forums and weekly online q & a sessions.
Standard course fees are reduced by 20% for Stellenbosch University students and staff members if paid via an internal university cost point.
APPLICATION
Accredited course click here.
Check our calendar for dates on when our other short courses are presented.