UNSW Course Outline

GMAT9600 Principles of Remote

Sensing - 2023
Published on the 12 Sep 2023

General Course Information

Course Code : GMAT9600
Year : 2023
Term : Term 3
Teaching Period : T3
Is a multi-term course? : No
Faculty : Faculty of Engineering
Academic Unit : School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Delivery Mode : In Person
Delivery Format : Standard
Delivery Location : Kensington
Campus : Sydney
Study Level : Postgraduate, Undergraduate
Units of Credit : 6

Useful Links
Handbook Class Timetable

Course Details & Outcomes

Course Description
Remote sensing techniques are powerful tools for spatial data acquisition and this course will
describe the history, challenges and developments in remote sensing. Topics covered include
definition and physics of basic electromagnetic radiation propertises, energy-matter

GMAT9600 Principles of Remote Sensing - 2023 Printed: 30/8/2024 | 1 of 10

relationships, spectral signatures of surfaces and the atmosphere, the reduction of atmospheric
effects, sensor concepts (including film and electro-optical sensors), an introduction to data
processing and enhancement (including image interpretation procedures). Satellite missions
such as Landsat, SPOT, and ERS will be briefly introduced, as well as future remote sensing
satellite constellations. The variety of satellite and airborne platforms, and the greater access to
imagery, now make it possible to use remote sensing to address a wide range of applications.
The diverse and ever-growing applications will be reviewed.

Course Aims
This course will enable students to explore and gain further understanding of remote sensing for
earth observation through the investigation of satellite remote sensing data with a direct
emphasis of their application to real world situations in the field of mapping and environmental
monitoring.

Course Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes
CLO1 : Investigate remote sensing options for identified applications
CLO2 : Apply remote sensing techniques
CLO3 : Explain the complementary nature between remote sensing and surveying
CLO4 : Undertake basic data analysis
CLO5 : Create digital maps

Course Learning Outcomes Assessment Item

CLO1 : Investigate remote sensing options for • Quizzes
identified applications • Final Exam
CLO2 : Apply remote sensing techniques • Lab exercise
• Quizzes
• Final Exam
CLO3 : Explain the complementary nature between • Assignments
remote sensing and surveying • Lab exercise
• Quizzes
• Final Exam
CLO4 : Undertake basic data analysis • Assignments
• Lab exercise
CLO5 : Create digital maps • Assignments

GMAT9600 Principles of Remote Sensing - 2023 Printed: 30/8/2024 | 2 of 10

Learning and Teaching Technologies
Moodle - Learning Management System | Blackboard Collaborate | Microsoft Teams | Echo 360

Other Professional Outcomes

https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/student-life/student-resources/program-design

Assessments
Assessment Structure
Assessment Item Weight Relevant Dates
Quizzes 20% Start Date: 22/09/2023 09:00 AM
Assessment Format: Individual Due Date: 22/09/2023 05:00 PM
Lab exercise 10%
Assessment Format: Individual
Assignments 40%
Assessment Format: Individual
Final Exam 30%
Assessment Format: Individual

Assessment Details
Quizzes

Assessment Overview

Weekly online quizzes to reinforce understanding of topics covered in the lectures. Marks will be
returned at the end of the quiz.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO1 : Investigate remote sensing options for identified applications

CLO2 : Apply remote sensing techniques
CLO3 : Explain the complementary nature between remote sensing and surveying
Detailed Assessment Description

Quiz 1

Assessment Length

30 minutes, each quiz

GMAT9600 Principles of Remote Sensing - 2023 Printed: 30/8/2024 | 3 of 10

Lab exercise

Assessment Overview

This lab demonstration is based on the powerful DInSAR technique. Students will answer
questions at the end of the demonstration. Marks will be returned within 2 weeks.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO2 : Apply remote sensing techniques

CLO3 : Explain the complementary nature between remote sensing and surveying
CLO4 : Undertake basic data analysis

Assignments

Assessment Overview

Students will complete 2 assignments. The first will be on radar remote sensing and require
processing data collected during a major flood event and comparing radar with other techniques.
The second will be based on satellite optical remote sensing data collected during a major
bushfire. Students will complete the assignments in the lab and marks for the first assignment
will be returned before the submission of the second assignment. The second assignment
marks will be returned at the end of term.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO3 : Explain the complementary nature between remote sensing and surveying
CLO4 : Undertake basic data analysis
CLO5 : Create digital maps

Final Exam

Assessment Overview

The 2-hour final exam will be held during the final exam period and all content in the course may
be assessed.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO1 : Investigate remote sensing options for identified applications

CLO2 : Apply remote sensing techniques
CLO3 : Explain the complementary nature between remote sensing and surveying
Hurdle rules

A mark of at least 40% in the final examination is required before the class work is included in
the final mark.

GMAT9600 Principles of Remote Sensing - 2023 Printed: 30/8/2024 | 4 of 10

General Assessment Information
Grading Basis

Standard

Requirements to pass course

You need to score at least 40% in the final exam to be able to pass the course.

Course Schedule
Teaching Week/Module Activity Type Content
Week 0 : 4 September - 8 September Other
Week 1 : 11 September - 15 September Lecture Introduction to Course;
Introduction to Earth Observation/Remote Sensing
Week 2 : 18 September - 22 September Lecture Electromagnetic Radiation – Definition & Physics
Week 3 : 25 September - 29 September Lecture Spectral Reflectance and Atmospheric Attenuation
Week 4 : 2 October - 6 October Laboratory Lab demonstration: DInSAR data analysis; Assignment / lab 1 – radar
application
Week 5 : 9 October - 13 October Laboratory Assignment / lab 2 – optical application
Week 6 : 16 October - 20 October Other Non-teaching week for all courses
Week 7 : 23 October - 27 October Lecture Radar Background and Surface Interaction; Interferometric Synthetic
Aperture Radar
Week 8 : 30 October - 3 November Lecture Electro-optical Sensors
Week 9 : 6 November - 10 November Lecture Laser Scanning, Remote Sensing & GIS
Week 10 : 13 November - 17 November Lecture Revision, course summary, overall feedback

Attendance Requirements
Students are strongly encouraged to attend all classes and review lecture recordings.

Course Resources
Prescribed Resources
The course will be mainly based on PDF files of Powerpoint lecture slides available at the course
Moodle site.

The material will be uploaded week by week.

The following are recommended reading materials:

CCRS website: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/node/9363

The UNSW Library website: http://info.library.unsw.edu.au/web/services/services.html

GMAT9600 Principles of Remote Sensing - 2023 Printed: 30/8/2024 | 5 of 10

Recommended Resources
“Principles of Remote Sensing”, Paul J. Curran. London; New York : Longman, 1985.

“Physical Principles of Remote Sensing”, William.G. Rees. Cambridge, U.K.; New York, NY :
Cambridge University Press, 2001.

Staff Details
Position Name Email Location Phone Availability Equitable Learning Primary
Services Contact Contact
Convenor Linlin Ge Civil Engineering +612938541 No Yes
Building Room 414 77

Other Useful Information

Academic Information

I. Special consideration and supplementary assessment

If you have experienced an illness or misadventure beyond your control that will interfere with
your assessment performance, you are eligible to apply for Special Consideration prior to, or
within 3 working days of, submitting an assessment or sitting an exam.

Please note that UNSW has a Fit to Sit / Submit rule, which means that if you sit an exam or
submit a piece of assessment, you are declaring yourself fit enough to do so and cannot later
apply for Special Consideration.

For details of applying for Special Consideration and conditions for the award of supplementary
assessment, please see the information on UNSW’s Special Consideration page.

II. Administrative matters and links

All students are expected to read and be familiar with UNSW guidelines and polices. In particular,
students should be familiar with the following:

Attendance
UNSW Email Address
Special Consideration
Exams
Approved Calculators

GMAT9600 Principles of Remote Sensing - 2023 Printed: 30/8/2024 | 6 of 10

 Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
Equitable Learning Services

III. Equity and diversity

Those students who have a disability that requires some adjustment in their teaching or learning
environment are encouraged to discuss their study needs with the course convener prior to, or at
the commencement of, their course, or with the Equity Officer (Disability) in the Equitable
Learning Services. Issues to be discussed may include access to materials, signers or note-
takers, the provision of services and additional exam and assessment arrangements. Early
notification is essential to enable any necessary adjustments to be made.

Note: This course outline sets out the description of classes at the date the Course Outline is
published. The nature of classes may change during the Term after the Course Outline is published.
Moodle or your primary learning management system (LMS) should be consulted for the up-to-date
class descriptions. If there is any inconsistency in the description of activities between the
University timetable and the Course Outline/Moodle/LMS, the description in the Course Outline/
Moodle/LMS applies.

Academic Honesty and Plagarism

UNSW has an ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of learning informed by academic

integrity. All UNSW students have a responsibility to adhere to this principle of academic
integrity. Plagiarism undermines academic integrity and is not tolerated at UNSW. Plagiarism at
UNSW is defined as using the words or ideas of others and passing them off as your own.

Plagiarism is a type of intellectual theft. It can take many forms, from deliberate cheating to
accidentally copying from a source without acknowledgement. UNSW has produced a website
with a wealth of resources to support students to understand and avoid plagiarism, visit:
student.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism. The Learning Centre assists students with understanding
academic integrity and how not to plagiarise. They also hold workshops and can help students
one-on-one.

You are also reminded that careful time management is an important part of study and one of
the identified causes of plagiarism is poor time management. Students should allow sufficient
time for research, drafting and the proper referencing of sources in preparing all assessment
tasks.

GMAT9600 Principles of Remote Sensing - 2023 Printed: 30/8/2024 | 7 of 10

Repeated plagiarism (even in first year), plagiarism after first year, or serious instances, may also
be investigated under the Student Misconduct Procedures. The penalties under the procedures
can include a reduction in marks, failing a course or for the most serious matters (like plagiarism
in an honours thesis or contract cheating) even suspension from the university. The Student
Misconduct Procedures are available here:

www.gs.unsw.edu.au/policy/documents/studentmisconductprocedures.pdf

Submission of Assessment Tasks

Work submitted late without an approved extension by the course coordinator or delegated
authority is subject to a late penalty of five percent (5%) of the maximum mark possible for that
assessment item, per calendar day.

The late penalty is applied per calendar day (including weekends and public holidays) that the
assessment is overdue. There is no pro-rata of the late penalty for submissions made part way
through a day. This is for all assessments where a penalty applies.

Work submitted after five days (120 hours) will not be accepted and a mark of zero will be
awarded for that assessment item.

For some assessment items, a late penalty may not be appropriate. These will be clearly
indicated in the course outline, and such assessments will receive a mark of zero if not
completed by the specified date. Examples include:

Weekly online tests or laboratory work worth a small proportion of the subject mark;
Exams, peer feedback and team evaluation surveys;
Online quizzes where answers are released to students on completion;
Professional assessment tasks, where the intention is to create an authentic assessment that
has an absolute submission date; and,
Pass/Fail assessment tasks.

Faculty-specific Information

Engineering Student Support Services – The Nucleus - enrolment, progression checks, clash
requests, course issues or program-related queries

Engineering Industrial Training – Industrial training questions

UNSW Study Abroad – study abroad student enquiries (for inbound students)

GMAT9600 Principles of Remote Sensing - 2023 Printed: 30/8/2024 | 8 of 10

UNSW Exchange – student exchange enquiries (for inbound students)

UNSW Future Students – potential student enquiries e.g. admissions, fees, programs, credit
transfer

Phone

(+61 2) 9385 8500 – Nucleus Student Hub

(+61 2) 9385 7661 – Engineering Industrial Training

(+61 2) 9385 3179 – UNSW Study Abroad and UNSW Exchange (for inbound students)

School-specific Information

Final Examinations

Final Exams in T3 2023 will be held on campus between the 24th November and the 7th
December, and Supplementary Exams between the 8th January and 12th January 2024. You are
required to be available on these dates. Please do not to make any personal or travel
arrangements during this period.

School Contact Information

Engineering Student Support Services – The Nucleus - enrolment, progression checks, clash
requests, course issues or program-related queries

Engineering Industrial Training – Industrial training questions

UNSW Study Abroad – study abroad student enquiries (for inbound students)

UNSW Exchange – student exchange enquiries (for inbound students)

UNSW Future Students – potential student enquiries e.g. admissions, fees, programs, credit
transfer

Phone

(+61 2) 9385 8500 – Nucleus Student Hub

GMAT9600 Principles of Remote Sensing - 2023 Printed: 30/8/2024 | 9 of 10

(+61 2) 9385 7661 – Engineering Industrial Training

(+61 2) 9385 3179 – UNSW Study Abroad and UNSW Exchange (for inbound students)

ACADEMIC ADVICE

Key Staff to Contact for Academic Advice (log in with your zID and password): https://
intranet.civeng.unsw.edu.au/key-staff-to-contact-during-your-studies-at-unsw
Key UNSW Dates - eg. Census Date, exam dates, last day to drop a course without academic/
financial liability etc.
CVEN Student Intranet (log in with your zID and password): https://
intranet.civeng.unsw.edu.au/student-intranet
Student Life at CVEN, including Student Societies: https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/
civil-and-environmental-engineering/student-life
Special Consideration: https://student.unsw.edu.au/special-consideration
General and Program-Specific Questions: The Nucleus: Student Hub
Book an Academic Advising session: https://unswengacademicadvising.as.me/schedule.php

GMAT9600 Principles of Remote Sensing - 2023 Printed: 30/8/2024 | 10 of 10