Ecobiology

General objectives The purpose of the course is to provide students with the basic knowledge in the field of optical multispectral remote sensing, allowing us the extraction of environmental information from images and the use this information in Geographic Information Systems. Through lessons and exercises, the course aims to provide students with the skills and techniques necessary for image processing and for the organization and management of georeferenced environmental data. At the end of the course, the students will be able to use multispectral images to extract the information necessary to conduct ecological analysis. Specific objectives Knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course, the students will have acquired the necessary knowledges to understand and interpret the information contained in the multi- and hyper-spectral satellite images. They will have learned how images can be used in the various sectors of ecobiology. They will be informed of the physical principles of remote sensing and of the main image processing procedures. Students will also be able to understand the fundamentals of digital cartography (vector and raster) available on the web and its use in a GIS. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: The student will acquire the skills to apply, in a critical manner, the processing procedures that make possible the transformation of images into thematic cartographic products to be used in ecological territorial analyzes. On these bases, students will be able to: • select the appropriate satellite image for environmental application taking in to account their geometric, spectral, radiometric and temporal resolutions; • create thematic maps using assisted and automatic classifiers and evaluate their accuracy; • find and select the geographic data available at geoportals • manage digital cartography within GIS systems. Making judgments: Lessons will be coupled with practices on image processing of test areas using the knowledges and skills acquired during the course. As a result, students will have the opportunity to apply by their own what they have learned, conducting a synoptic analysis of the territory at different spatial and temporal scales. In addition, the analysis of several case studies will be proposed, intended to develop students' critical skills to evaluate the use of satellite data in ecobiological framework. Finally, students will be capable to independently interpret and evaluate cartographic products in a GIS system. Communication skills: During practices, with the teacher's guidance, students will have the opportunity to apply what they have learned, processing autonomously different multispectral images. The possibility to discuss with the teacher but also with fellow students, in all the phases of the information extraction process (image selection, processing procedures, and especially evaluation of the results obtained), will allow the learners to obtain the ability to interact in an effective manner both with the academic community and with the technicians in charge of the territorial analysis. Learning skills: Students will acquire the basic knowledge of remote sensing necessary to use remote sensor data for ecobiological applications autonomously. Likewise, knowledges acquired on the use of GIS for environmental applications will provide students with a suitable tool for the multidisciplinary analysis that are typical of ecobiology. The knowledge and the skills acquired will also allow students to navigate in a crucial way in the constantly evolving field of earth observation