Geospatial Science in the Arctic Domain from edX

This course enables students to solve real-world problems using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing. Students will acquire skills in data management, vector, and raster analysis. They will work with elevation data and point coordinates in a GIS environment and learn how to assess data accuracy in GIS.

Remote sensing observations from airborne and spaceborne platforms have become an essential tool for monitoring environmental change. This is especially true for the Arctic, where accelerated climate warming has caused exceptional changes of landscape and ecosystems, and where the vastness and remoteness of the landscape has made remote sensing an indispensable observational tool.

In light of this need for remote sensing, this course focuses on a range of geospatial science applications in the Arctic domain. Example applications include general change detection, the monitoring of snow and water; the analysis of wildfires, and the mapping and assessment of landslides. All these applications are actors of change in the Arctic and impact geospatial intelligence applications such as the assessment of Arctic domain trafficability.

This course includes the following modules:

Module 0: Introduction to the Course
Module 1: Monitoring Environmental Change From Imagery
Module 2: Mapping Snow Cover with the Normalized Difference Snow Index
Module 3: Wildfire Mapping Concepts
Module 4: Landslide Mapping using Remote Sensing

Learners on the Verified Track will put their learned knowledge into action in data analysis exercises related to all four course modules. In these exercises, learners who select the verified track will have access to online computational labs using ArcGIS pro and Jupyter notebooks. These will facilitate a deeper immersion into the subject matter.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Participants in this course will develop the following skills:
Intuitive understanding of sar image and phase information
Understanding of the use of remote sensing data for snow and water mapping
Experience in mapping active wildfires from thermal remote sensing data

Understanding of how to map burn scars using multispectral remote sensing data
Expertise in calculating landslides susceptibility from remotely sensed data and in mapping landslide areas and impacts
Understanding how to measure the movement of deep-seated landslides using interferometric sar techniques

Participants in this course will develop the following skills:
Intuitive understanding of sar image and phase information
Understanding of the use of remote sensing data for snow and water mapping
Experience in mapping active wildfires from thermal remote sensing data
Understanding of how to map burn scars using multispectral remote sensing data
Expertise in calculating landslides susceptibility from remotely sensed data and in mapping landslide areas and impacts
Understanding how to measure the movement of deep-seated landslides using interferometric sar techniques

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to the Course and Environmental Change Detection Techniques

Week 1 will introduce you to the main content and structure of this course. In this first week, you will also learn about methods to detect and map environmental changes using remote sensing data. The following items will be addressed:

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what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on the Arctic domain, which is experiencing rapid environmental changes, making it highly relevant for researchers and practitioners in polar regions

Develops expertise in calculating landslide susceptibility from remotely sensed data and in mapping landslide areas and impacts, which are crucial skills for hazard assessment

Provides hands-on experience with ArcGIS Pro and Jupyter notebooks in online computational labs, which are standard tools in the geospatial analysis field

Explores the use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging and change detection techniques, which are increasingly important in environmental monitoring

Requires access to ArcGIS Pro and Jupyter notebooks, which may require a license or subscription, potentially posing a barrier for some learners

Examines the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) and Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR), which are established methods for mapping snow cover and assessing burn severity

Reviews summary

Geospatial science for arctic environmental change

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in geospatial science and remote sensing techniques, specifically focusing on their application in the Arctic domain. Students particularly appreciate the practical lab exercises, especially for those on the verified track who gain hands-on experience with ArcGIS Pro and Jupyter notebooks. The course covers key topics like SAR, NDSI, NBR, and InSAR, and while it is well-structured, some reviewers noted that prior familiarity with GIS or remote sensing is helpful, suggesting it might be challenging for absolute beginners. The real-world Arctic examples are highlighted as particularly engaging and relevant.

Good overview of remote sensing techniques.

"The course provided a clear overview of complex techniques like InSAR and SAR change detection."

"I learned a lot about different indices like NDSI and NBR and how they are used."

"The instructors explain the theoretical concepts behind remote sensing methods well."

"The modules on wildfire and landslide mapping were very informative from a conceptual standpoint."

Unique application of geospatial science to the Arctic.

"The focus on the Arctic domain makes this course unique and highly relevant to current issues."

"I appreciated the specific examples of environmental change in the Arctic."

"Using Arctic case studies like wildfires and landslides made the theory feel very relevant."

"This course is perfect if you are interested in polar remote sensing applications."

Hands-on exercises using industry standard tools.

"The labs were the most valuable part, getting to use ArcGIS Pro and Jupyter felt very practical."

"I really enjoyed the hands-on exercises; they solidified the concepts presented in lectures."

"The verified track labs using ArcGIS Pro and Jupyter were fantastic for practical application."

"Working with real Arctic data in the labs was insightful and engaging."

Better suited for those with some GIS/RS background.

"While the introduction is helpful, a basic understanding of GIS is beneficial before starting."

"I struggled a bit without prior remote sensing experience; it moves quite fast."

"This course is probably best for intermediate learners or those with a related academic background."

"If you're completely new to GIS, be prepared for a steep learning curve in the labs."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Geospatial Science in the Arctic Domain with these activities:

Review Remote Sensing Fundamentals

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Reinforce your understanding of remote sensing principles to better grasp the course's application of these techniques in the Arctic.

Browse courses on Remote Sensing

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Review basic concepts of electromagnetic radiation and spectral reflectance.
Study different types of remote sensing sensors and their characteristics.
Practice interpreting remote sensing images and identifying features.

Read 'Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation'

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Gain a deeper understanding of remote sensing principles and image interpretation techniques.

View Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation on Amazon

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Read the chapters related to multispectral and thermal remote sensing.
Study the examples of image interpretation for different land cover types.
Take notes on key concepts and techniques.

Practice GIS Data Management

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Sharpen your GIS data management skills to efficiently handle and process geospatial data used in the course exercises.

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Create and manage shapefiles and geodatabases.
Practice importing and exporting data between different GIS formats.
Perform basic geoprocessing operations such as clipping and buffering.

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Create a Blog Post on Arctic Environmental Change

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Solidify your understanding of Arctic environmental change by researching and writing a blog post summarizing the key issues and the role of geospatial science.

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Research a specific aspect of Arctic environmental change (e.g., permafrost thaw, sea ice decline).
Find relevant remote sensing data and GIS analyses related to your topic.
Write a blog post summarizing your findings and explaining the implications.
Include visualizations such as maps and charts.

Follow ArcGIS Pro Tutorials on Landslide Mapping

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Enhance your landslide mapping skills by following ArcGIS Pro tutorials that demonstrate relevant techniques.

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Find ArcGIS Pro tutorials on landslide susceptibility mapping and InSAR analysis.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step, paying attention to the underlying concepts.
Apply the techniques to a different study area or dataset.

Develop a Landslide Susceptibility Map

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Apply your knowledge to create a landslide susceptibility map for a region of interest in the Arctic, using remote sensing data and GIS analysis.

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Select a study area in the Arctic with known landslide activity.
Gather relevant remote sensing data (e.g., DEM, multispectral imagery).
Identify factors contributing to landslide susceptibility (e.g., slope, aspect, geology).
Develop a GIS model to calculate landslide susceptibility.
Validate your map using existing landslide inventory data.

Read 'GIS for Science: Applying Mapping and Spatial Analytics'

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Explore real-world applications of GIS in scientific research, particularly in environmental science.

View Marine Geographical Information Systems on Amazon

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Read the chapters related to environmental monitoring and change detection.
Study the case studies that use GIS to analyze environmental problems.
Consider how the techniques described in the book could be applied to your own research.

Create a Story Map on Wildfire Impacts in the Arctic

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Communicate the impacts of wildfires in the Arctic using a compelling Story Map that integrates maps, images, and narrative text.

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Gather data on recent wildfires in the Arctic (e.g., burned area, fire severity).
Create maps showing the location and extent of wildfires.
Include images and videos of wildfires and their impacts.
Write narrative text explaining the causes and consequences of wildfires.
Publish your Story Map online and share it with others.

Career center

Learners who complete Geospatial Science in the Arctic Domain will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Remote Sensing Specialist

The role of a Remote Sensing Specialist is to collect and interpret data acquired from aerial platforms like satellites and aircrafts. The course, with its emphasis on remote sensing observations for monitoring environmental change, perfectly complements the responsibilities of a Remote Sensing Specialist. The course modules, including snow and water mapping, wildfire mapping, and landslide mapping, provide practical experience in applying remote sensing techniques to real-world problems. A Remote Sensing Specialist will benefit from the techniques to assess data accuracy given in the course. This course is specifically beneficial for monitoring the Arctic, where remote sensing is indispensable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Remote Sensing Specialist

Geospatial Analyst

A Geospatial Analyst uses Geographical Information Systems and remote sensing data to study spatial information. This course helps build crucial skills in data management, vector, and raster analysis, which are directly applicable to the daily tasks of a Geospatial Analyst. The course emphasizes remote sensing observations, which are an essential tool for monitoring environmental change. With its focus on the Arctic domain, the course provides vital experience for those interested in geospatial intelligence applications, such as assessing Arctic domain trafficability. The modules on change detection, snow and water mapping, wildfire mapping, and landslide mapping offer targeted practice valuable to a future Geospatial Analyst.

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Climate Change Analyst

A Climate Change Analyst studies climate change and its impacts. This course focuses on geospatial science applications in the Arctic, a region experiencing accelerated climate warming, making it highly relevant to a Climate Change Analyst. The Climate Change Analyst can gain experience in mapping active wildfires from thermal remote sensing data. The skills in data management, vector, and raster analysis, as well as change detection techniques, are essential for analyzing climate-related environmental changes. The modules on snow and water mapping, wildfire mapping, and landslide mapping offer direct insights into the effects of climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Change Analyst

GIS Technician

A GIS Technician supports geospatial projects through data collection, analysis, and mapping. The course provides a solid foundation in Geographical Information Systems and remote sensing, which are core skills for a GIS Technician. The course will help a GIS Technician to acquire the knowledge to solve real-world problems using GIS. Skills in data management, vector, and raster analysis are important in the study of elevation data and point coordinates in a GIS environment. The knowledge of change detection, snow and water monitoring, wildfire mapping, and landslide mapping, is particularly useful for a future GIS Technician.

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Geographer

A Geographer studies the Earth's surface, its diverse environments, and human populations. The course, with its focus on Geographical Information Systems and remote sensing, provides a Geographer with essential tools for analyzing spatial data. The course's emphasis on the Arctic domain is relevant to understanding the impact of climate change on landscapes and ecosystems. A future Geographer can learn to apply skills in data management, vector, and raster analysis, and develop a deeper understanding of change detection, snow and water mapping, wildfire mapping, and landslide mapping. All these applications impact geospatial intelligence applications such as the assessment of Arctic domain trafficability.

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Hydrologist

A Hydrologist studies the distribution and movement of water. The course is helpful as it includes a module on snow and water mapping using remote sensing data. The Hydrologist can use remote sensing data for snow and water mapping. The course provides knowledge to understand the use of remote sensing data for snow and water mapping. A Hydrologist benefits from the course's focus on the Arctic domain, where snow and water dynamics are crucial for understanding hydrological processes. The course provides skills in general change detection.

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Surveyor

A Surveyor measures and maps land surfaces. While traditional surveying involves fieldwork, modern surveying increasingly relies on remote sensing data, which is a key focus of this course. The course will help a Surveyor to understand how to map burn scars using multispectral remote sensing data. The techniques for snow and water mapping, wildfire detection, and landslide assessment directly enhance a Surveyor's ability to monitor and map changes in the Arctic landscape. The Surveyor can also learn to assess data accuracy in GIS. The course's coverage of SAR image analysis is beneficial for Surveyors using advanced remote sensing methods.

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Emergency Management Specialist

An Emergency Management Specialist prepares for and responds to natural disasters and other emergencies. The course is helpful because of its focus on remote sensing applications for monitoring environmental change and mapping hazards. An Emergency Management Specialist can learn how to map burn scars using multispectral remote sensing data. The modules on monitoring snow and water, mapping wildfires, and assessing landslides provide valuable tools for risk assessment and disaster response. The course's emphasis on the Arctic domain is relevant because of the increasing frequency of climate-related emergencies.

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Environmental Scientist

An Environmental Scientist studies the environment and solutions to environmental problems. This course may be useful as it focuses on geospatial science applications in the Arctic domain, where environmental changes are pronounced. The course provides experience in monitoring environmental change from imagery and mapping snow cover, which are relevant to the work of an Environmental Scientist. Understanding remote sensing data is helpful for Environmental Scientists, and this course teaches techniques for mapping wildfires and assessing landslides. These applications, key to understanding Arctic changes, align well with the interests of an Environmental Scientist.

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Cartographer

A Cartographer designs and creates maps using spatial data. This course may be useful as it focuses on Geographical Information Systems and remote sensing, offering a modern approach to cartography. The course helps a Cartographer use skills in data management, vector, and raster analysis, and apply them to mapping various environmental features. The modules are change detection, snow and water mapping, wildfire mapping, and landslide mapping. This course offers Cartographers insights into the latest techniques for geospatial data representation, especially relevant for mapping in regions undergoing rapid environmental change like the Arctic.

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Remote Sensing Technician

The role of Remote Sensing Technician is to assist in collecting and processing remote sensing data. This course will help you in mapping active wildfires from thermal remote sensing data. The course focuses on a range of geospatial science applications in the Arctic domain. The course may be useful because you will have access to online computational labs using ArcGIS pro and Jupyter notebooks. These will facilitate a deeper immersion into the subject matter. You will also gain expertise in calculating landslides susceptibility from remotely sensed data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Remote Sensing Technician

Geospatial Data Scientist

The skills taught in this course are valuable for you if you are considering a role as a Geospatial Data Scientist. This kind of scientist works with geospatial data to extract insights and build predictive models. As a Geospatial Data Scientist, you will be able to work with elevation data and point coordinates in a GIS environment. It is helpful for you to acquire skills in data management, vector, and raster analysis. This course may be useful, since learners on the verified track will put their learned knowledge into action in data analysis exercises related to all four course modules.

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Urban Planner

An Urban Planner develops plans and programs for land use. This course may be useful, as the skills learned in data management, vector, and raster analysis can be applied to urban planning challenges. While the course focuses on the Arctic domain, the geospatial science applications, such as the assessment of Arctic domain trafficability, are relevant to understanding infrastructure and environmental impacts. The Urban Planner can consider change detection, snow and water mapping, wildfire mapping, and landslide mapping when learning how to address planning challenges.

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GIS Application Developer

The role of a GIS Application Developer is to create software applications that use Geographical Information Systems technology. You will learn how to measure the movement of deep-seated landslides using interferometric SAR techniques. This course may be useful because it enables you to solve real-world problems using Geographical Information Systems and remote sensing. The course focuses on a range of geospatial science applications in the Arctic domain. This course will give you an intuitive understanding of SAR image and phase information. You will also learn about the use of remote sensing data for snow and water mapping.

See salaries and explore the career path for GIS Application Developer

Land Surveyor

A Land Surveyor establishes official land, air space, and water boundaries. This may be a good course for you if you are interested in SAR image and phase information. The course focuses on geospatial science applications in the Arctic domain, which is relevant if you are interested in the movement of deep-seated landslides using interferometric SAR techniques. In this course, you will learn how to assess data accuracy in GIS and work with elevation data and point coordinates in a GIS environment. This course will give you an understanding of how to map burn scars using multispectral remote sensing data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Land Surveyor

Geospatial Science in the Arctic Domain

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Geospatial science for arctic environmental change

Activities

Career center

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