GEOGRAPHY 3741 REMOTE SENSING
General Information
Fall 2009
INSTRUCTOR
Prof.
Dallas D. Rhodes E-mail: DRhodes@GeorgiaSouthern.edu
Department
of Geology and Geography Office
Phone: (912) 478-5361
Office: 1110A Herty Building Office
FAX: (912) 478-0668
Office
Hours: Monday 1:00 to 5:00 pm Campus
Mail: Box 8149
Thursday
1:00 to 4:00 pm
By
appointment
THE NATURE OF THE COURSE
Remote Sensing is a 4-credit
hour upper division course designed primarily for students pursing a major in
geography or geology, a minor in GIS, or a degree in the College of Information
Technology with the second discipline in GIS. Students who have had physics (at either the high school or
university level) and are comfortable with algebra will be well prepared to
understand the material. Courses
in GIS, cartography, computer science, and the natural sciences will bring
knowledge that provides a broader context for the subject.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the conclusion of this
course, successful students should:
1) Be able to demonstrate
knowledge of the basic properties of electromagnetic radiation and the
properties of the atmosphere that affect the Earth’s radiation balance.
2) Know the fundamental
characteristics of images of all kinds.
3) Understand and be able to
apply basic techniques of digital image processing.
4) Be able to interpret and
extract information from remotely sensed image data including satellite and aircraft
systems using the visible, infrared, and radar radiation.
5) Be aware of the
application of remote sensing to a range of practical issues.
CLASS MEETINGS
Lecture: 12:00 am to12:50 pm MW, Herty 2112
Laboratory: 10:00 am - 11:50 am, TTh, Information
Technology 2204
5:00
pm – 6:50 pm, TTh, Herty 1117 (ESCAL)
REQUIRED TEXT BOOKS
Text: Remote Sensing of the Environment by
John R. Jensen
Bring
your lecture textbook to every
class meeting.
WEB RESOURCES
I have established a web
site with resources for this course.
The URL for the site is:
http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/~drhodes/remote.html
HARDWARE REQUIREMENT
External
USB hard drive
Minimum
storage capacity: 20 GB
Preferably
self powered
STUDENT’S
EXPECTATIONS (What you can expect of me.)
l Provide an up-to-date
and comprehensive knowledge of the course material.
l Be interested,
excited, and enthusiastic about the course and the material.
l Demonstrate for you
that this material is relevant to your life.
l Challenge you to
think about the subject.
l Involve you in the
material through in-class and out-of-class exercises.
l Start and end
classes on time.
PROFESSOR’S EXPECTATIONS
(What I will expect of you.)
l Attend class.
Come to class prepared and on time!
l Finish reading
assignments prior to class. Take complete notes that you review
regularly.
l Keep an organized
notebook.
l Complete all
assignments on time and hand them in.
As noted on syllabus, late assignments will not be accepted.
l Accept
responsibility for your learning.
My role as a teacher is to facilitate your development as an independent
learner. Be an active learner. If you need help, get it
early. Don't fall behind.
l Know that it is a
nationwide standard that, for success in most college courses, a student needs
to put in 2-3 hours outside of class for each hour spent in class.
l Know that it is the responsibility of each student to meet personal objectives. Many students must maintain a high GPA for advancement or acceptance into academic programs. It is the student's responsibility to work toward this goal. Do not tell me, “I have to get a _____ in this class.” This is your objective and your responsibility.
CONSULTATIONS
Students are encouraged to
see me in my office to discuss any aspect of the course. My standard office hours are shown
above. In fact, it is usually
possible to find me in the Herty Building most of the day. You can also make an appointment.
ATTENDANCE
In accordance with University
policy, “Regular and punctual attendance is expected of students in all
classes.” Make-ups will be
permitted only for those classes missed due to personal or family emergencies
that have been formally documented
(e.g., doctors notes, attorney’s letter, police report). Without formal documentation, assignments may not be made up. If possible, you should always notify
your professor prior to any absence.
LABORATORY ASSIGNMENTS
The laboratory exercises are
an essential part of the course. Students
are expected to read and understand the assignments before they come to the lab and to remain in the lab for
the full two-hour period or until the exercise is completed. During the lab period you should
attempt each problem and ask questions.
Although you will be able to complete some of the labs during class
time, most will require you to spend time outside class. All assignments must be submitted on
the assigned due date in order to receive credit.
GRADING OPTIONS
The grading options available
in this course are: (1) letter
grade, or (2) credit-no credit.
Please note that with the letter-grade option, D's are passing grades. However, with the credit-no credit
option, D-level work will result in a grade of "NO CREDIT." Also note that once you have made your
choice of a grading option it cannot be changed.
GRADING
Lecture
Mid-term
examinations (2@100 each) 200
Final
examination 150
Term
project 150
Miscellaneous
(e.g., attendance, quizzes) 50
GRAND
TOTAL FOR COURSE 550
Missing an exam will result in a grade of 0
points. The only acceptable
excuses for missing a test are serious personal illness, a family emergency, or
official school business. The
reason for the absence must be documented in writing from an appropriate source,
such as your physician. If you
must be absent when an examination is scheduled, let me know as early as is
possible. Do not wait until after
the examination is given. In
virtually all circumstances no make-up will be offered. If a student is excused from an
examination, that test will not be considered in determining the student’s
final grade.
At the end of the semester your letter grade for the
course will be calculated according to the total number of points earned in the
course. The cut-offs between
grades will be determined when all scores have been totaled. The standards will be no higher than
the following:
A
- 90% and greater
B
- 80-90%
C-
70-80 %
D
- 50-70%
F-
less than 50%
The cut-offs for final grades
will almost certainly be a few percentage points less than these values. However, the 50% rule for failing
grades is absolute. You will not
pass the course unless you earn at least half of the available points.
Unannounced quizzes based
upon the last lecture and/or assigned reading for lecture will be administered
at the beginning of the lecture period throughout the semester. These
quizzes may be either written or oral. The intent of these quizzes is to
see if the class is understanding the lecture material and to ensure that
students are keeping current in their study. These quizzes may not be
made up if you are late or absent.
In addition to quizzes in
lecture, other point generating assignments (for example, questions pertaining
to an audio-visual presentation) will be given in class and they will be due at
the end of the class or at the beginning of the next class meeting. If
you miss class, you will miss these assignments. They may not be made up at another time.
The Withdrawal Deadline is October
12.
EXTRA CREDIT
There is none. With
all these opportunities to earn points in the course, extra credit is not
needed. Come to lectures
regularly, pay attention, ask questions, keep up with the readings and
studying.
SCHEDULE OF EXAMINATIONS
First
Mid-Term Examination September
18 (T)
Second
Mid-Term Examination October
21 (W)
Final
Examination December
7 (M) at 12:30 pm
Note: The date for the mid-term examinations
may be changed by a few days. The date
for the Final Examination is fixed by the University and will not be changed.
UNDERSTANDING GRADES
Grades reflect effort and achievement, not effort alone. These descriptions attempt to define
some of the differences between a truly outstanding student, an average student
and a failing student.
The "A" Student - An Outstanding Student
Attendance: "A" students have nearly
perfect attendance. Their
commitment to the class resembles that of the professor. They understand it takes more effort to
miss than attend a class.
Preparation: "A" students are prepared for
class. They always read their
assignment. They bring their lab
manual, textbook, and the required tools to every class.
Curiosity: "A" students show interest in
the class and in the subject. They
look up what they don't understand utilizing their textbook, the Web, and other
resources. They often ask
interesting questions or make thoughtful comments.
Retention: "A" students have retentive
minds. They are able to connect
past learning with the new assignments.
They bring a background with them to class.
Attitude: "A" students have a winning
attitude with both the determination and the self-discipline necessary for
success. They show initiative. They do things they have not required
to do.
Talent: "A" students have something
special. It may be exceptional
intelligence and insight. It may
be unusual creativity, organizational skills, commitment, or a combination
thereof. These gifts are evident
to the teacher and usually to the other students as well.
Results: "A" students make high grades
on tests - usually the highest in the class. Their work is a pleasure to grade.
Only students who
resemble in their attitudes and behave in their actions like the descriptions
given above should expect to earn excellent (A) grades.
The "C" Student - An Average or Typical
Student
Attendance: "C" students miss class
occasionally. They put other
priorities ahead of academic work.
In some cases, their health or constant fatigue renders them physically
unable to keep up with the demands of high-level performance.
Preparation: "C" students prepare their
assignments consistently but in a perfunctory manner. Their work may be sloppy or careless. At times, it is incomplete or late.
Attitude: "C" students are not visibly
committed to the class. They
participate without enthusiasm.
Their body language often expresses boredom.
Talent: "C" students vary enormously
in talent. Some have exceptional
ability but show undeniable signs of poor time-management or bad
attitudes. Others are diligent but
simply average in academic ability.
Results:
"C" students obtain mediocre or inconsistent results on
tests. They have some concept of
what is going on but clearly have not mastered the material.
The "F" Student – The Route to
Failure
The "F"
student is, in almost every respect, the opposite in attitude and action of an
A student. Failure is almost
always due to a lack of sufficient effort. Very few students admitted to Georgia Southern are incapable
of doing the work, they simply choose not to it. An F-grade is earned as clearly as an A. Students earn the grades they receive.
TERM PROJECTS
Instructions will be
provided later in the term.
DISABLED STUDENTS
Accommodations (see faculty
or student handbook) - Georgia Southern University is an Equal Opportunity and
Affirmative Action institution committed to providing reasonable accommodations
for any person with a disability who meets the definition of disabled as
described in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students requiring academic
accommodation should contact the Director of the Student Disability Resource
Center for assistance at (912) 871-1566 or TDD: 681-0666.
ACADEMIC HONESTY,
MANNERS, AND CONDUCT
The Georgia Southern
University Faculty Handbook states:
“Academic Dishonesty (cheating) strikes at the heart of the educational
process. Without honesty, the
learning process becomes a travesty since the emphasis is then on grades, not
on the learning that grades are supposed to represent.” Academic dishonesty will not be
tolerated in this class. The
minimum penalty for cheating will be a zero grade for the test or assignment on
which the cheating occurred. Unless
specific written exceptions are stated, all tests will be “closed book,”
meaning that no form of written or electronically stored information can be
used. Furthermore, although
students will be encouraged to work together in the laboratory, the reports
submitted should be their own work, written in their own words.
All members of the class
(faculty and students alike) are expected to conduct themselves in a civil and
considerate manner. Because time
is limited, particular attention should be paid to punctuality.
MANNERS IN THIS CLASS
To protect the learning environment please observe
the following rules:
a) Get
to lecture on time. If you do come
in late sit at the back of the room causing as little disturbance as possible.
b) When
you are told to turn off your monitors, do so immediately and do not turn it on
again until you are instructed to do so.
Any violations of this rule will cost you 5 points immediately.
c) Cell
phones and pagers are to be silenced before class begins and to remain so until the class ends.
d) NO food or drink is permitted in the
laboratory. NO EXCEPTIONS!
SUCCESS IN THIS CLASS
To learn the most (and to get the best grade) during
this class, make the following choices:
a) Do
not miss class. This is the single
most important rule for success in college.
b) Read
the exercise before class and come prepared to begin working immediately.
c) Keep
an organized notebook/folder for this course.
d) Study
regularly. Don’t expect to succeed
by cramming (especially the night before the exam).
e) Don’t
have a defeatist, “I’m no good at science” attitude.
f) See me at the first sign that you need
help. I can do little, if
anything, to help you at the end of the semester.
ls