BB849: Drone applications in nature, environment, climate and environmental technology
Study Board of Science
Teaching language: Danish or English depending on the teacher, but English if international students are enrolled
EKA: N110032102
Assessment: Second examiner: Internal
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Spring
Level: Master
STADS ID (UVA): N110032101
ECTS value: 10
Date of Approval: 06-11-2023
Duration: 1 semester
Version: Approved - active
Comment
Please note that the course is a combination of classroom lectures and exercises at the university during the spring, and a field course which is held in Svanninge Bjerge in week 28.
The student is charged a small amount which covers the catering while attending the course.
The course has limited entry. The following criteria are taken into consideration when seats are assigned.
1. Students who have the course as a mandatory part of their study programme
2. Students who have obtained the most ECTS in the Biology master programme
3.Students who are Students who are accepted conditionally in the Biology master programme
4. Students who follow master courses along with finishing their bachelor degree i Biology
5. Biology bachelor students
6. Students from other antural Science programmes with the most ECTS
The academic environments at The Faculty of Science prioritize enrolments and establish a waiting list. Students who are not assigned a seat will be cnotacted på the dpartment and will be put on a waitining list. The waiting list will not be transferred to the following year.
Entry requirements
Academic preconditions
Students taking the course are expected to:
- Have knowledge of GIS-methods and terminology
- Be able to use GIS-software
Drone-sign or drone certificate. The student is expected to have either a natural scientific, environmental or technical background.
Participant limit
Course introduction
The aim of the course is to provide the student with a thorough introduction to theoretical and application-oriented drone-methodology in the areas of nature, environment, climate and environmental technology. Specifically, there will be focused on: Mission planning and field work, simple and advanced image analysis, knowledge of import and analysis in GIS-software, use of different sensor-technologies, and coupling between image material and biological/geological/chemical parameters.
The course is thus organized with a week of theoretical lessons in the departmental field station followed by a period of training exercises and concluded by a self-imposed project during the last week in the field station. The academic content is evident from the content-description.
The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the GIS course BB836, and provides a professional basis for including drone-based mapping and image analysis in a future thesis course.
The student acquires competencies within the use of drones and image analytical methods for solving biological problems.
The student acquires skills in the construction of highly detailed maps of relevant project areas, as well as skills in advanced image analysis and general drone use in the biology and environmental sector. Thus, the student's skills reflect a growing demand for these competencies, as well as enable the student to set up new technically based solution models for common biological problems.
The student acquires a knowledge of basic theory and experimental methods in relation to drone technology, biological and environmental mapping, advanced image analysis, and the use of the drone platform as a tool in biological research.
Expected learning outcome
The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:
- Explain the main drone categories, their technical construction and their optimal areas of application
- Explain the Danish drone legislation with a focus on specific legislation in the nature- and environmental fields
- Explain the differences between different image analyses and be able to pick the most appropriate method of analysis
- Explain the construction of 3D-models based on drone-imagery and their use for volume calculations, elevation models and hydrological studies.
- In general terms explain the application of sensors using the visual, near-infrared and infrared spectrum.
- Explain and analyze drone-based imagery and sensor data from an array of different sectors: Marine, freshwater, terrestrial, ethology and the climate sector.
- Calculate biomass or other biological/chemical parameters from ground truthing and drone-based imagery.
- Explain the importance and application of high precision GPS equipment in drone-work, including the concepts: RTK, GNSS and GCP.
Content
The following main topics are contained in the course:
- Description of Danish legislation regarding drones, including: Field work in noise sensitive nature areas, dispensation application and procedures.
- Review of existing drone platforms, their areas of application, and technical construction.
- Review of drone-based sensor types.
- Practical field work, including: Use of high precision GPS equipment, manual and automatic flight.
- Description and application of pixel based and object based image analysis and consequent data treatment.
Literature
Examination regulations
Exam element a)
Timing
June
Tests
Report and oral exam in the report
EKA
N110032102
Assessment
Second examiner: Internal
Grading
7-point grading scale
Identification
Full name and SDU username
Language
Normally, the same as teaching language
Examination aids
To be announced during the course
ECTS value
10
Indicative number of lessons
Teaching Method
At the faculty of science, teaching is organized after the three-phase model ie. intro, training and study phase.
- Intro phase (lecture) - Number of hours: 15
- Training phase: Number of hours: 80, of which 38 hours are tutorials, 38 hours are laboratory exercises and 4 hours are excursions.
The teaching method consists of an intro phase, where the student is introduced to the basic theory of the methods used in the course and the tools used later in the training phase. This is followed by a training phase in which the student actively uses the described methods for data collection, data processing, and preparation of a project report. The period between the two boarding periods, and the course leading up to the examination is considered a study phase in which the student immerses himself, partly in the course's general theoretical basis, partly in the self-chosen problem that is translated into a project report.
Teacher responsible
Additional teachers
Timetable
Administrative Unit
Team at Educational Law & Registration
Offered in
Recommended course of study
Transition rules
Transitional arrangements describe how a course replaces another course when changes are made to the course of study.
If a transitional arrangement has been made for a course, it will be stated in the list.
See transitional arrangements for all courses at the Faculty of Science.