Unit Catalogue

Back to Unit Search

ENV306 - Environmental Monitoring and Modelling

2025

Sector

Higher Education

Discipline

Environmental Science

Credit Points

Equivalent Units

(SES372)

Prerequisites

Incompatible

Assumed Knowledge

(SES201 or ENV202) and (SES220 or ENV208) or equivalent

Unit Description

This unit brings together the theoretical concepts of landscape ecology with spatial analysis techniques from remote sensing and GIS to address landscape scale applications of relevance to natural resource management. Landscape ecology is concerned with spatial patterns, in particular spatial heterogeneity across landscapes, the spatial and temporal arrangement of features, and the implications of this patterning for ecosystems. This unit takes a practical approach to look at how landscape analysis can be used to quantify pattern to generate land cover and habitat maps using digital image processing techniques and explores spatial pattern analysis techniques in the form of landscape metrics using local applications. Important issues such as scale, data integration errors and natural variability in landscapes are addressed in terms of classifying landscape features and identifying temporal changes.

Unit Learning Outcomes

1.	Understand the basic concepts of landscape ecology and its relevance to environmental management.
2.	Understand the principles of image enhancement, image management, image rectification and registration, image transformation, image analysis and image classification techniques.
3.	Apply these techniques to a variety of natural and environmental resource management issues enabling them to evaluate spatial technologies and their role in assisting policy and decision making.
4.	Acquire technical competency in the use of digital image processing, GIS and spatial pattern analysis techniques.

Assessment Overview

	Assessment Task	Value (of total mark)	Related Learning Outcome/s
1.	Project proposal (700 words) - image processing/environmental monitoring application	10%	1 - Understand the basic concepts of landscape ecology and its relevance to environmental management. 2 - Understand the principles of image enhancement, image management, image rectification and registration, image transformation, image analysis and image classification techniques. 3 - Apply these techniques to a variety of natural and environmental resource management issues enabling them to evaluate spatial technologies and their role in assisting policy and decision making. 4 - Acquire technical competency in the use of digital image processing, GIS and spatial pattern analysis techniques.
2.	Practical assignment, write an article to be published in a magazine (700-1000 words)	30%	1 - Understand the basic concepts of landscape ecology and its relevance to environmental management. 2 - Understand the principles of image enhancement, image management, image rectification and registration, image transformation, image analysis and image classification techniques. 3 - Apply these techniques to a variety of natural and environmental resource management issues enabling them to evaluate spatial technologies and their role in assisting policy and decision making. 4 - Acquire technical competency in the use of digital image processing, GIS and spatial pattern analysis techniques.
3.	Critical assessment. Short answer (400-500 words)	10%	1 - Understand the basic concepts of landscape ecology and its relevance to environmental management. 2 - Understand the principles of image enhancement, image management, image rectification and registration, image transformation, image analysis and image classification techniques. 3 - Apply these techniques to a variety of natural and environmental resource management issues enabling them to evaluate spatial technologies and their role in assisting policy and decision making. 4 - Acquire technical competency in the use of digital image processing, GIS and spatial pattern analysis techniques.
4.	Scientific article (2500-3000 words) - environmental monitoring application	50%	1 - Understand the basic concepts of landscape ecology and its relevance to environmental management. 2 - Understand the principles of image enhancement, image management, image rectification and registration, image transformation, image analysis and image classification techniques. 3 - Apply these techniques to a variety of natural and environmental resource management issues enabling them to evaluate spatial technologies and their role in assisting policy and decision making. 4 - Acquire technical competency in the use of digital image processing, GIS and spatial pattern analysis techniques.

Unit Availability

Year	Semester	Att Mode	Location	Learning Method	Timetable*
2025	INT-6	Internal	Casuarina Campus	ITV,OLR
2025	INT-6	External	External Studies	OLR

* Timetable will be displayed in new tab or window depending on your browser's configuration; ensure Pop-ups are allowed for this site to view the timetable.

ITV: This unit will be delivered/part-delivered intensively in this teaching period rather than over the full semester.

OLR: Internet access is required for this unit as students are required to access study materials provided on-line through Learnline. Please log into Learnline on the first day of each teaching period. For more information about Learnline, please click here.

Critical Dates

Important Dates for Students

Fee Information:
Fees and Payments
Student Services and Amenities Fees
2024 Domestic Unit Fees (PDF)