| Code | Faculty | Department |
|---|---|---|
| 02240414 | Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences | Department: Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology |
| Credits | Duration | NQF level |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum duration of study: 1 year | Total credits: 135 | NQF level: 08 |
Note: Additional modules may be required in order to reach the desired level of competency
Prospective students may be required to do additional modules to enable them to reach the desired level of study. Selection takes place before admission.
Minimum credits: 135
Fundamental credits: 10
Core credits: 110
Elective credits: 15
Additional information: Appropriate honours modules may be taken from the Faculty or from the School of Information Technology, as approved by the honours coordinator or Head of department.
Module content:
The module introduces students to planning, research design, scientific reading, writing and presentation as required for geoinformatics research.
Module content:
An approved individual Geoinformatics research project with a system design and/or spatial analysis component. The project is carried out under the guidance of a lecturer. The student is expected to obtain the respective skills necessary for the research topic. Compilation of a research proposal. Literature survey. Selecting an appropriate research method. Carrying out of the research. Preparation of a research report.
Module content:
Principles of least squares in statistics, Spatial least squares regression, Surface interpolation using least squares and coordinate transformations. Topics in Geodesy: Space based measurement systems, sea level measurements, Determination of the geoid, earth axis orientation determination and earth dynamics.
Module content:
Advanced topics in geospatial data management, such as data quality, data acquisition and management, standards, spatial data infrastructure (SDI) and legislation.
Module content:
Advanced topics in GIS application, such as principal component analysis, multi-criteria evaluation and other geospatial analysis methods, and their application relating to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Module content:
Advanced topics in spatial databases, such as computational geometry, spatial data indexing and query processing, and using the web and mobile technologies for accessing, delivering and presenting geospatial data and services.
Module content:
The aim of the module is to provide knowledge and understanding of image analysis and information extraction methods in remote sensing. The emphasis is on equipping students with knowledge and skills necessary to process imagery to extract diverse biophysical and geospatial information. The course gives insight into the possibilities and limitations of the application of modern remote sensing/image acquisition systems for Earth and atmosphere research purposes at different levels of detail.
Module content:
The module introduces students to contemporary debates about the role of policy, discourse and communication in achieving environmental sustainability. The outcomes of development interventions and projects on different scales (global, national and community) are used to demonstrate and reflect on the contested nature of environmental policy formulation, implementation and monitoring. Ultimately, students are encouraged to critically engage with the politics of policy formulation and implementation; and the discursive tactics used to communicate policy-related objectives, outcomes and interventions.
Module content:
The aim of this module is to understand the principles and processes behind environmental assessments. The module will give an overview of the history of assessments, compare assessment processes internationally, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, provide an overview of the South African regulatory context and the environmental authorisation process.
Module content:
The module provides a critical review of the structures and paradigms in which the geographical and environmental sciences are practised. Particular reference is made to the development and impact of paradigms and the interdependence of systems within space and time.
Module content:
Study themes include past environmental change, causes and consequences of human-induced environmental change and South Africa and climate change.
Module content:
A special topic in Geoinformatics linked to research specialisation in the department and/or visiting lecturers. For example, research trends and advances in a specific topic or field of specialisation in Geoinformatics.The module is presented in the form of guided advanced readings, seminars and/or discussion sessions.
Module content:
In this information age a lot of data is captured every day and recorded in databases, but the wealth of this data is kept locked in the databases because relatively little mining is performed on this data. This module introduces you to data mining in terms of:
• The data mining process - how do you mine data?
• The data mining techniques - an overview of the data mining techniques that can be used;
• Practical data mining experience - a practical project mining real industry data to find unknown patterns; and
• Product overviews - product demonstrations by data mining vendors.
Module content:
Fundamentals of seasonal forecasting. The El Niño/Southern Oscillation. Empirical orthogonal functions. Canonical correlation analysis. Empirical forecast models practical. Sea-surface temperature models. Fully coupled and two-tiered general circulation modelling. Dynamical and empherical downscaling techniques. Significance testing using Monte Carlo techniques. Modelling pitfalls. User application forecasting. Projections of decadal and multi dacadal climate anomalies.
Module content:
Initial atmospheric state, observation network, data assimilation, initialization, parameterisation, post-processing. Ensemble methods, probability forecasting, forecast verification. Global circulation models, limited-area and mesoscale models, variable resolution models, dispersion models. Seamless prediction. Practical applications.
Module content:
Tropospheric atmospheric composition in southern Africa, with a particular focus on air quality. Specific topics are: air pollution and atmospheric chemistry; linkages between meteorology and air pollution; impacts of air pollution on health and ecosystems; links of atmospheric composition to biogeochemical processes. Modelling and measuring atmospheric composition. Linkages between air pollution and climate change.
Module content:
Concepts related to climate and climate change. Definitions, classification and factors influencing climate. Causes and impacts of climate change. Perceptions of climate change and climate change communication. Basic principles of climate modelling.
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