GeoScience and Remote Sensing – (M.Sc.)

Contents

The core programme concentrates on the fundamental principles of remote sensing and the application of remote observations to contemporary topics in geoscience.

Remote sensing is the use of remote observations to make useful inferences about a target. We teach remote sensing mainly in the context of studying Earth and its environments from space, although the principles learnt are general to a wider range of applications. Observations usually consist of measurements of electromagnetic radiation (reflected light, radar, etc), with different wavelengths of the radiation carrying a variety of information about Earth's surface and atmosphere. To extract that information, we need to know about radiation and its interactions with matter, and so the relevant physics is taught. Perhaps the most challenging part of the programme is the (very useful!) body of theory on making valid inferences from observations.

In addition there is teaching of computing skills, transferable skills, research design and project management.

Core Courses

* Contemporary issues in Earth Observation
* Applied Image Processing
* Fundamentals for Remote Sensing
* GIS in the Field
* Research and Project Management Skills

Research ProjectThe research project work is largely carried out from February to August. It can concern any area of interest in geoscience and remote sensing.

Many of the teaching staff who may supervise remote sensing projects are members of the Edinburgh Earth Observatory (EEO), and you can get a good idea of the range of research spanned by the EEO by looking at our highlights brochure (pdf file). Edinburgh Earth Observatory

Students from Remote Sensing and Image Processing have also pursued projects with industrial and academic groups active in research relevant to medicine and aerospace.

Assessment The courses are assessed by a mixture of formal examinations at the end of a semester and marked coursework during the semester, in proportions which vary from course to course. An overall mark of 50% must be attained on the core and optional courses. A dissertation is written on the project; the project is assessed on the basis of the submitted dissertation and a mark of 50% is required to pass the MSc.

Students who attain between 40% and 49% on the taught part of the course will be re-registered for the Diploma in GeoScience and Remote Sensing. They will proceed with a reduced project, and will be unable to change their registration back to MSc level. Students attaining less that 40% from the taught course exit the programme with no qualification.