Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The individual dissertation is a significant piece of independent work where the concepts and skills acquired in earlier modules is applied to a technical or applied piece of work. It will allow the development of specialist and specific knowledge and skills that relate directly to wider research interests. The dissertation will involve working closely with an appropriate supervision team and in many cases will offer the opportunity to engage and work with geospatial industry experts.

The module aims to:
• To deepen the knowledge and skills acquired in the taught programme through practice
• To develop new geospatial and computing skills required to deliver a research project
• Develop a deeper intellectual understanding of a particular area geospatial data science
• Further develop the transferable skills required by the geospatial industry

Outline Of Syllabus

Students will either select a project from a list offered by potential supervisors, propose and refine a project proposal with an academic supervisor or undertake a project agreed with a Geospatial industry partner. Projects will involve:

1. Background research and literature critique to deepen understanding of the project.
2. Development of a set of aims, objectives and research questions.
3. The development of the methodological design of the project.
4. Technical implementation of the required methods.
5. Analysis, interpretation and synthesis of the solution/results generated.
6. Preparation of the written dissertation.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of the module students will be able:
to describe in-depth a specific Geospatial data science topic;
to discuss how to design, implement and synthesize a substantive geospatial research problem;
to outline how to present and disseminate complex intellectual and technical content

Intended Skill Outcomes

At the end of the module students will be able:
to design a project and give examples of management skills;
to demonstrate new technical hardware and software skills applied to geospatial research;
to analyse, interpret and summarise complex research results and findings;
to apply written and oral communication skills to convey the geospatial research findings.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Introductory lectures will outline the key aspects and requirements of the dissertation. Each student will be supervised by two academics or in the case of a Geospatial industry agreed project two academic supervisors and an industry supervisor/mentor. Regular (weekly) supervision meetings will be available to students.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The interim report will provide a means by which feedback can be provided on the aims, objectives, methodology and design of the project, along with project management plans. Presentation and poster will develop the students written and oral communication skills to convey the geospatial research findings. The dissertation will allow an assessment of the quality of the academic and related technical work undertaken during the dissertation.

General Notes

N/A