CEG8731 : Geospatial Engineering Concepts and Applications (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Professor Jon Mills
- Lecturer: Professor Peter Clarke, Dr Alistair Ford, Dr Henny Mills
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To understand and apply the methods and techniques of representing location and geospatial information in scientific studies.
To appreciate the fundamental steps necessary to create and utilise maps and plans and other visualisations for a variety of applications.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module will first include an introduction to the applications that require location-based information and the importance of representing and displaying location information. The concepts of positioning, visualising location and geospatial information and spatial analysis will be introduced, together with the role and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in geospatial applications. The utilities and services that enable locations to be displayed and used, from commercial to open source and national mapping to international space agencies, will be covered, including understanding how location is represented differently by different utilities and the concepts of datums, coordinate systems, scale and mapping (cartography and visualisation).
Students will learn about the different location-based techniques, including data collection, which range from land surveying to Global Navigation Satellite Systems to remote sensing (including drones), and will understand the pros and cons when selecting the location-based technique with regards to accuracy requirements (application dependent) and the accuracy of the location information provided by the different geospatial techniques. The importance of data types, formats, data sources and data management will be covered.
The module will cover the application of geospatial tools and techniques in global challenges, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals or Sendai Disaster Risk Reduction Framework.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Examination |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 28 | 1:00 | 28:00 | Exam preparation |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 24 | 1:00 | 24:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 30 | 1:00 | 30:00 | Portfolio - Coursework submission and preparation |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 6 | 3:00 | 18:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 50 | 1:00 | 50:00 | Lecture follow up |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 2 | 0:30 | 1:00 | Seminars |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Tutorials |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 44 | 1:00 | 44:00 | Further reading |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures convey the core concepts, theories, and methods. Practicals enable the principles introduced in lectures to be put into practice, learned and assimilated through hands-on examples. The practicals have been developed to enable students to work independently and the practicals before each coursework submission will enable students to develop their submission. Clinics provide the opportunity for students to ask questions arising post-practicals and before submission deadlines. A series of Canvas tests will check knowledge after lecture/practical pairs.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 1 | A | 50 | Present-in-person closed book exam |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 1 | M | 50 | Collation, description, analysis and discussion of principal findings from practicals (approximately 3000 words, excluding figures, tables and computational workings) |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 1 | M | Interim updates on portfolio progress. 5-10 mins during practicals |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Coursework write-ups of practicals provide an opportunity to consolidate this understanding and obtain feedback. The closed-book, timed exam provides the means for a student to individually demonstrate their cumulative knowledge and understanding gained as needed in future careers and the workplace.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CEG8731's Timetable