CSS 411

Resource Inventory Methods

Spring 2008



Description

The course will focus on environmental resource inventory methods using several spatial analysis tools. Inventory methods will include topographic map interpretation, aerial photo interpretation, photo-to-map transfer techniques, analog to digital conversion of inventory data, classification of digital imagery, field acquisition of map coordinate data, map accuracy assessment, and construction of cartographic products from digital databases.

The course is designed to be a very practical, hands-on experience with topographic maps, medium-scale color-infrared aerial photographs, coordinate digitizers, multi-spectral satellite images, navigation-grade global positioning system (GPS) instruments, and elementary spatial analysis and map production software.

The course is intended to better prepare students for courses offered in geographic information systems (CSS 420), spatial modeling and analysis (CSS 620), fundamentals of remote sensing (CEE 610), and digital image processing (CEE 615). Students who have completed CSS 420 are permitted to enroll in this course

Course Objectives

    1. introduce fundamental tools used for mapping environmental resources.
    2. provide experience in mapping land cover conditions using maps, aerial photographs, satellite images, and GPS technology.
    3. practice with spatial analysis methods and digital cartographic techniques.

Instructors

Dr. William Stiteler
Lecturer
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
1001 Bradfield Hall
wms56@cornell.edu
Office Hours: TBA

Clay Mitchell
Teaching Assistant
Graduate Field of Soil and Crop Sciences
ctm36@cornell.edu

Course Web site: http://www.css.cornell.edu/courses/411/css411.html

Expectations and Responsibilities

Students are expected to have basic mathematical skills and some experience with computers and word processing and spreadsheet programs. Students should be able to communicate to instructors using electronic mail, and to access and search the Internet for data and information relevant to the course. The goal of the instructors is to promote an active learning environment in the course which requires instructors and students to be motivated, participatory, and communicative. Assignments, projects, and exams are designed to be conducted independently. Instructors and students are expected to adhere to Cornell University 's code of academic integrity.

Class Text

Bolstad, P. 2005. GIS Fundamentals, volume 2. Atlas Books, Inc. You may order the book through AtlasPress (http://www.atlasbooks.com/marktplc/00729.htm), an online bookseller such as amazon.com, or buy the book at the campus bookstore. You may also visit Dr. Bolstad's website to get .pdf versions of the first couple of chapters until your book arrives (http://www.paulbolstad.net/gisbook.html).

Term Project

The purpose of the term project is to provide experience in processing and analyzing maps, aerial photographs, digital images, GPS, and field data. The project will be limited in scope and serve to reinforce each element of the resource inventory process. The project will focus on creating, assessing the accuracy, and estimating the cost of producing a land cover map for an area to be specified. The mapping project is limited in scope, and designed for completion during the scheduled laboratory section for the course.

A term project report is required. The report will consist of a Powerpoint presentation due on May 5, and will focus on your land cover map, statistical summaries, and estimated costs of conducting the project. Examples of previous presentations in Powerpoint format are available for review.

Assignments and Grading

Lab Exercises 30%
Exams* 40%
Project Report 30%

* There will be 3 exams, 2 prelims and a final, all weighted equally, with the exam grade determined based on the top two exams.

Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities are encouraged to see the instructor in order that course materials may be updated appropriately to better foster the teaching and learning experience.

Schedule

CSS 411 Lecture Schedule M,W 9:05 - 9:55 110 BF Spring 2007

Powerpoint lectures will be provided here shortly before each lecture as a note-taking aid. Note that what is in these slides is only a portion of what is discussed in class, and should not take the place of class attendance and participation.


Week Day Date Topic Readings / Assignments
1 M 21 Jan Course Objectives and Overview

Smaller version

W 23 Jan Map Characteristics, Projections, Datums Bolstad: chapter 3, Geodesy for the Layman
2 M 28 Jan Coordinate Systems; Map Measurements Bolstad: chapter 3

W 30 Jan Characteristics of Aerial Photographs Bolstad: chapter 6

BLM Report ; USGS Reading

3 M 4 Feb Map Planning  Flightplan handout; Lund Paper 1, Lund Paper 2, Lund Paper 3 ; Guide to NAPP
W 6 Feb Basic Matter & Energy Relationships
4 M 11 Feb Interpretation of Aerial Photographs North Carolina Classification
USGS Anderson Classification ; BLM Report
W 13 Feb Interpretation of Aerial Photographs
5 M 18 Feb Photo-to-Map Transfer Techniques
W 20 Feb Interpretation of Aerial Photographs, GIS BLM Report ; USGS topo maps
6 M 25 Feb Map Digitizing & Editing Bolstad: Chapter 4
W 27 Feb Map Digitizing & Editing
7 M 3 Mar Fundamentals of GIS Bolstad, chapter 1; USGS Reading
W 5 Mar Prelim Review
8 M 10 Mar Prelim #1
W 12 Mar Spatial Analysis Methods
9 M 17 Mar Spring Break
W 19 Mar Spring Break
10 M 24 Mar Spatial Analysis Methods
W 26 Mar Digital Image Processing & Analysis Bolstad chapter 6; USGS Landsat document
11 M 31 Mar Digital Image Processing & Analysis
W 2 Apr Global Positioning Systems Bolstad, chapter 5 ; USGS GPS Document
12 M 7 Apr Global Positioning Systems
W 9 Apr Map Accuracy Assessment Bolstad, pp. 371-372
13 M 14 Apr Prelim Review
W 16 Apr Prelim #2
14 M 21 Apr Map Accuracy Assessment Gap Accuracy Paper
W 23 Apr Digital Cartography
15 M 28 Apr Newest uses of GPS/GIS in Production Agriculture
W 30 Apr Remote Sensing for Invasive Species Management

CSS 411 Laboratory Schedule M,R 1:25 - 4:25, 108 BF Spring 2007

Week Date Topic
1 21, 24 Jan Lab & Web Familiarization; Map Acquisition
2 28, 31 Jan Basic Map Measurements & Interpretation
3 4, 7 Feb Photo Mission Planning
4 11, 14 Feb Interpretation of Aerial Photographs
5 18, 21 Feb Interpretation of Aerial Photographs
6 25, 28 Feb Photo-to-Map Transfer
7 3, 6 Mar Map Digitizing
8 10, 13 Mar Map Digitizing & Editing
9 17, 20 Mar Spring Break
10 24, 27 Mar Spatial Analysis
11 31 Mar, 3 Apr Mapping from Digital Images
12 7, 10 Apr Field Observations and Measurements
13 14, 17 Apr Map Accuracy Assessment
14 21, 24 Apr Map Production and Report Preparation
15 28 Apr, 1 May Project Presentations


Computing Resources

All laboratory sections will be held in the Bradfield Computer Classroom, Room 108 Bradfield Hall. The classroom is accessible to students enrolled in the course from 1:00p to 5:00p on scheduled lab days, or as posted in the course schedule. Bradfield Hall is a secured building after 8p. Students are not expected to work in the laboratory during evenings, weekends, or holidays. Assignments are designed to be completed during the normal laboratory period and during open lab periods as posted in the course schedule. Students who need extra time in the laboratory must submit a request to one of the instructors so appropriate arrangements can be made.

Other Resources

Avery, T.E. and G.L. Berlin. 1992. Fundamentals of Remote Sensing and Airphoto Interpretation. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River , New Jersey . 472 p. (ISBN 0-02-305035-71985)

Kennedy, M. 1996. The Global Positioning System and GIS. Ann Arbor Press, Inc.
Chelsea , Michigan . 268 p.

Muehrcke, P.C. and J.O. Muehrcke. 1992. Map Use:
Reading , Analysis, and Interpretation. JP Publications. Madison , Wisconsin . 631p.

Philipson, W.R. (ed.). 1997. Manual of Photographic Interpretation. 2nd Edition. Am. Soc. Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing. 689 p.

Snyder, J.P. 1987. Map Projections: A Working Manual.
U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper #1395. 383p.

Journals (Engineering Library, Carpenter Hall)

Cartography and Geographic Information Systems. American Congress of Surveying and Mapping (ACSM).
5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 100 , Bethesda , MD 20814-2122 . (301) 493-0200, (301) 493-8245 fax.

Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. 5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 210, Bethesda, MD 208142160. (301) 493-0290, (301) 493-0208 fax. Monthly.

Surveying and Land Information Systems Journal. American Congress of Surveying and Mapping (ACSM). 5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 100, Bethesda, MD 20814-2122. (301) 493-0200.

Professional Societies

American Congress of Surveying and Mapping (ACSM) 5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 100, Bethesda, MD 20814-2122. (301) 493-0200, (301) 493-8245 fax.

American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. 5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 210, Bethesda, MD 208142160. (301) 493-0290, (301) 493-0208 fax. asprs@asprs.org

Term Project
CSS 411
Spring 2007

Your environmental consulting firm has been hired by a local land development company to produce a land cover inventory and map for a land parcel the company plans to purchase. The boundaries of the land parcel are from 42o 25' 05.00" to 42o 27' 15.00" north latitude, and from 76o 22' 30.00" to 76o 26' 48.00" west longitude, North American Datum of 1927 (NAD27).

The company plans to submit their bid for the property on Monday, May 14, 2005. They request that you prepare a presentation to the company’s board of directors using Powerpoint by May 5, 2006. The length of the presentation will be 15 minutes with additional time allowed for discussion. The presentation is to include the map of land cover for the parcel, associated inventory data, a map accuracy assessment, and the itemized and total cost for your services, including subcontracts.

Your office is located at 110 Bradfield Hall, and your firm's conference room is located at 108 Bradfield Hall. Due to an excessive workload and commitments to other responsibilities, you can spend no more than 10 hours per week on the project until May. The conference room is only available from 9-10a on Mondays and Wednesdays, and you can work in your office only on Monday or Thursday afternoons between 1p and 6p.

Your office has supplies and a computer with most of the software and access to electronic networks required to conduct the project. You may have to sub-contract some of the analysis and map production to a local firm located at 108 Bradfield Hall. Since your firm is new, you have hired consultants to help you with the project.

Project Timeline:

Task

Deadline

Access topographic maps

24 January

Land parcel description

4 February

Mission planning

11 February

Aerial photo acquisition

18 February

Aerial photo interpretation

25 February

Photo-to-map transfer

3 March

Map digitizing

10 March

Map analysis

31 March

Mapping from digital images

17 April

GPS familiarization

14 April

Field data collection

21 April

Data processing & analysis

30 April

Map production & Report preparation

30 April

Report presentation

30 April