GRY 360: Interpretation of Aerial Photography (Fall, 2006)

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, AND PLANNING

Lectures:                     TR 5:00-5:50 PM TEMPLE 307             Instructor: Dr. Xin (Shane) Miao

Lab Section 1:             T 3:00 -4:50 PM TEMPLE 307              Office: Temple 310

Lab Section 2:             R 3:00 -4:50 PM TEMPLE 307              Phone: 836-5173

Credit Hours:             3                                                               E-mail: XinMiao@Missouristate.edu                 

                                                                                                     Office Hours: W 2-5 or by appointment

Course Description:

GRY 360  Interpretation of Aerial Photography. 3(2-3) F: Prerequisite: 30 hours or permission of instructor. Detection, identification, and analysis of objects or features from film and digital aerial photography and other types of high resolution remotely sensed images. Laboratory emphasizes manual and digital image interpretation for land cover mapping, forestry, agriculture, geology, and planning applications.

Textbook:

David, P. Paine and James D. Kiser, 2003. Aerial photography and Image Interpretation. (2^nd Edition, Wiley)

Required Lab manual(s): 

Harold R. Wanless, Aerial Stereograms: An introduction to geology, geography, conservation, forestry, and surveying using stereo photographs.

Other Required Course Materials:

• Your ZIP CARD is the ‘key’ to the Lab (Temple 307) if you do not have a zip card you will need to acquire one from the Zip Card Office in the Plaster Student Union. Scan the card each time you enter the RS Lab. The door to the lab should not be propped opened.

• You will need a data storage device such as a USB flash drive to archive your class work. Keep digital copies of all of your work till the end of the course.

• A pocket stereoscope will be assigned to you during the first class, it is your responsibility to return this item at the final exam; you will not receive a final grade until the pocket stereoscope has been returned.

Course Document:

 All of the course materials (labs, lecture slides, homework, handouts, etc.) and assignments will be available on the Blackboard website (http://blackboard.missouristate.edu). It is your responsibility to enroll in the Blackboard course site, to do so follow the instructions on the last page of this handout.

Course Requirements and Evaluations:

Examinations:

You will be given two midterm exams worth 100 points and a final exam worth 200 points. You will also have a lab exam worth 100 points respectively. The course schedule provides the dates of these exams. Exams will be a combination of multiple choice, calculations, and short answer questions. The lab exam will consist of image interpretation and simple calculations (a calculator will be allowed for all exams).

Labs:

The labs are a crucial part of this course. You will have 10 labs throughout the semester. Labs will consist of image interpretation and map production using the Adobe Illustrator software and feature Analyst (ArcGIS) software, as well as a written answers section. Labs are due at the beginning of the next (new) lab session. Late labs will not be accepted. Acceptable lateness include university-sancctioned activities, personal illness, or family emergencies. Written verification for your lab is mandatory. Your labs should be handed in to:

Lab instructor:

E-mail:

Office:

Office Phone#:

Office Hours:

Final project:

A final project will be required for this course and will be introduced during one of your last lab sessions. The project will comprise a portion of your final grade.

Instructional Goals

After successfully completing this course, you should be able to:

1)      Understand basic principles of aerial photograph interpretation; be able to inform others of those principles.

2)      Understand geometry of aerial photograph.

3)      Understanding the principles of stereoscopic vision; be able to use portable stereoscopes to examine the stereopairs.

4)      Understanding the aerial photo applications in forestry, land-use planning, landforms and geology.

 Absence and Tardiness Policies:

Your success in this course is very heavily dependent on regular attendance. The university places responsibility for attendance policies in the hands of instructors (MSU Undergraduate Catalog 2003-2004, p. 50). Accordingly, attendance will be taken during each class meeting. Sometimes illnesses or family emergencies crop up, and there is no possible way to avoid being absent. I do not require an excused absence for such occasions but please let me know in advance if you will not be attending.

Tardiness disrupts the class, as does leaving early. This class meets from 6:00 pm to 9:50 pm; please be prepared for class, attend on time, and stay for the full duration. Attendance may be taken in the beginning, the middle, or toward the end of each class period; your signature is required on all sign-in sheets to show that you attended the full class period (excepting illness and participation in university-sponsored events). Otherwise, it will be regarded as an absence.

Drop Policy:

It is your responsibility to understand the University’s procedure for dropping a class. If you stop attending this class but do not follow proper procedure for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade and will also be financially obligated to pay for the class. To drop a class anytime after the first week of classes, you must complete and turn in a drop slip at an authorized registration center. You do not need to obtain any signatures on the drop slip. It does not need to be signed by your instructor, your advisor, or a department head.  If you wish to withdraw from the University (i.e., drop all your classes), contact the Registration Center, Carrington 320, 836-5522.

Academic Integrity:

Missouri State University (effective August 28, 2005) is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity.  You are responsible for knowing and following the university’s student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at http://www.smsu.edu/acadaff/AcademicIntegrity.html and also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library. Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy.  

Use of Cell Phones, Pagers, and Text-Messaging Devices in Classes:

The use by students of cell phones, pagers, or similar communication devices during scheduled classes is prohibited.  All such devices must be turned off or put in a silent mode and cannot be taken out during class.  At the discretion of the instructor, exception to this policy is possible in special circumstances.  See http://www.smsu.edu/acadaff/Policies/default.htm for complete policy.

Accommodating Students:

To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of Disability Services, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY), http://www.missouristate.edu/disability.  Students are required to provide documentation of disability to Disability Services prior to receiving accommodations. Disability Services refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact the Director of the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc.

Nondiscrimination Statement:

Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to the Office of Equal Opportunity Officer, Siceluff Hall 296, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of your instructor’s Department Head.  

Safety:

Your personal safety is important to you, your instructor, the university, and the community. The MSU Department of Safety and Transportation is responsible for providing a safe environment for the campus community. The department is also responsible for parking and other accommodations for transportation to meet the University's needs. If you have any questions comments related to parking, the shuttle system, personal safety, environmental regulations, or others, do not hesitate to contact the Department of Safety and Transportation at 836-8870.

Summary of Grading:

Your final grade will be based on the total number of points, for the midterm and final exams, lab exercised, lab exam and ‘academic enthusiasm’. 

Grading Scale:        901 – 1200        cumulative points                                   A

                                    751 –  900         cumulative points                                   B

                                    601 –  750         cumulative points                                   C

                                    500 –  600         cumulative points                                   D

                                    < 500                cumulative points                                   F

GRY 360 CLASS SCHEDULE AND OUTLINE (Fall 2006)