EAE5015 · Research thesis in GIS and technology A

Overview

This unit will provide you with an opportunity to undertake a specific research project under the supervision of an academic from the School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment. Our academic staff members have a wide range of expertise, ranging from GIS, remote sensing or earth observation, spatial data science and machine learning, cartography, and GIS and technology applications in environment and sustainability. A full list of potential projects will be made available to you prior to commencing your Masters program. You will be able to choose a topic which is aligned to your particular interests, and identify a supervisor for your project after discussion with the course director. This unit is part A of a two-semester project that allows you to apply or further develop the advanced knowledge and skills gained through the course and make a genuine contribution to research in GIS and technology. You are required to conduct a comprehensive literature review and report your preliminary results at a seminar. The literature review includes a research proposal describing the research objectives and questions, the significance and preliminary methodology of the project. It will lay a foundation for Part B of the project in the unit EAE5016, where you refine your research questions and methods, implement the project, communicate the research outcomes in the form of a thesis, and defend them via an oral examination.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of theory and concepts from the published literature and relate them to your chosen research topic;
2. Interrogate, synthesis and interpret the literature, and identify knowledge gaps and suggest further avenues for research;
3. Define clear research objectives and questions based on current knowledge and practice in GIS&T, and design a preliminary methodology appropriate to the research;
4. Source relevant data, identify appropriate tools and produce preliminary outcomes;
5. Effectively communicate preliminary research outcomes and synthesise literature in verbal and written form.

Workload

24 hours per week comprising: • Independent research (16 hours per week, including literature review, sourcing data sources and tools, producing preliminary outcomes, and refining research questions and research design); • Research design and proposal writing (5 hour per week averaged over the semester, including developing the research proposal, and preparing seminar presentations); • Attendance at weekly group meetings (1 hour per week); • Attendance at seminars and colloquia (1 hour per week averaged over the semester); • Consultation with the supervisor (1 hour per week).

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.