Course:FRE527
| Environmental Data Analytics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| FRE 527 | |
| Section: | |
| Instructor: | Dr. Josephine Gantois |
| Email: | josephine.gantois@ubc.ca |
| Office: | MCML 237 |
| Office Hours: | Tuesdays 4:00-5:00pm |
| Class Schedule: | Feb 26 to April 12
Tue&Thur 2:30-4 pm |
| Classroom: | MCML 154 |
| Important Course Pages | |
| Syllabus | |
| Lecture Notes | |
| Assignments | |
| Course Discussion | |
COURSE NUMBER and TITLE: FRE 527: Environmental Data Analytics
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces you to core environmental datasets spanning weather, ecology, and satellite imagery data sources, which are routinely used to support environmental metrics and decision-making in the food and resource sector. It provides hands-on experience with data extraction, processing and analysis techniques, as well as visualization tools, which are particularly adapted to dealing with the complexities of each environmental data type. The programming languages covered are R and Python, as well as some JavaScript for Google Earth Engine
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain the current capacities and limitations for measuring a suite of core environmental variables
- Exercise critical thinking when engaging with evidence based on environmental data
- Identify appropriate sources of data given a particular analysis or visualization goal
- Source multiple publicly available environmental datasets.
- Write reusable R and Python scripts to extract, process, analyze, and visualize publicly available environmental data.
- Manipulate large geospatial datasets using Google Earth Engine
ASSESSMENT
| Assignment | 3 Assignments | 45 |
|---|---|---|
| Group Project |
|
5
15 15 |
| Weekly Quizzes | 10 | |
| In-Class participation | 10 | |
| Total | 100 |
BIG QUESTIONS & REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS IN CLIMATE, FOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT COVERED IN THE COURSE
- How can publicly available environmental data be efficiently accessed, processed, and visualized?
- What role can environmental data play in environmental policy enforcement?
- What unique characteristics of environmental data and analytical goals are important to consider when choosing a programming tool?