APPLICAZIONI INFORMATICHE ALLE SCIENZE DELLA TERRA

The course in Computer Applications to Earth Sciences as part of the bachelor's degree in Geological Sciences has as its general purpose to introduce students to the use of the fundamental principles of the geosciences through the use of computer methodologies.

More specifically, the course aims to provide students with useful and versatile tools regarding all geosciences, aimed at:

Knowledge and understanding skills on the operational tools proper to the GIS (Geographic Information System) environment, with particular regard to the operations of:

   Georeferencing;

   Digitization;

   Interpolation;

   Operation of thematic layouts.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding by acquiring skills aimed at:

    acquire,

    integrate,

    analyze,

    treat,

   store,

   distribute;

   make interoperable

georeferenceable spatial data in both raster and vector formats.

Autonomy of judgment:

The student will be encouraged to independently deepen his or her knowledge on the topics covered and to maintain constant discussion with other students and the teacher so that he or she can critically monitor his or her learning process.

Communication skills:

Attending lectures and reading handouts and recommended texts will help the student acquire appropriate technical and scientific language through learning specific terms, definitions, acronyms, and concepts inherent to the topics of the matter. Through constant interaction with the lecturer, the student will learn to expound the knowledge acquired with rigor and clarity.

Learning skills:

The student will be guided in the process of perfecting his or her study method. In particular, through appropriate guided exercises, he/she will be able to deal independently with new topics and update the knowledge acquired in the discipline through the reading of texts and/or scientific articles.

The 21 hours of instruction are broken down into 3 CFU of lectures, during which time the theoretical underpinnings of the following procedures are covered: a) georeferencing; b) digitization; c) database administration; and d) interpolation. 

In addition to the theoretical lectures, 3 CFU of laboratory lessons for a total of 36 hours will be taught in the computer classroom (which has 25 networked PCs that can be monitored).

Basics of the main office automation applications (Word, Excel; Access)

Significant knowledge of the main operating systems for pc (Windows 10 - 11)

At the beginning of the course, a preliminary test will be carried out to verify the basic computer skills useful for the effective attendance of the subject content. The course will subsequently be calibrated on the students' average skills. If necessary, a supplementary ‘0’ course in basic computer skills will be planned in consultation with the study course coordinator.

PROGRAM OF: EARTH SCIENCES INFORMATIC APPLICATION

GIS Front Lectures: 3 CFUs (21 Hours)

GIS Computer Classroom Laboratory: 3 CFUs (36 hours)

 1st part: Introduction and IT basics for GIS applications

Frontal content

Meaning of the concept of geomatics and its actualization and potential evolution. Geological mapping: the former geological maps and evolution of the concept of geological mapping up to the CARG project (Italian Geological Mapping Project). Overcoming of the static monothematic cartography and the advent of the dynamic pluritematic cartography. Digitizing cartographic data: raster data, vector data, shape, and kml files. Basic geodesy concept and using the georeferencing systems and relative georeferencing methods. The advent of GIS: open source and proprietary GIS. Data storage techniques: relational databases; geoscientific data with potential geographic primitive. Interoperable databases and the markup languages: GeoSciML; the INSPIRE protocol and the OGC standards.

 Practical exercises in the classroom

Discretization and Data-Storage of Geological Information: Directory and Sub-Directory of the Earth Sciences Database. A practical tutorial on georeferencing systems and methods. Building and managing relational databases in the Access environment and GIS environment. Visualization and consultation of the main geoscientific portals: PCN, One Geology, Auscope, SITR, geological map of Piemonte region.

2nd part: Design and implementation of a GIS in the field of geoscience

Frontal content

The ArcGis Platform: The environment and the menus ArcMAP; ArcCatalog and the ArcGIS extensions; ArcGIS Toolboxes. The transition to ArcGIS-PRO. Geological data: basic map data, official geological maps, local detailed mapping maps, and specialized geosciences cartographies. Sampling Techniques: the informatic conceptualization of outcrop and field measuring station. In situ analysis: penetrometer tests, hydrogeological and geophysical data etc ... Laboratory analysis (sample and sub-sample concepts, Lab techniques at different observation scales) and the concept of redundant information, different typologies and examples of analysis, and related typologies of data storage. 

Practical exercises in the Computer Classroom Laboratory

Managing the Table of Contents (ArcGIS PRO). View map data and operations on the associated alphanumeric databases. Sequential operations for the extrapolation of derivative maps (e.g. Slope, Exposures etc...) using the ArcGIS PRO model builder. Vectorization and creation of shapefiles. Overlapping of diversified geothematic maps and extrapolation of derived data. 

Title: ECDL GIS. La rappresentazione cartografica e i fondamenti del GIS

Author: Caiaffa Emanuela

Editor: McGraw-Hill Education  (collana College)

Title: Switching to ArcGIS Pro from ArcMap 

Author: Maribeth Hughett Price - 166 pagine 

Editor: Esri Press - Data di pubblicazione12 luglio 2022 

THE COMPUTER APPLICATION TO THE EARTH SCIENCES EXAM IS MAINLY CARRIED OUT ON A PC.

THE EXAM INCLUDES THE POSSIBILITY OF CARRYING OUT THE FIRST PART THROUGH AN ONGOING TEST DURING THE COURSE WHICH ESSENTIALLY INCLUDES GEOREFERENTIATION OPERATIONS OF RASTER MAPS TO BE COMPLETED IN TWO HOURS.

THE SECOND PART OF THE EXAM, TO BE CARRIED OUT ONLY AT THE END OF THE COURSE ALWAYS IN TWO HOURS, PROVIDES THE EXTRACTION OF MAPS DERIVED FROM DIGITAL ELEVATION MODELS THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF OPERATING SEQUENCES WITH THE ARCGIS PRO MODEL BUILDER (E.G. MAP OF SLOPES, ASPECT, COUNTORING, AND HILLSHADE); THE DIGITALIZATION OF LITHOLOGIES USING AS A BASIS A GEOLOGICAL MAP IN RASTER FORMAT; MULTIPLE SCALE LAYOUT VIEW OPERATIONS.

THE EXAM ENDS WITH THE ORAL VERIFICATION OF THE THEORETICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE OPERATIONS CARRIED OUT ON PC

THE FINAL TEST WILL BE STRUCTURED IN THE FORM OF A PRACTICAL TEST ON A PC WITH THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY EXERCISES:

A) Georeferencing exercises;

B) Guided layout operations.

C) Operations on DEM, also through the use of

       Model Builder;

D) Schematic digitization operations

      of lithologies;

E) EXTRACTION OF SPECIFIC INFORMATION BY USING MAP ALGEBRA OPERATION AND THEMATIC OVERLAY.

STUDENTS WHO WILL REGULARLY PASS THE PRELIMINARY TEST WILL BE DISPENSED FROM POINTS "A" AND "B"

FINALLY, THE TEACHER RESERVES TO VERIFY THROUGH ONE OR TWO QUESTIONS THE DEGREE OF THEORETICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOPICS OF THE PRACTICAL TEST.