3 hours. 2 hours lecture and 3 hours lab per week.
Aerial Photogrammetry in Forestry
Analytical Thinking
Course Description
This course investigates technology and common uses of aerial imagery. The four main groups of topics are foundational concepts, image interpretation principles, mathematics and measurements applied to aerial imagery, and image interpretation in practice. The course is delivered as an asynchronous, online course through eLC.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students: Graduate students will be required to either (1)develop,
describe, and implement a process where aerial photographs are
used to describe the condition of forest resources contained
within a forested area, or (2)develop an aerial photograph flight
plan for a large forested area, detailing the scale desired, type
of film, and other considerations appropriate for the objectives
of the flight. A report detailing the process used, and
conclusions that may be drawn, will be required.
Athena Title
Air Photos
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in FORS 5650E or FORS 7650E
Prerequisite
Second-year student standing
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will describe the common forest types and forestry practices, along with agricultural and developed uses of land throughout North America along with their economic, ecological, and social significance with respect to landscape pattern and human developmental processes.
Students will describe historical and present uses of forest, agricultural, developed and wild lands and the consumptive and non-consumptive use human society places on these natural resources.
Students will measure, map, analyze, and interpret important components of the natural and developed environments using appropriate classical and contemporary techniques.
Students will demonstrate critical reflection of their professional knowledge and skills through landscape analysis and written communications by incorporating broad subject knowledge and perspectives.
Topical Outline
Image interpretation principles:
Size
Shape
Shadow
Color
Pattern
Texture
Time
Context
Foundational concepts:
Energy and color
Film and digital cameras and filters
Film and digital image resolution
Displacement, distortion, vertical image photo centers
Stereoscopic vision
Orthophotography
Color vision deficiency
Image problems
Small format aerial imagery
Influential people in the history of aerial photogrammetry
Mathematics:
Right angle geometry review
Geometry of a vertical aerial image
Scale of aerial images
Horizontal angles and land area measurements
Vertical measurements of buildings and trees
Mission planning for potential contracting
Image acquisition from public sources
Image interpretation in practice:
Land unit delineation
Forests and forest practices
Forestry applications of aerial imagery
Forest mensuration
Agricultural uses of land
Urban tree monitoring and change analysis
Range and wildlife habitat and monitoring
Stream categorization and land forms
Soil mapping and environmental monitoring
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
