212-205 Environmental Infomatics

Availability

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

On successful completion, students will be able to identify, use and, if necessary, develop appropriate software applications for analysis, problem-solving, communication and knowledge integration in environmental studies. In addition, they will gain an appreciation of the impact of information technology on rural industries concerned with land management and the importance of tailoring computer systems to the needs of users. They will understand the basis of choosing appropriate IT solutions to solve environmental management problems, the mathematical methods underlying software applications, the process of IT acquisition and the principles of meeting users' requirements in applications development. Students will develop skills in spreadsheet modelling, simulation, geographic information systems and applications development. They will appreciate the importance of the human-computer interface, the application of automated data acquisition and remote sensing, image processing, neural networks, video conferencing, disaster recovery planning, virtual reality, computer-aided learning and the necessity for ongoing study of IT developments to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of environmental studies and management.

Assessment

A 2-hour end-of-semester examination and practical assignments.

Prescribed Texts

• N Stephenson, Snow Crash. Penguin, 1992.
• N Negroponte, Being Digital. Knopf, 1995.