University of the Philippines Diliman 1/3 1

st
Semester AY 2014 - 2015
University of the Philippines
College of Engineering
Department of Geodetic Engi neering


COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Code: GE 1 (MST) Course Titl e: Earth Trek
Course Credit: 3 units Prerequisite: None

Lecturers: Rhodora M. Gonzalez, PhD.
Room: MH 208
Phone: 63.2.981.8500 loc 3150
Email : rmgonzalez@up.edu.ph

Florence A. Galeon, MSc
Room: MH 324
Phone: 63.2.981.8500 loc 3148
Email:mighty.renz@gmail.com

Consultation Hours: TTh: 10:30-12 NN
WF: 10-12 NN
1-2:30 PM


Consultation Hours: WF: 10-12 NN
F: 1-5 PM
TTh: 4-5 PM



I. Course Objectives:
At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
1. discuss the latest developments in earth observation and measurement;
2. describe new ways of looking at the earth and its resources;
3. explain the role of spatial information in nation building.

II. Course Requirements
The course is divided into four (4) topics: Land Surveying, Remote Sensing, Global
Positioning Systems (GPS), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Each part
has 6 sub-topics.

Activities: There will be indoor and outdoor activities within the campus that aim to
make students apply the concepts they learned during class discussions and
appreciate the lectures better using maps, aerial photographs, earth images, GPS
receivers and other surveying equipments.

Examinati ons: An examination for each major topic will be given to test the
competencies that the students acquired during the lectures, discussions and
activities.

III. Class Policy

1. Attendance: University rules apply. Student
must not be absent in more than 20% of
class meetings. Late =1/2 Attendance.
Students must sign an attendance sheet or
on the biometrics every meeting.
2. Mobile phones: All mobile phones should
be turned OFF during class hours and
examinations.
3. Academic dishonesty: Cheating in an
examination or activity report will be strictly
penalized with a failing grade and risk of
Final Mark
UP System
Grade
94 to <100 1
90 to <94 1.25
86 to <90 1.5
82 to <86 1.75
78 to <82 2
74 to <78 2.25
70 to <74 2.5
64 to <70 2.75
60 to <64 3
50 to <60 4
Below 50 5
University of the Philippines Diliman 2/3 1
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Semester AY 2014 - 2015
expulsion from the University.
Although activities may be done by groups, activity reports should be
accomplished individually.
Having a mobile phone ON during examinations constitutes cheating.


IV. Grading System:
1. Fi nal Grade = 50% Written examinations
+50% Class Activity
2. Exempted: Exemption from Final Examination: 75% or better and complete
set of Activity Reports
3. If not exempted:
Fi nal Grade = 60% Class standing +40% Final Exam
4. Grading system: See table above.


V. Suggested References:

Alder, K. 2002. The Measure Of All Things: The Seven-Year Odyssey And Hidden
Error That
Transformed The World. Free Press.
Crane, N. 2002. Mercator: The Man Who Mapped the Planet. Henry Holt and
Company.
DeMers, M. N. 2000. Fundamentals Of Geographic Information Systems. Wiley &
Sons.
Kavanagh, B. F. 2003. Surveying : Principles and Applications. Prentice-Hall.
Keates, J .S. 1996 Understanding maps,2nd ed.Harlow, Essex, Eng. : Addison
Wesley Longman.
Kjellstrom, Bjorn. 1994 Be expert with map & compass : the complete orienteering
handbook / new
Konecny, G. 2003. Geoinformation : Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, And
Geographic
Leick, A. 2004. GPS Satellite Surveying. Wiley.
Marker, Brian. 1989 Earth science mapping for planning, development, and
conservation / edited by
J oseph McCall, London : Graham & Trotman.
Miller, Victor C. 1989 Interpretation of topographic maps, Columbus Ohio : Merrill.
Information Systems. Taylor & Francis.
Robinson, Arthur Howard. 1976 The nature of maps : essays toward understanding
maps and
mapping / Arthur H. Robinson and Barbara Bartz Petchenik.Chicago :
University of Chicago Press.


VI. Suggested Websites:

http://www.nasa.gov/
http://www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/ccrs/homepg.pl?e
http://www.esri.com/
http://www.trimble.com/gps/why.html
http://www.usgs.gov


University of the Philippines Diliman 3/3 1
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Semester AY 2014 - 2015
VII. Course Content and Schedule GE 1 - THW & THX

Topic Date

1. Earthly Measures : Land Surveying (4 weeks)

Aug 7 - Sept 9

a. Eratosthenes who? : A short history of land surveying
and property surveys

b. From pacers to lasers : Evolution of land surveying
instruments

c. To see is to believe : Land surveying products
d. Ating silipin : Demonstration of surveying instruments
(outdoor)

e. Believe it or not : Errors and accuracies in land surveying
f. Spratlys, Sabah, atbp. : Map-making, territories, and
boundaries

1st Examinati on Sept 11, 2014

2. Earth from outer space : Remote Sensing (4 weeks)

Sept 16 - Oct 7

a. Remembering Sputnik : A short history of remote sensing

b. Beam me up, Scotty! : Airborne and satellite systems
c. Kodakan from the sky : Photogrammetry
d. Name that tone : Satellite image interpretation (outdoor)
e. Color my world : Basic digital image processing
f. Look Ma, no hands! : Remote sensing for natural
resource management

2
nd
Examinati on Oct 9, 2014

3. Earth navigation anyti me : Global Positi oning Systems
(3 weeks)

Oct 14 - Oct 28

a. Starcraft : A short history of GPS

b. Anatomy of a GPS : Satellites, control stations, and
receivers

c. You are here! : How a GPS gets your location (outdoor)
d. To beam or not to beam : Positioning accuracies with
GPS

e. Treasure hunt : Practical applications of GPS (outdoor)
3rd Examinati on Oct 30, 2014

4. Earth at your fingertips : GIS (4 weeks)

Nov 4 Nov 27

a. From paper maps to megabytes : A short history of GIS

b. Special and spatial : Characteristics of GIS data
c. Two become one : GIS and remote sensing data
integration

d. Sapin-sapin and doughnuts : GIS overlay and buffering
analyses

e. Pizza delivery or Rescue 911 : Network analysis and
shortest route

f. Tool of all trades : Examples of GIS for resource
management, elections, land administration, tourism,
etc.

4th Examinati on Dec 2, 2014