GIS and Remote Sensing Courses

In contrast to many institutions, remote sensing is not a new area of instruction at the University of Minnesota. What began in 1949 as a single course in aerial photography interpretation for forestry students has evolved into a series of courses for a multi-disciplinary audience. Today, students from agriculture, ecology, forestry, landscape architecture, geography and other majors enroll in courses in remote sensing and geographic information systems.  Students are also encouraged to explore other courses in GIS and land-related studies at the University of Minnesota.

NRES 3031/5031. Applied GPS for GIS
(2 cr; prereq junior or graduate standing, plus familiarity with desktop computer use)
This course will cover the principles and fundamentals of GPS and the use of GPS units in the field. NRES 3031 will focus on juniors and seniors, and 5031 on graduate students. An introductory course in GIS is recommended. The course will meet once each week for 2 hours. Additional time is required to complete field exercises.
Instructor: Andrew Jenks. Semesters offered: Spring

FR 3131/5131. Geographical Information Systems for Natural Resource Analysis
(4 cr, A - F only)
Introduction to GIS. Focuses on natural resources. Data structures, sources, collection, and quality. Lab exercises introduce geodesy, map projections, spatial analysis, and cartographic modeling.
Instructor: Paul Bolstad, Andrew Jenks. Semesters offered: Fall, Spring

FR 3262/5262. Remote Sensing of Natural Resources and Environment
(4 cr)
Principles and techniques of remote sensing and its applications to mapping and monitoring environmental, land and water resources from local to global scales. Lab provides hands-on experience working with aerial photography and digital sensing imagery.
Instructor: Marvin Bauer. Semesters offered: Spring

FR 5412. Digital Remote Sensing
(3.0 cr; prereq 3262 or 5262 or grad student or #)
Physical basis and practical applications of digital remote sensing. Energy-matter interactions. Measurements and sensors. Digital image processing/analysis. Experience working with remote sensing data, image processing and models.
Instructor: Marvin Bauer. Semester offered: Fall

NRES 4295W/5295. GIS in Environmental Science and Management
(4.0 cr; for 4295W, prereq FR 3131 or #, A-F, meets CLE Writing Intensive req; for 5295, prereq grad student or #)
Application of spatial data inventory/analysis in complex environmental planning problems. Spatial data collection, database development methods, including GPS, DLG, TIGER, and NWI data, and spatial analysis.
Instructor: Paul Bolstad. Semesters offered: Fall

FR 5615. Field Remote Sensing and Resource Survey.
(2 cr; prereq 3218, 3262)
Field applications of remote sensing, sampling/measurement methods to inventory/mapping for forest and other natural resources. Offered at Cloquet Forestry Center.
Instructors: Marvin Bauer, Alan Ek. Semesters offered: May session

FR 8205. Research Problems: Spatial Data Analysis.
(1-5 cr; prereq #)
Independent research on GIS or remote sensing under faculty guidance.
Instructor: Marvin Bauer, Paul Bolstad. Semester offered: Fall, Spring, Summer