This course is of interest to students in science, environment, engineering, law and other disciplines because of the importance of water resources to our society. The course will include the study of changes in water in the landscape, traditional methods of observing and modelling hydrological processes, what we can (and cannot) measure and how satellite observations complement and/or replace traditional approaches. Students will learn about a variety of satellite missions designed to measure soil moisture, total water storage and river/dam levels. Emphasis will be on the quantification of changes in water resources and the way in which remotely sensed observations can transform hydrology modelling.
Laboratory: The practical component will include the analysis of actual observations related to water resources (precipitation, total water storage, depth to groundwater etc) through the development of python software.
Honours Pathway Option
Additional readings of greater conceptual difficulty requiring an advanced scientific understanding will be made available for students enrolled in the Honours pathway option (HPO). 20 per cent of the marks available on the exam will be answers to alternate questions for HPO students. Integration of this material in the independent project will be expected.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the different components of water in the landscape and how they interact.
- Undertake quantitative analysis and interpretation of actual data related to water in Australia.
- Understand a variety of remote sensing satellite missions and how the observations inform water research.
- Critically evaluate technical reports and journal articles.
- Synthesise key concepts in hydrology and/or remote sensing to understand changes in water resources.
Other Information
Students in this course must be able to access a computer onto which python can be installed. Assistance is provided in class to install python and computers can be provided if any student does not have their own.
Indicative Assessment
- Written and oral critiques of literature (20) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Computing assignments x3 (40) [LO 1,2,3]
- Theory Examination (40) [LO 1,2,3,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- The face-to-face component may consist of 2 x 1-hour lectures, 1 x 2-hour practical and 1 x 1-hour tutorial per week.
- Approximately 60 hours of self directed study which will include preparation for lectures and other assessment tasks.
Inherent Requirements
Not yet determined
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
There are no prescribed texts.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $6180 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6050 | 24 Jul 2023 | 31 Jul 2023 | 31 Aug 2023 | 27 Oct 2023 | In Person | N/A |
