Introduction

Nature Magazine (Vol. 427, 2004), identified geo-technology as one of the three most important emerging and evolving technologies in the future world, together with nanotechnology and bio-chemistry. Three dimensional analysis and visualization is an essential area of geo-technology that will greatly change our daily life (e.g. Hiking Planning in 3D), the workplaces (e.g. 3D visualizations of urban planning options and engineering infrastructures) and even student learning (e.g. study of vegetation over 3D landscape).

DEM (digital elevation models) is the digital representation of the continuous variation of relief over space. It is the core method in 3D analysis and visualization and is playing a key role in survey and mapping, remote sensing, geographical analyses and some engineer projects. The objective of this lecture is for students to understand the concepts, principle, construction and the applications of DEMs. In the total 45 lessons, 30 unites will be for theoretic lectures and 15 for practical training. Interesting and useful practices is carefully designed to help students get a thorough and comprehensive understanding of DEMs as well as their applications in geo-analysis.

Course Description and Objective

DEM (digital elevation models) is the digital representation of the continuous variation of relief over space. Now, DEMs are playing a key role in survey and mapping, remote sensing, geographical analyses and some engineer projects. The objective of this lecture is for students to get the concepts, principle, construction and the applications of DEMs. In the total 45 lessons, 30 unites will be for theoretic prelection and 15 for practical training. Interesting and useful practices is carefully designed to help students get a thorough and comprehensive understanding of DEMs as well as their applications in geo-analysis.

*A certificate will be given to the participants upon 80% attendance and fulfillment of other course requirements