RILIEVO DI DATI PER L'AGRICOLTURA DI PRECISIONE E RAPPRESENTAZIONE DEL TERRITORIO

The course aims to provide disciplinary and professional skills related to modern techniques and technologies for data acquisition in precision agriculture, the graphical and cartographic representation of rural areas, the organization and digital management of territorial and cadastral data, and the use of digital models for project representation and management.

Knowledge and understanding:
Students will acquire knowledge of the principles of precision agriculture, the fundamentals of geodesy and cartography, reference systems and datum transformations, topographic, GPS, photogrammetric and remote sensing survey techniques, as well as the main surveying instruments and products. Students will also acquire knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the management and representation of territorial data, cadastral cartography, procedures for updating the Land Cadastre and Building Cadastre, and the general principles of BIM.

Applying knowledge and understanding:
Students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to the collection, organization, processing and representation of territorial and geographic data; recognize the main surveying methodologies and instruments; manage raster and vector data in a GIS environment; interpret and use cadastral data and understand the main cadastral updating procedures through dedicated software.

Making judgements:
Students will be able to critically assess the choice of surveying techniques, reference systems, representation models and GIS tools most appropriate to the characteristics of the territory, the type of available data and the intended applications. They will also be able to assess the suitability and quality of the territorial and cadastral data used.

Communication skills:
Students will be able to use the technical terminology of surveying, cartography, geodesy, GIS and cadastre correctly, and to represent and communicate territorial data through graphical, cartographic and digital outputs.

Learning skills:
Students will develop the ability to independently update their knowledge in relation to advances in surveying techniques, GIS systems, cadastral procedures, precision agriculture technologies, and digital tools for the representation and management of the territory.

Contribution of the course to the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Goal 4. Quality Education

Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

Goal 13. Climate Action

Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

Lectures (21 hours) and exercises (42 hours). 

If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus.

Basic knowledge of mathematics, geometry and cartography is useful for understanding the topics covered in the course.

Attending classes is not mandatory but is strongly recommended, as it facilitates the learning process and contributes to the full achievement of the course learning objectives. Attendance will be recorded during the course for statistical purposes and for course evaluation.

The course is grouped into macro-modules as indicated below.

Precision agriculture: definition and principles of precision agriculture; the role of data in decision-making processes in agriculture; from precision agriculture to precision livestock farming.

Geodesy and Cartography: definition of geodesy and cartography, geoid models, Earth’s Shape and size, Reference systems, Projections, geographic coordinates, Map projections, Concept of Cartographic Projection, Classification of Cartographic Projections, Representation of Land on Map, Concept of Map, Purpose and Significance of Maps, Classification of Maps, UTM Projection, UTM Grid.

Cartographic process and Topography: Basic Principles of Topography; Topographic instruments, Global position system (GPS), Aerial Photogrammetric Imagery and Satellite Systems and Images, Satellite Systems and Images, Global Navigation Satellite Systems, Global Positioning System, GLONASS, The Role of GPS Navigation and Measurements, LIDAR—A Method of Remote Surveillance and Examination of Earth’s Surface by Scanning, Use of LIDAR, Computer Programs or Digital Atlases Using Satellite Imagery, Conventional construction of a topographic map.

Building Information Modelling: introduction to the BIM. 

IT systems and GIS: definition of Geographic Information Systems (GIS); Uses of GIS, GIS applications; data representation models (vector modeling and raster modeling); input and management of attributes; territorial data sources and input; georeferencing; digital terrain models (DTM); Web / GIS applications for precision agriculture.

QGIS software: definition of opensource systems, software installation, software requirements. The interface: Menu Bar, Panels and Toolbars, Map View, Status Bar. Managing Data Source: Opening Data, Creating Layers and Exploring Data Formats and Fields. Working with Vector Data: The Vector Properties Dialog, Working with the Attribute Table, Working with Raster Data, Raster Analysis. Layout. Query. Print composition. Coordinate Reference System Selector, Custom Coordinate Reference System, Default datum transformations. WMS and WFS geoservices. Plugins.

The cadastre: introduction to the cadastre. The cartographic archive, The Land Cadastre archive, The Urban Building Cadastre archive, The urban real estate stock, The real estate urban units plans archive, The archive of buildings, The evolution of the technological infrastructure, The PREGEO (PREGEO software - latest versions available) procedure for Land Cadastre and the DOCFA (DOCFA software - latest versions available) procedure for Urban Building Cadastre. The main cadastre and cartographic project activities, the valuation system of the urban building cadastre, the valuation system of the land cadastre.

Learning outcomes will be assessed through the preparation of a technical report and an oral examination. The assessment will take into account the relevance of the answers to the questions asked, the level of in-depth knowledge of the topics, and the ability to establish connections among the different topics covered in the course. Learning assessment may also be carried out online, should circumstances require it. To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current legislation, students may request an individual meeting in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on the learning objectives and their specific needs. Students may also contact the Department’s CInAP referring professor (Centre for Active and Participatory Integration — Services for Students with Disabilities and/or Specific Learning Disorders) (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti)

The evaluation follows the following scheme:

Fail

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: major shortcomings; significant inaccuracies.
Ability to analyse and synthesize: inadequate; frequent generalizations; inability to synthesize information.
Use of references: completely inappropriate.

18–20

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: threshold-level knowledge, with evident shortcomings.
Ability to analyse and synthesize: barely adequate.
Use of references: barely appropriate.

21–23

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: basic and routine knowledge.
Ability to analyse and synthesize: able to perform correct analysis and synthesis; arguments are presented in a logical and coherent manner.
Use of references: use of standard references.

24–26

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: good knowledge.
Ability to analyse and synthesize: good analytical and synthesis skills; arguments are presented coherently.
Use of references: use of standard references.

27–29

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: very good knowledge.
Ability to analyse and synthesize: considerable analytical and synthesis skills.
Use of references: topics have been explored in depth.

30–30 with honours

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: excellent knowledge.
Ability to analyse and synthesize: excellent analytical and synthesis skills.
Use of references: significant in-depth study and further insights.