The term project is an opportunity for you to apply remote sensing data and analytical techniques to a research question of your choice. You are expected to obtain, process, and analyze the imagery used in the project (i.e. it is not enough to evaluate pre-processed data).

Please talk with Jonathan or Bill about the scope of your project before beginning Phase I.

Phase I. Proposal and Data Acquisition    DUE: Oct 23, 2006

FOR420 Students: Provide a research proposal that indicates: (1) your primary research question, (2) the data you will be working with, (3) a justification of why these data are appropriate to your research question in terms of the four types of resolution, (4) your primary analytical technique (i.e. change detection, manual interpretation and accuracy assessment etc.). The proposal should not to exceed 500 words.

FOR520 Students: Provide a research proposal that indicates: (1) your primary research question, (2) the data you will be working with, (3) a justification of why these data are appropriate to your research question in terms of the four types of resolution, (4) your primary analytical technique (i.e. change detection, manual interpretation and accuracy assessment etc.) (5). A review of the peer-reviewed literature that relates the remote sensing methodology used within your project to the published research on that topic. This review should contain no less than 7 citations from the primary remote sensing literature (i.e. not review papers or texts, though those may be included as well). It should compare the ability of different sensors and/or analytical techniques for addressing similar research questions. The proposal (with lit review) is not to exceed 1750 words. 

Phase II. Project Paper    DUE: November 29, 2006.

**HAND IN A PAPER COPY OF YOUR PROJECT -- DO NOT EMAIL IT**

GUIDELINES FOR PROJECT PAPER

Introduction

    - Define the "problem" (i.e. why do we care?)

    - Explicitly state your hypothesis(es) or objectives

Methods and Flowchart

    - Describe your study area

    - What data were used?  Software?  

    - Assumptions for the analysis

    - Why are these methods appropriate to your project?

    - What were the general image processing procedures (reference the flowchart for specifics)

    - What were the analytical techniques used

    - All papers must include a one-page flowchart that graphically displays all the steps in your data processing

Results

    - Present results (make sure they directly address your hypotheses and/or objectives)

    - Summary statistics

    - Maps

 Discussion

    - Interpret your findings

    - Were there any surprises?

    - Recommendations.

    - Limitations of your methods/results.

    - (FOR520 Only) How do your findings compare to those reported in the primary literature?

Conclusion

    - Briefly restate you major findings and why they are important and what areas of further research are needed.

The body of the text should not exceed 2000 words (2500 words for FOR520). Papers should be double-spaced with line-numbers and written in a journal manuscript style.  All papers should include the flow chart, figures and/or tables, each on a separate page at the back of the manuscript (i.e. do not try to fit the figures within the body of the text). All figures and tables must be referenced in the text (e.g. Fig 1. Table 2. etc.). Cite all your sources including the software used (e.g. ERDAS 2001); details of the citation style are not important, but consistency is. Include acknowledgments for any funding sources or data provided.  Points will be deducted for scant, sloppy, or superfluous writing.  There are no extensions for the due date of final papers.  See the late policy for late penalties and unusual circumstances.

Hint for getting a "A" on your paper:  1. Follow the guidelines closely. 2) Be concise and professional in your choice of language. 3) Read over your paper closely, then wait 48 hours and do it again.

Phase III. PROJECT PRESENTATION:  Given November 27 & 29

GUIDELINES FOR PROJECT PRESENTATION

 - Presentations will not exceed 10 minutes (strictly enforced)

- Tell us a short story of the steps you took in conducting your analysis

- Use PowerPoint

- Please practice your talk before coming to class (be sure to time yourself)