As part of the IRDR0004 module assessment (Part-B or Component 002), you are required to submit an individual technical report, which constitutes 50% of the overall module mark.

This coursework will reflect the skills you have developed through the lectures (teaching weeks 6–10, Term I), computer lab tutorials, and independent learning. You are strongly encouraged to dedicate sufficient time to practicing in the computer labs, attending office hours, and seeking guidance from the module team, which includes the module lead and postgraduate teaching assistants (PGTAs).

The lectures will primarily cover theoretical concepts, while the computer cluster sessions will provide practical experience in an interactive and engaging environment. To enhance your understanding, you should complement classroom learning  by reading relevant literature, reviewing practice and module materials, and watching supplementary videos as part of your independent study.

The assessment will test your core competencies in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) tools and techniques, requiring you to apply these skills effectively in your analysis and interpretation. For your project, adopt a clear, focused, and well-articulated approach. Define your project aim and objectives in a scientific and structured manner to ensure clarity and purpose in your work.

Coursework-2 (GIS and RS)

1. Technical Report

a) Submission Format:

i. A 1,500-word individual technical report (+10% allowance) submitted as a single PDF file.

ii. The submission must include all raw files used for data analysis in a single zipped folder (e.g.,  shapefiles,  masked  satellite  images, processed raster layers, scripts, and any other demographic or statistical data). Please ensure that the zipped folder containing the raw data does not exceed 3 GB.

b) Weighting: 50% of the module mark

c) Submission Deadline: Wednesday, 28 January 2026 at 1 pm (UK time)

You are encouraged to allocate sufficient time for downloading data, cleaning, preparing layers, and conducting analyses. Marks will be awarded based on the quality of work, strength of scientific arguments, demonstration of critical thinking, quantitative data analysis skills, technical writing proficiency, and clarity of presentation.

2. Topic

The report will focus on a comparative study, analysing the ‘before’ and ‘after’ scenarios or conducting a change detection analysis over a reasonable  period. You are encouraged to select a medium-sized suitable area from your assigned country (see Appendix-I) where significant land cover changes have occurred.

Examples of suitable topics include, but are not limited to:

a)  Deforestation and Land Cover Change in the Amazon Rainforest, Brazil: Analyse the spatial and temporal  patterns of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest over the past decade and its impact on vegetation and biodiversity.

b)  Wildfire-Induced Land Cover Changes in California, USA: Investigate  the effects of recurring wildfires on vegetation, urban areas, and ecosystems in California, focusing on land cover transformations between two time periods.

c)  Urban Expansion and Land Use Change in Nairobi, Kenya: Analyse the impact of rapid urbanisation on green spaces and agricultural land over a decade.

d)  Glacier  Retreat in the Himalayas: Investigate changes in glacier extent and surrounding land cover in the Himalayas over a decade, focusing on the effects of climate change.

e)  Desertification in the Sahel Region, Africa: Study the progression of desertification and its impact on vegetation and agricultural productivity over a 10-year period.

f)   Urban Expansion and Refugee Settlement in Juba, South Sudan: Examine how conflict-induced migration has affected urban expansion and natural resource depletion in Juba.

3. Steps to Follow

i. Select  a  Study  Area  and  Topic:  Choose  a  topic  related  to  disaster  risk reduction  or  humanitarian  crises.  Ensure  the  study  area  is  manageable , selected from the country assigned to you (see Appendix-I), and relevant to the module’s themes. Also, ensure the chosen area aligns with a recognised administrative boundary, facilitating reproducibility and integration with official data sources.

ii. Download  Relevant  Data: Acquire  the  study area  boundary shapefile and appropriate Landsat 8 (or if needed, Landsat 9) satellite images.

iii. Produce  Land Cover Maps: Create land cover maps for two distinct time periods, ensuring a reasonable gap between them.

iv. Calculate  NDVI:  Perform a  Normalised Difference Vegetation  Index (NDVI) analysis for both time periods.

v. Calculate Land Surface Temperature (LST): Derive land surface temperature for the two time periods to observe changes.

vi. Incorporate Additional  Data:  Incorporate additional geospatial or statistical datasets from credible secondary sources for advanced analysis.

vii. Write the Technical Report: Prepare your report following this guideline.

4. Report Content

The technical report should be creative, involve critical thinking, and reflect innovative ideas. A recommended structure is provided below:

a) Title Page:

Project title

Your  candidate  number  (but do  not include  your  name  anywhere, including in file names, maps, diagrams, appendices, or illustrations)

Module details

Word count

Declaration statement (for example):

“I declare the following work is my own and, where the work of others has been used, it has been clearly cited. ”

b) Abstract (150 words max):

Provide a concise summary of the report, including the key findings.

c) Introduction:

Clearly state the aim and objectives.

Include a brief, focused background and literature review if necessary.

d) Methods:

Detail the methodology, including data sources, datasets used, study area description and justification for selection, and analytical methods.

Ensure sufficient detail for reproducibility.

e) Results:

Present  key  findings  using  well-labelled  tables,  diagrams,  charts, illustrations and figures.

Use visuals to enhance understanding and highlight important patterns.

f) Discussion and Conclusion (Combined):

Interpret the results, linking them to your research aim and objectives.

Provide a critical analysis of the findings and discuss their implications.

g) References:

Ensure all sources cited in the report are included in the references section and formatted consistently according to the required style (e.g., Harvard or APA).

Keep the reference list concise (5–10 entries recommended) but ensure it is complete and includes all key sources used in the analysis.

h) Appendices:

Use a few appendices for additional material (if needed), ensuring the report can stand alone without them.

5. Report Format

The report must be a minimum of 1,500 words (+10% allowance), excluding the following:

Title page

Declaration

Abstract

Captions, equations, tables, and figures

AI Statement

References

Appendices

5.1. Word Count Compliance:

Reports with fewer than  1,500 words may result in automatic failure of the coursework.

Reports exceeding 1,650 words will incur a penalty of up to 10% of the total marks.

Note: If the coursework is both over-/under-length and late, the greater of the penalties will be applied.

5.2. Formatting Requirements:

Page Size: A4

Margins: Normal

Orientation: Portrait

Font: Arial

Font Size: 12

Font Colour: Automatic

Line Spacing: 1

Paragraph Alignment: Align Left or Justify

Page Numbers: Bottom of the page, aligned to the right

5.3. Referencing and Citations:

Use APA or Harvard (latest edition) for referencing and citations.

Ensure consistency in citations and references throughout the report.

5.4. Plagiarism Policy:

Any submission with a Turnitin similarity score exceeding 15% will be flagged for investigation.

Cases of suspected plagiarism will follow the university’s official procedure.

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/academic-manual/sites/academic-

manual/files/student_academic_misconduct_adjudication_and_penalties.pdf

6. Report Requirements

The report should demonstrate your ability to:

i. Construct a well-structured, organised, and clear report that adheres to academic standards.

ii. Present valid arguments using scientific evidence , supporting your findings with credible sources.

iii. Provide  clear visual  aids such as  maps, figures, diagrams, and tables to enhance understanding and communicate effectively.

iv. Demonstrate  technical skills in  handling  geospatial  and  statistical  data effectively, using appropriate tools and methods.

v. Apply  innovative  data analytical techniques to generate meaningful and well-articulated visuals that aid in interpreting the results.

vi. Show originality in your ideas, crafting a scientifically valid and meaningful technical report that reflects critical thinking and analytical depth.