Resources Security

In this learning pathway, you will learn to analyse and integrate geological and geophysical data to identify areas of mineral resources and geothermal fields, which are essential sources of clean, renewable energy. You will learn methods and strategies to investigate the science related to geology and mineral resources, focusing on the application of multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing, optical and thermal infrared spectroscopy, geophysics, geochemistry, and advanced image analysis.

By the end of the programme, you will know how to integrate remote sensing data with laboratory and field measurements and extract information from these datasets in digital workflow environments to explore essential Earth resources. The learning pathways related to the Disaster Resilience specialisation clearly overlap with parts of the Resources Security specialisation. Depending on your interest, you may choose to follow certain course components with students from other learning pathways (e.g. interest in water-related, vegetation-related, or geological extreme events).

Natural resources are vital to the health and prosperity of societies. Their sustainable management is essential to balance the needs of people and the environment. 

This pathway leverages geo-information and Earth observation technologies to support the sustainable management of natural resources. It enhances your understanding of the systems and the processes that influence the availability, stability, quality, interactions, and resilience of agricultural, forestry and ecological resources, enabling their sustainable use, development, preservation or restoration. 

Through this pathway, you will gain specialised expertise in the means and measures that are essential to understand and keep track of changes, and enable action, to sustain biodiverse and productive systems. You will develop skills in areas such as big data analysis, AI and machine learning, Earth observation, advanced image analysis, field measurements, spatial environmental monitoring and modelling, and programming with Python, in the context of real-world sustainable development challenges.

The Water Resource Security pathway equips you with advanced knowledge in satellite hydrology to tackle societal challenges related to water resources and environmental security. It emphasises the application of Earth observation, emerging sensor technologies, big data, artificial intelligence, and advanced tools for data analysis, modelling, and visualisation.

This pathway explores both the physical aspects of the water cycle, such as storage, variability, and changes in water quantity, and the biogeochemical aspects, such as variability in carbon and nitrogen cycles and changes in water quality. You will work with technologies including time-series satellite and airborne observations, in-situ measurements, environmental monitoring, numerical and systems modelling, data assimilation, and integration techniques.

The goal is to assess, quantify, project, and predict key issues in water resources (e.g., floods, droughts, water use, climate and land-use impacts on water quantity) and environmental security (e.g., water pollution and quality under changing climate and land-use conditions).