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More than counting pixels – perspectives on the importance of remote sensing training in ecology and conservation

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Bernd, Asja 
Braun, Daniela 
Ortmann, Antonia 
Ulloa‐Torrealba, Yrneh Z 
Wohlfart, Christian 

Abstract

jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pAs remote sensing (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">RS</jats:styled-content>) applications and resources continue to expand, their importance for ecology and conservation increases – and so does the need for effective and successful training of professionals working in those fields. Methodological and applied courses often form part of university curricula, but their practical and long‐term benefits only become clear afterwards. Having recently received such training in an interdisciplinary master's programme, we provide our perspectives on our shared education. Through an online survey we include experiences of students and professionals in different fields. Most participants perceive their <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">RS</jats:styled-content> education as useful for their career, but express a need for more training at university level. Hands‐on projects are considered the most effective learning method. Besides methodological knowledge, soft skills are clear gains, including problem solving, self‐learning and finding individual solutions, and the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams. The largest identified gaps in current <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">RS</jats:styled-content> training concern the application regarding policy making, methodology and conservation. To successfully prepare students for a career, study programmes need to provide <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">RS</jats:styled-content> courses based on state‐of‐the‐art methods, including programming, and interdisciplinary projects linking research and practice supported by a sound technical background.</jats:p>

Description

This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Wiley via http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/rse2.27

Keywords

academic education, conservation, GIS, online survey, remote sensing, training

Journal Title

Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2056-3485
2056-3485

Volume Title

3

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
German Research Foundation (DFG), University of Bayreuth