The course provides an introduction to the capabilities of the Remote Sensing for the coral reefs mapping. This includes practices in processing of high spatial resolution remotely sensed data for mapping the nearshore coral reef communities. After the workshop, the trainees will be able to select the most appropriate satellite data in case, and to conduct required image processes on satellite image, as well as to produce final coral maps in GIS software.

Aims and Objectives

• Overview the principals of the developed methods for mapping the coral reefs using satellite images.
• Learning how to select the optimum satellite image in case, regarding to study area, budget, and geometry of the corals.
• Implementing the satellite image processes in practice using an image processing software to generate classified benthic habitats map from raw satellite image.
• Visualizing the final thematic map from the benthic habitats in a GIS software.

Learning Outcomes

• Understanding the principals of image processing
• Being able to use satellite image processing software(s) to perform required analysis on raw images
• Having knowledge about the different coral reefs (types and geometry)
• Knowing which method is optimum to implement the image classification for coral reefs mapping.
• Being able to visualize classified benthic habitats in a GIS software.

Target Audience

Marine researchers, PhD students and scientists working in topics related to corals reefs and other benthic habitats

NOTE: priority will be given to participants originating from the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman region/countries (ROPME member states). UNESCO is committed to promote gender equality: applications from women are strongly encouraged.

Course Pre-requisites:

• Candidates should have a background knowledge on coastal habitats and specifically coral reef ecosystems.
• Working knowledge of English
• Participants need to bring their own laptop.

A certificate of participation will be issued to all successful students (90% attendance to the classroom course mandatory).

Lecturers:

• Dr. Keivan Kabiri (INIOAS)
• Dr. Kaveh Samimi-Namin (Oxford University)
• Dr. Hamid Rezai (Darya Negar Pars consulting company, Iran)
• Dr. Abdolvahab Maghsoudlou (INIOAS)

Course Topics

• An introduction to principals of Remote Sensing
• Introduction to satellite images
• Introduction to benthic habitats and coral reefs
• Introduction to map projections and datums
• Use of in image processing software to import and analyze the raw satellite image
• Producing classified maps and accuracy assessment the results
• Visualizing final results as a thematic map in a GIS software
• Introduction to OBIS and access and contribution to coral reef data on OBIS

Duration: 4 working days (~ 25 hours classroom sessions, plus eventual online assignments) 

Period for Applications: 29 May – 21 June 2019

Application process: please fill in the online application form on

https://otga.wufoo.com/forms/w1c2ko230i05v0h/ or https://bit.ly/2K68F2A

Only for those who cannot access the online application form: please download the OTGA Application Form 2019 INIOAS xls form available at the bottom of this page under Other Documents and fill it in (please check the PDF version for any clarification). Save the file as 'Name Surname.xls' and send it by email to the OTGA Secretariat (see details below).

For more detailed information on how to apply please check http://bit.ly/2ACZY9r

No tuition fee applies. A limited number of fellowships is available. 

Contacts:

• OTGA Iran Regional Training Centre: Keivan Kabiri (Kabiri@inio.ac.ir)
• OTGA Secretariat: ioc.training@unesco.org

always using as email subject: OTGA/INIOAS Training Course: Remote Sensing of Coral Reefs, 1- 4 September, 2019, Tehran, Iran