The Master's degreeRemote Sensing is the process of collecting information about objects distant from the sensor. A wide range of information about the Earth’s surface and atmosphere can be obtained using data and images collected by sensors on board artificial satellites or aerial platforms. Remote Sensing has applications on a wide variety of fields, such as:
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General Description
The Master’s degree in Remote Sensing offers advanced training in Earth observation techniques, taking advantage of the existing know-how at FCUP.
With focuses in the analysis and use of geospatial data acquired by sensors deployed on space-borne or aerial platforms, the programme aims that the students acquire skills on the fundamentals of Remote Sensing.
It is expected that the masters in Remote sensing will be able to use this knowledge in the study of the planet and in solving problems in various fields of application.
To this end, the Programme was organised with a common core of curricular units addressing fundamental subjects and a set of optional units that aim to teach specific skills in applications for the study of the ocean, agriculture and forests, coastal zones, climate change, etc..
Being unique in the country, this master's degree fills a lack of education on this area.
How it works
The master's degree has a duration of two years:
- a first year corresponding to a study programme of a set of curricular units (60 ECTS);
- a second year corresponding to a scientific dissertation or a professional internship (54 ECTS) plus a supporting curricular unit on scientific writing (6 ECTS).
The Master's degree runs on a concentrated schedule predominantly on Friday afternoons and on Saturday mornings, in order to allow the frequency of students from all over the country, including working students.
Teaching language: Whenever the MSc is attended by foreign students (non-CPLP) the classes will be taught in English.
Observations
- The FCUP MSc in Remote Sensing is a two-year programme organised as follows
a) a study programme of 60 ECTS, corresponding to the first year, granting not a degree but an MSc diploma in Remote Sensing;
b) a scientific dissertation or a professional internship with a final report of 54 ECTS and a supporting curricular unit of 6 ECTS, both carried out in the 2nd year.
The 1st year of the programme includes 45 ECTS of mandatory curricular units and 15 ECTS to be obtained through optional units covering a wide range of remote sensing applications, allowing students to make more focused choices, for example, in the study of the ocean or in terrestrial or multidisciplinary applications. Up to 6 of the 15 optional ECTS can be chosen from any of the courses offered at the University of Porto at the MSc level.
Due to schedule limitations, the set of optional units selected by each student is subject to approval by the Scientific Committee of the Programme. The choice of the optional units will take place at the end of the 1st semester, when students will be able to conscientiously make such choices.
Study Plan
Please consult the Study plan on the official WebPage.
1st Year
1st Semester
| Name | ECTS | Teacher |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Remote Sensing | 6 | M. Joana Fernandes |
| Digital Image Processing | 6 | André Marçal |
| Statistics Applied to Sciences and Engineering | 6 | Joaquim Costa Ana Rita Gaio |
| Computation for Remote Sensing | 6 | Sérgio Crisóstomo Nelson Pires |
| Mapping | 3 | José Alberto Gonçalves |
| Airborne Sensors and Photogrammetry | 3 | José Alberto Gonçalves |
2nd semester
| Name | ECTS | Teacher |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic Information Systems | 6 | Ana Cláudia Teodoro |
| GNSS Applications | 6 | Dalmiro Maia |
| Remote Sensing and GIS Software | 6 | Lia Duarte Nelson Pires |
| Seminars in Remote Sensing | 6 | M. Joana Fernandes |
| Options | 15 | --- |
Note: Due to schedule limitations. In the end of the 1st semester, before choosing and enrolling in the various optional courses, the students should seek advice from the Scientific Committee of the Master's degree about the content of each course and the possible choices.
Options (2nd Semester)
| Oceanic Applications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | ECTS | Teacher |
| Oceanic Submesoscale and Autonomous Observation Systems | 6 | José Carlos da Silva |
| Ocean Colour and Sea Surface Temperature | 3 | Clara Lázaro |
| Ocean SAR | 3 | José Carlos da Silva |
| Satellite Altimetry | 3 | M. Joana Fernandes M. Clara Lázaro |
| Land Applications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | ECTS | Teacher |
| Biology Applications | 3 | Neftalí Sillero |
| Agriculture Applications | 3 | Mário Cunha |
| Forest Applications | 3 | José Aranha |
| SAR Interferometry | 3 | Joaquim João Sousa |
| Multidisciplinary applications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | ECTS | Teacher |
| Coastal Applications | 3 | Ana Cláudia Teodoro |
| Meteorology and Climate Change Applications | 3 | Isabel Iglesias |
| U. Porto Options | 0 - 6 | --- |
2nd Year
1st semester
| Name | ECTS | Teacher |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific writing and dissertation/ internship | 6 | Neftalí Sillero |
Annual
| Name | ECTS | Teacher |
|---|---|---|
| Dissertation/ Internship | 54 | --- |
Career Opportunities
As this is the only MSc of this type in Portugal, it will respond to the needs of specialized staff in Remote Sensing.
The Masters in Remote Sensing will have unique competences to join public institutions or private companies of a technological nature, including space agencies (ESA, EUMETSAT, etc.), with activity in areas related to the exploitation of RS or GIS data, location-based services, thematic mapping, and many others involving the use of georeferenced data.
It is also expected that the graduates of this MSc will promote the technological development of the country through the creation of companies of a technological nature and some of them continue their studies for a PhD.
Intended Learning Outcomes
A Master in Remote Sensing should
- Possess in-depth knowledge in the scientific field of remote sensing, being able to apply it both in its professional applications and in scientific research;
- Be able to apply geospatial information from satellite or airborne sensors in solving new problems using the most appropriate methods and the most efficient RS and GIS tools;
- Know how to integrate knowledge, deal with complex issues, develop new solutions or give advice, including assessing the ethical, social or environmental implications and responsibilities of proposed solutions;
- Be able to communicate, in a clear and unambiguous manner, technical knowledge and conclusions of studies to be carried out, as well as their respective rationale, both to specialists in Remote Sensing and to the public in general;
- Consolidate competences that enable lifelong autonomous learning.
How to apply
Please consult the official webpage
Apply
The applications to the Master's degree in Remote Sensing should be done exclusively online trhough FCUP webpage.The student should follow the steps:
- Logging in
- If you are a old FCUP student , and you remember your access codes, please login. If you don't remember, please request new ones by sending an email to: ci@fc.up.pt
- If you are a old UP student , from other Faculties, and you remember your access codes, please login. If you don't remember, please make a request here.
- If you are new student at FCUP please make a request here.
- Application
- At the FCUP webpage select the highlight "Candidatura", and next, in "Master Degree Application deadlines" select "Info and application".
- Find the Master in "Remote Sensing" and select the option "Application".
- Select "Apply".
Contacts:
MSc degree DirectorJoana Fernandes
Email: m.dr.diretor@fc.up.pt
Academic Division of FCUP
Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, Edif-FC5, Sala-0.1
4169-007 Porto - Portugal
Email: pos.graduacao@fc.up.pt
Phones: (+351) 220 402 030 /31/32/33/34/35
Entry Requirements
- Hold a higher academic degree in a study programme whose curricula provides students adequate scientific background for Remote Sensing: several branches of Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Informatics, Mathematics, Physics, Geophysics, Geology and related fields.
- Hold a foreign higher academic degree in one of the areas described in the previous paragraph.
- Hold an academic, scientific or professional curriculum that the scientific committee of the MSc Programme recognizes as sufficient to prove capacity to carry out this study program.
Selection criteria
- Candidates who hold a first degree in an appropriate field will be first selected.
- First degrees with study plans which include scientific background for Remote Sensing will be valued. Background in Mathematics (8%), Informatics / Programming (8%) and Physics (4%) will be considered.
- The following aspects will be considered: number of peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals (10%); other scientific papers (5%);
- The duration and nature of professional activity in areas of relevance to the Master’s programme shall be considered, as follows: relevance of the professional activity (12%); duration of the professional activity (8%).
- Candidates who do not yet hold a first degree and / or have an academic, scientific or professional curriculum, which is recognized to prove capacity to carry out this Master’s programme by the competent scientific body, will be selected, according to the above criteria. In this case, the degree’s grade will be replaced by the weighted average of the performed courses, assigning a weight of 2 to the courses considered as relevant to this Master’s programme and a weight of 1 to the remaining ones.
The selection will be performed following the criteria indicated below:
- 1.1 - Academic curriculum (60%)
- 1.1.1 - Sub-criterion 1: Training area (20%)
- 1.1.2 - Sub-criterion 2: First degree’s grade and adequacy (40%)
- 1.2 - Scientific curriculum and professional experience (40%)
- 1.2.1 - Sub-criterion 1: Technical and/or scientific publications and communications (15%)
- 1.2.2 - Sub-criterion 2: Participation in research projects (5%)
- 1.2.3 - Sub-criterion 3: Professional curriculum (20%).
- In case of equal ratings the following criteria will be adopted:
- - First’s degree mark
- - Number of years of professional activity on a relevant field
- - Number of scientific papers
- - Participation in internships during the first degree, in Remote Sensing topics.
Docentes
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Contacts
MSc degree Director
Joana Fernandes
Email: m.dr.diretor@fc.up.pt
Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto
Address: Rua do Campo Alegre 790, 4150-171 Porto, Portugal
Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings
Email: dgaot.secfc.up.pt
Phone: +351 220 402 489
Academic Division of FCUP
Address: Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, Edif-FC5, Sala-0.1
4169-007 Porto - Portugal
Email: pos.graduacao@fc.up.pt
Phones: (+351) 220 402 030 /31/32/33/34/35
