INSTRUMENTATION AND DATA ANALYSIS IN MARINE SCIENCES (250575) – Course 2025/26 PDF
Syllabus
Learning Objectives
In this subject students will be shown the different measurement devices that are used in measurement campaigns in Oceanography and Maritime Engineering to obtain data on meteo-oceanographic parameters such as conductivity, temperature, salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH, pressure, speeds , etc. Subsequently, different filtering and data validation techniques will be studied at different levels (verification of ranges and outliers, temporal coherence, coherence between variables, temporal coherence of the series, and spatial coherence). Finally, different data analysis and representation techniques will be seen. 1.- Understand the methodologies of analysis and data collection in oceanography. 2.- Know the oceanographic measuring systems, their characteristics and applications. 3.- Understand the methodologies of time series analysis in the time and frequency domains. This subject is focused on showing, familiarizing and training students with techniques of observation, monitoring, acquisition and treatment of marine data, as well as modeling techniques, physical and numerical, which allow to characterize practically all of the real problems that will have to address in the professional practice and that will allow the students to finish a generic training cycle but with advanced and transversal knowledge in Sciences and Technologies of the Sea.
Competencies
Especific
To know and apply the lexicon and concepts of the Marine Sciences and Technologies and other related fields.
Establish a good practice in the integration of common numerical, laboratory and field techniques in the analysis of any problem related to the marine environment.
Address the most relevant processes and their interactions related to their physical / chemical / biological / geological components, applying technical and scientific knowledge and criteria.
Carry out environmental impact, management and protection studies of the marine environment and adjacent coastal areas, including the corresponding infrastructures and their related impacts.
Develop a conceptual framework to address the sustainability of the marine environment and the related socio-economic activities at different scales, explaining the effects of climate change.
Set, plan and execute basic and applied research in the field of Marine Sciences and Technologies.
Carry out calculations, assessments, surveys and inspections in coastal and marine environments, as well as the corresponding technical documents.
Write technical reports and disseminate knowledge about the different components of the marine system, considering the applicable legal framework.
Generic
Apply state-of-the-art methods and techniques in oceanography and marine climate, jointly covering the physical, chemical, geological and biological aspects.
Develop a conceptual framework that links the scientific-technological and management aspects for marine resources, explaining the interactions with marine infrastructures and management plans in coastal areas.
Apply knowledge and academic experience to the control and monitoring of the marine environment and its coastal boundary, using the state-of-the-art tools in the Marine Sciences and Technologies.
Encompass and teach studies in the different research lines that converge in Marine Sciences and Technologies.
Combining preservation with economic activity within the framework of current legislation promoting the development of a social and environmental awareness.
Total hours of student work
| Hours | Percentage | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supervised Learning | Large group | 30h | 50.00 % | |
| Medium group | 18h | 30.00 % | ||
| Laboratory classes | 12h | 20.00 % | ||
| Self Study | 90h | |||
Teaching Methodology
The course consists of 2 hours a week of classroom classes (large group) and 2 hours a week with half of the students (medium group). 2 hours are devoted to theoretical classes in a large group, in which the teacher presents the basic concepts and materials of the subject, presents examples, performs exercises and problems. 2 hours (medium group) are dedicated to laboratory practices with greater interaction with students. Support material is used in the format of a detailed teaching plan through the ATENEA virtual campus: contents, programming of assessment and directed learning activities and bibliography. Although most of the sessions will be given in the language indicated, sessions supported by other occasional guest experts may be held in other languages.
Grading Rules
The evaluation calendar and grading rules will be approved before the start of the course.
The qualification of the subject is obtained from the qualifications of the tests of partial and final evaluation, of the qualifications of follow-up and of continuous evaluation and of the qualifications corresponding to the activities in the laboratory and field. The continuous assessment consists of doing different activities, both individual and group, of an additive and formative, carried out during the course (inside the classroom and outside). The qualification of teaching in the laboratory is the average of such activities. The assessment tests consist of a part with questions about concepts associated with the learning objectives of the subject in terms of knowledge or comprehension, and a set of application exercises. NF = 50% Theory Note + 10% Monitoring Notes + 40% Laboratory Note Theory note: evaluation tests Follow-up notes: exercises and works presented during the course Laboratory note: previous studies and reports on the lab and field practices. Criteria of qualification and of admission to the re-evaluation: The students failed on the ordinary evaluation that have presented regularly in the proofs of evaluation and have attended and approved the 50% of the course corresponding to field, laboratory and monitoring activities will have the option of taking a re-assessment test in the period set in the academic calendar. Students who have already passed it or students who have been classified as not presented, or those who have not passed the laboratory / field activities, will not be able to take the re-assessment test for a subject. The maximum grade in the case of taking the re-assessment exam will be five (5.0). The non-attendance of a student summoned to the re-evaluation test, held in the set period may not lead to the performance of another test with a later date. Extraordinary assessments will be carried out for those students who, due to accredited force majeure, have not been able to take any of the continuous assessment tests. These tests must be authorized by the corresponding head of studies, at the request of the teacher responsible for the subject, and will be carried out within the corresponding teaching period.
Office Hours
Contact the teacher for any questions or schedule a meeting: joaquin.del.rio@upc.edu
Bibliography
Basic
- Delory, E.; Pearlman, J. (eds.). Challenges and innovations in ocean in situ sensors : measuring inner ocean processes and health in the digital age. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2019. ISBN 9780128098868.
- Kim, Y.C. Handbook of coastal and ocean engineering. Hackensack ; London: World Scientifc, 2010. ISBN 9789812819291.
- Knauss, J.A.; Garfield, N. Introduction to physical oceanography. 3rd ed. Long Grove, Illinois: Waveland Press, Inc., 2017. ISBN 9781478632504.