Module manager: Dr Andy Nowacki
Email: A.Nowacki@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
A/AS-level Maths, or equivalent
| SOEE2240 | Computer Systems & Programming |
| SOEE5821M | Environmental Modelling |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module is designed to introduce students to the School of Earth and Environment computer system, mapping software and basic computer programming. It begins in the first semester with an overview of the ArcGIS mapping software. This is followed in the second semester by an introduction to programming in Python and a brief look at the Linux operating system. This module is taught via combined lecture and practical classes and is assessed by two in-course assessments.
The module provides students with the skills necessary to design and implement short computer programs in order to analyze geophysical data and report the results of this analysis. It builds the key computational skills needed for further study of geophysics at Leeds. In addition, the module introduces geographical information systems used to create maps and show data on these maps.
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. Produce electronics map using the ArcGIS mapping software;
2. Navigate a file system using python or a UNIX shell, create and edit files in these systems and create scripts to automate data processing;.
3. Design and implement short computer programs in Python to process, analyse and display data;
4. Make use of the programming techniques to permit numerical computation.
1. ArcGIS
- creating a map base
- point data, geological data, processing 3D point data
2. UNIX
- file system navigation and management
- tools and shell scripts
3. Python
- variables and operators (logical, floating point and integer arithmetic, strings,
variable assignment, and data types)
- data structures (lists and dictionaries)
- numerical programming (matrices, arrays, numpy and scipy)
- procedural programming (conditional statements, iteration, and functions)
- data manipulation and visualisation (making graphs and maps, reading and
writing to files)
- debugging and defensive programming (exceptions, assertions, and the stack
trace)
- code and data encapsulation (functions, modules, and basic concepts of object
oriented programming)
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Practical | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Practical | 11 | 3 | 33 |
| Private study hours | 55 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 45 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100 | ||
Students should spend time revising course material, completing coursework and practicing programming.
Students will receive oral feedback on their work from demonstrators and staff, in the practical sessions.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| In-course Assessment | mapping project: electronic map and interpretation | 30 |
| In-course Assessment | programming assessments | 70 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Students who fail the module are required to re-sit the failed component.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 29/04/2024
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team