The CURRICULAR STRUCTURE of PPG-AMSA teaching activities includes three mandatory subjects, one for each line of research, with each of them 60 required hours (4 credits). The mandatory subject of the line in ARA is “Quantitative methods applied to the analysis and modeling of environmental systems”. The MSA research line has as a mandatory subject “Modeling of Environmental Systems” and the GP line has as a mandatory subject the subject “Landscape Ecology”. In addition to those mandatory there are 17 optional subjects also for a total of 60 required Hours (4 credits) and 11 subjects with required Hours between 15 and 45 hours (1 to 3 credits) with a total of 31 subjects in our curriculum (see list of subjects and its distribution by research lines in point 2.5). The Program requires a minimum of 24 credits for the Master’s level and a minimum of 40 credits for the Doctorate level.

Curricular Matrix –  Version 2018/1

Curricular Matrix – Version 2015/2

Subject: TEACHING INTERNSHIP

Summary: This subject aims to prepare graduate students for teaching. In this sense, teaching can be considered an integral part of graduate student training. The development of the teaching internship is regulated by a specific rule approved by the PPG-AMSA Board of 01/06/2017.

SPATIAL ANALYSIS METHODS

Principles and elements of Spatial Statistics and Geostatistics. Analysis and interpretation of measures of centrality and spatial dispersion of points. Evaluation of points density: Kernel model. Indicators of global and local spatial correlation. Spatial regression. Interpolation methods.

ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL INTERVENTIONS

Geosystems. The Hydrological Cycle in the Urban Environment. National Environmental Policy. Natural resources management. Main supply systems. Main sewage systems. Main solid waste disposal systems. Environmental technology and monitoring.

THEMATIC QUALITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL MAPPING

General concepts of thematic quality. Analysis of thematic data production methods (source of thematic data). Confusion matrix applied to thematic data. Thematic quality analysis methodologies. Quality applied to environmental sciences. Bibliography:

SOILS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

Soils. Soil degradation, soil uses. Main characteristics of Brazilian soils. Potentialities and fragilities. The multiple soil functions. Soil as a filter. Soil as mechanical support. Soil as a water storage. Soil erosion. Soil contamination. Soils and special characteristics. Sandy soils. Expansive soils. Collapsible soils. Saline and thiomorphic soils. Organic soils. Integrated landscape analysis methodologies. Economic and Ecological Zoning – ZEE. Environmental and Productive Zoning – ZAP. Dynamics: possibility of use in soil analysis.

REMOTE SENSING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS: PRINCIPLES, METHODS, ALGORITHMS AND APPLICATIONS

Physical Principles of Remote Sensing; Characteristics of Remote Sensing data acquisition systems; Data acquisition levels: laboratory, field, aircraft and spacecraft; Main existing Remote Sensing systems and the characteristics of the generated data and images; Spectral behavior of Earth targets; Fundamental concepts of Cartography and Geodesy applied to Remote Sensing; Bug fixes and Remote Sensing data logging; Methods of extracting information from Remote Sensing data; Visual interpretation of Remote Sensing data; Introduction to Digital Processing of Remote Sensing Data; Introduction to programs, algorithms and languages for Remote Sensing data processing; Introduction to Radar and Lidar Remote Sensing; General applications of Remote Sensing in areas related to environmental systems.

MODELING OF ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS.

Models, typologies, degree of abstraction and applications in Earth sciences, ecology, urban and demographic studies, among other areas.

ENVIRONMENTAL MODELS WORKSHOP

Construction of models for the study of environmental phenomena and processes or to carry out planning/infrastructure projects and territorial planning.

MODELING OF LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF PARTICIPATIVE SCENARIOS

1) methodologies for developing participatory scenarios with the involvement of local communities, 2) study of modeling tools, 3) Environmental Governance Mechanisms for solving environmental problems with a focus on land use and occupation. The great question covered is: What are the governance mechanisms capable of stimulating sustainable transitions in land use and land cover, reversing trends in habitat loss, namely natural forests, maintaining and/or restoring them so that they remain structurally and functionally biodiverse?

ADVANCED GEOPROCESSING WITH EMPHASIS ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Concepts of advanced tools and use in geoprocessing; Introduction to SIG modeling and their applications. Applications of SIG modeling in the environment. Applications of fuzzy logic and multiple linear regression. Simulation in the area of environment and applications for fire prevention. Seminars. Thematic quality control.

SPECIES DISTRIBUTION MODELS

The program will consist of an introduction to species distribution modeling methods. Theoretical themes relevant to the proper use of species distribution modeling methods and the main techniques necessary for the application of the species distribution prediction method will be addressed. At the end of the program, the student must be able to understand and identify the premises, limitations and applications of the distribution modeling methods. In addition, the student will be able to take the practical steps to perform this method.

LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY

Landscaping patterns and structures of EP, land use/occupation, matrix-stain-corridor, edge effect, species distribution models, home range, structural and functional connectivity. Theory of Metapopulations. Island Biogeography Theory, Source/Drain. Multifunctionality of the Landscape. Ecosystemic Services. Preferences and Perceptions of society in relation to the landscape. Social landscapes and dynamics.

GEODIVERSITY

Definition and Origin of Concept | Amounts and Threats | Geodiversity in Brazil. Concepts of Geological Heritage and Geosites | Types of Geological Heritage | The Geological Heritage as a Natural Heritage | Uses of Geological Heritage: Geoparks. The Global Geoparks Network.  Geotourism. The Geotouristic Potential in Brazil Geoconservation and Care for the Geological Heritage | Geoconservation Initiatives and Strategies. Modeling involving Geodiversity, Geoconservation and Geotourism. Application examples.

MODELING AND GOVERNANCE: SOCIAL, EPISTEMOLOGICAL AND ONTOLOGICAL ISSUES

Analysis of the limits and social implications of models (economic theories, geographic information systems, expert systems and applied operational research) in governance, with a focus on environmental issues; Co-production of science and society; Ontological aspects of models; Epistemological aspects of models.

QUANTITATIVE METHODS APPLIED TO THE ANALYSIS AND MODELING OF ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS

Technical methods and procedures for the use and processing of quantitative geographic data. Use of statistical techniques for spatial applications, emphasizing their strengths and limitations. Introduction of empirical analysis on computational database.

GEOPROCESSING

Conceptual and theoretical bases on geographic information systems (SIG). Abstraction, conversion and structuring methods in this computational system. Potential of GIS techniques for the representation of environmental phenomena and models related to different fields of study. Instrumentalization of Geoprocessing techniques for various applications taking into account the components of the geographic space.

PRACTICES IN DIGITAL EARTH IMAGE PROCESSING

Introduction to Digital Image Processing (PDI), Understanding Digital Image, PDI Tools, Preparation and Processing of Digital Earth Images, Band Stacking, Band Fusion, Principal Component Analysis, Image Recording, Image Mosaic, Extraction of information by image classification, Remote Sensing and Geoprocessing connection, Geoprocessing in matrix data.

CARTOGRAPHY

Earth Shape and Dimensions, Geodetic Reference System, Datum, Cartographic Projections, Reading and Calculation of Coordinates in Maps, Calculations and corrections for distance and area.

SCIENTIFIC WRITING

How to prepare a scientific article for publication in journals. How to efficiently write abstracts, introduction, review, material and methods, results, discussion, conclusions and citations. How to submit an article for publication and respond to reviewers. Ethics in the publication. During its pedagogical development, the subject will encourage the student to prepare the text of a scientific article of their own authorship, using material produced during the period of the master’s or doctoral program. The evaluation will be based on the quality of the writing of the article produced by the student. The text produced must satisfy the “Instruction for Authors” requirements of a suitably chosen good quality journal.

QUANTITATIVE METHODS – USE OF THE R PROGRAM

Use of the R software in the use of statistical data analysis covering: experimental design, sampling theory, measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, normality test, data transformation, correlation, frequency analysis, t test, analysis of variance and non-parametric tests.

ECOLOGY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS

Ecology: general aspects. Structure and operation of ecosystems. Energy flow and material movement in ecosystems. Limiting factors. Climate factors. Dynamics of populations. Populations in communities. Ecological successions. Physical environment and limiting factors. Ecosystems: energy flow and biogeochemical cycles. Population parameters. Population growth and regulation. Interspecific relations. Community concepts and parameters. Biodiversity standards. Community Development

SPECIAL TOPICS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND MODELING

Topics of interest to the development and application of modeling of environmental systems. Contemporary themes, regional needs and application contexts. The Special Topics subject will enable the PPG AMSA to offer, according to the conditions of its faculty, sporadic subjects that can dynamically complement the training of students in the program