SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Understand the basic principles of Remote Sensing Imagery 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
258653  Understand the basic principles of Remote Sensing Imagery 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Geographical Information Sciences 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction Physical Planning, Design and Management 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard has been developed for the GIS occupational area and is intended for persons who aim to achieve career advancement by gaining GIS skills leading to a qualification based on unit standards. A person who has successfully completed this unit standard will have a basic understanding of remote sensing.

A person credited with this unit standard is able to:
  • Understand the importance of sensor design in remote sensing.
  • Understand how satellites work.
  • Define remote sensing and the components of a remote sensing system.
  • Describe the role played by the electromagnetic spectrum in remote sensing. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are already competent in terms of the following:
  • Communication at NQF Level 5.
  • Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 5. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    The following scope and context applies to the whole unit standard:

    Range:
  • Including but not limited to data acquisition, interpretation, sensor design, image data formats.

    Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria.

    Range statements are included with specific outcomes as necessary. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Understand the importance of sensor design in remote sensing. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The methodology used by sensors to detect the spectral characteristics of a remote sensing target are understood and explained in terms of sensor design. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The importance of the sensor design is understood and explained in relation to the target applications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The difference between active and passive detection sensors are understood and explained in terms of sensor design. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Understand how satellites work. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Different kinds of orbits are understood and explained in terms of satellites. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Geo-stationary, Polar orbiting, HEO, LEO.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The characteristics of satellite orbits are understood and explained in terms of satellites used for remote sensing imagery. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Including but not limited to Shape, Size, Velocity, Period, Inclination.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Define remote sensing and the components of a remote sensing system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A remote sensing system are understood and explained in terms of its components. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Target, energy source, transmission path, sensor.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Examples of different types of remote sensing technologies are listed in the context of remote sensing imagery. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Including but not limited to Aerial Photography, Electromagnetic Imagery, Radar Imagery, Sonar Imagery.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Advantages of remote sensing technology to study real world phenomena are understood and explained in the context of the components of a remote sensing system. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Describe the role played by the electromagnetic spectrum in remote sensing. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The nature of electromagnetic energy and the electromagnetic spectrum is understood and explained in the context of remote sensing imagery. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Radio waves, microwaves, Infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, x-rays and gamma rays.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The phenomenon of spectral footprints are understood and explained in terms of remote sensing imagery. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Including but not limited to spectral footprints of water, vegetation, concrete and asphalt.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The way in which satellites collect data is understood and explained in terms of frequency bands. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Slices of the spectrum stored as different bands.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate's performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Solve problems. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team/group/organisation or community. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one`s activities responsibly and effectively. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, organise and critically evaluate information. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematics and language skills in the modes of oral and written presentations. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically (showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others). 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Display an understanding of the world as a set of related systems. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Contribute to the full development of each learner and the social and economic development of society at large. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Terminology:

    Remote Sensing:
  • The acquisition and measurement of data/information on some property(s) of a phenomenon, object, or material by a recording device not in physical, intimate contact with the feature(s) under surveillance (NASA definition). 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  63589   National Diploma: Geographical Information Science  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  CETA 
    Core  63689   Bachelor of Arts: Geographical Information Science  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2018-06-30   
    Core  63711   Bachelor of Geographical Information Science (GISc)  Level 7  NQF Level 07  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2018-06-30   


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.