Course description

This is the formal course description for the proposed new course on Big Data, with Emergency Management as the central application area. The details are not set in stone, but changes take some time due to bureaucracy, and the course title is permanent (which is why it is so general).

INFO319 Research Topics in Big Data (15 ECTS)

• Study points: 15 ECTS (50% of a bi-mester)
• Teaching semester: Autumn. Irregular (not necessarily taught every year)
• Subject code: INFO319
• Number of semesters: 1
• Language: English
• Study level: Master level (4th year of studies)

• Goal and content: The course provides the theoretical and technical foundations for managing and rapidly leveraging big data sets, for example originating from public sources, social media/crowdsourcing, and the Internet/Cloud of Things. It covers general theories and technologies for big data, including sourcing, curation, processing, use, and evaluation. The course focusses particularly on the application of big data for emergency management. It reviews theory and practice of emergency management and how emergency management can leverage big data. It gives the academic background for supervised research on the possible roles of big data for emergency management. The course involves development work using selected technologies and standards for big data and for emergency management. Examples of research and research methods in the area will also be presented and discussed.

• Learning outcomes: A student who has completed the course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:
  • Knowledge: Upon completion of the course the candidate shall
    • understand central concepts, standards, and technologies for big data
    • know about current research and industry trends in big data
    • understand central concepts and standards in emergency management
    • understand how big data can be leveraged in emergency situations
    • know about current research and industry trends in big data for emergency management
    • know the relevant reseach methods for the area
  • Skills: Upon completion of the course the candidate shall be able to
    • use central technologies and tools for managing and using big data
    • use central technologies and tools for emergency management
    • leverage big data in emergency situations
    • prepare and evaluate uses of big data in emergency situations

• Required prior knowledge: European (three-year) Bachelor's degree in information science or similar degree in ICT, covering good programming skills.
• Requirements for students: Master in Information Science or similar ICT background. Students in their last year of a 4-year Bachelor’s programme can be admitted.
• Teaching forms and extent of organised teaching: Lectures, and work with assignments, presentations and discussions. Parts of the course may be taught at a distance.
• Mandatory activities: Participation at 80% of course seminars is mandatory. When teaching is distributed across institutions, students in other institutions may participate online from their institution.
• Evaluation forms:
  • Written exam (30%): An individual, theoretical essay with thoughtful research and discussion of an assigned topic (27,5%). In addition there is a practical assignment in groups (27,5%). Both assignments must be done in the teaching semester and oral presentations of both essay and project assignment (15%) .
  • Grading scale: The grading system has a descending scale from A to E for passes and F for fail.
• Evaluation semester: Irregular
• Subject evaluation: INFO319 is evaluated by students every three years and by the department every year.
• Department: Department of Information Science and Media Studies