Bilko Home Page http://www.bilko.org

The UNESCO Bilko project:Developing Training

Capability for Coastal and Marine Remote Sensing.

Craig Donlon Institute for Environment and Sustainability, European Commission Joint Research Centre,Italy.

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Presentation Overview

What is the Bilko Project?Pedagogical style and materialsEvolution of the Bilko projectSummary of the Bilko Project outputHow the Bilko project builds capacityCurrent status and future activitiesContact points

http://www.bilko.org UNESCO BILKO

What is UNESCO Bilko ?A unique marine and coastal remote sensing distance-learning project based on the use of personal computersInitiated in 1987 by UNESCO under the then Marine Sciences Training and Education Programme (TREDMAR).The project was based on 3 foundation themes:

1. The interpretation of satellite images is a skill of great international, strategic and economic importance which should be developed widely and distributed globally,

2. UNESCO should take a role in the development of a new media for instruction, specifically the use of PC computers,

3. UNESCO should seek to improve the quality of teaching in selected fields by demonstrating what can be done by distance-education methods.

http://www.bilko.org UNESCO BILKO

To develop capacity in coastal and marine remote sensing.

ObjectivesA novel educational image-processing software package called Bilko (now Bilko for Windows) operating on PC computers, was commissioned, developed and is maintained Develops computer-based learning (CBL) remote sensing training materials that use the Bilko software,Makes all Bilko material freely available and accessible to those without specialist resources at their disposal,Promotes good teaching practice by tapping the diverse skills and expertise of a Bilko community

The Bilko Project Aim and Objectives

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The name Bilko…

…is not an acronym !

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A modular structureEach Bilko module is a self-contained package that includes:

The image processing software (Bilko)An introductory tutorial on how to use the softwareA number of lessons on the applications of remote sensing to oceanography and coastal management, Satellite and airborne remotely sensed images to accompany the lessons. Printed booklets of lessons ranged from 85–110 pages in length.Copyright is invested in UNESCO encouraging free widespread duplication and distribution: the ‘open-source’ approachElectronic copies of the text of the lessons to allow teachers/lecturers/trainers to modify lessons if they wish.

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Bilko for MS-DOS (1989-1996)Provided Basic (by today's standards) but fast menu-driven image processing software

At the time, (late 80’s), Bilko was a revolution bringing quantitative satellite data analysis to anyone with a PC computer.

http://www.bilko.org UNESCO BILKO

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Outputs: 1989-1996

Five freely available DOS-Bilko modules:

Applications of Marine and Coastal Image Data from Satellite, Airborne and In-situ

Sensors.

40 lessons on diverse applications by 52 authorsfrom 15 countriesSome modules available in other languages (Spanish and Russian)All published by UNESCO in their MARINF series.

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Pedagogy and Distance Learning

Distance education demands that everything required to complete a lesson must be self-contained within a lesson or a module.

Lessons must be: complete as far as possible

written in a direct but clear style

foresee the questions that will be asked by students and provide the answers in the correct format and place

use feedback loops to focus student attention

incorporate repeated reasoning which, although redundant, helps understanding – (“constructive redundancy”)

written as “active text” to promote active learning

Explanation

Activity

Recapitulation

Repeat Activity

Question

Help

A complete learning cycle for each

activity

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Bilko Lesson structureAim

The statement of an aspiration that the author holds for students.

ObjectivesTasks that students should be able to undertake as a result of studying the lesson.

IntroductionBackground informationImages used in this lessonOutline of lesson e.g.,

Using colour to assist image interpretation.Identification of major chlorophyll a features.

Interactive questions and activities building and reinforcing lesson material using the ‘Learning cycle’.Full model answers to all questions.

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Evolution of Bilko …1994-99 was a demanding user led transition period where everything “developed rapidly”:

Windows OS developed rapidlyStudent requirements developed rapidlyInternet developed rapidlyAuthor requirements developed rapidlyLesson complexity increased rapidlyMany new satellite sensors were now operational…

A natural transfer to MS-Windows was initiated - enormous software possibilities:

High resolution graphics, hypertext on-line lessons, colours, ease of programming, multiple switchable windows…

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Bilko for WindowsComprehensive but intuitive image processing system for the PC and Windows platform.

File formats: Binary 8 & 16 bit (int,float), HDF, BMP, GIF, PCX

Functions:Display, palette, histogram, transect, morphological filter, formula, scatter, rectification, masking, resample, zoom, tri band composite….Powerful “Image Calculator” supports combinations of images as “objects”

Algorithm development, product prototyping.Basic “GIS” functionality is possible.

Images can be analysed as a tile of images (like a mosaic) allowing combination analysis or as a stack of images allowing data coring analysis

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Bilko for Windows

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Hypertext “on-line” lessons

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Outputs: 1996-2002Bilko for Windows software

Freely available and continually in revision, latest version November 2002!!

Experimental Module 6:Introductory tutorials: on-line tutorials which introduce the features of the new software. Bilko hypertext Help file and context sensitive help to provide interactive support to users.Exploratory internet based lessons.Hypertext based lesson material using embedded images, movies, sounds, etc.

Module 7:Applications of Satellite and Airborne Image Data to Coastal Management (freely available on CD-ROM)

Module 8:Applications of remote sensing to fisheries management (freely available on CD-ROM early 2003)

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Module 7 workbook & CD-ROM

Is it used and by who?

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Feedback:The currency of successBecause all Bilko material is provided free of charge, there is no traditional measure of success in terms of sales or number of modules distributed.Feedback is essential to the Bilko project. Feedback provides the main evidence that the project goals are being achieved The approach adopted by the Bilko project requires that each recipient of Bilko material return a feedback questionnaire provided within the distribution On return, this information is entered into a database that is periodically reviewed and updated by the Bilko secretariat.As the Bilko Project has matured, a global network of users has developed in which many of these users themselves become authors of lessons

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A virtual global faculty for marine and coastal remote sensing

Limited network and

feedback: low capacity

Extensive network and

feedback: high capacity

“Bilko provides a framework

in which individuals, teachers, projects and

institutions

can interact and work

together creatively

to build and develop capacity for the

application of remote sensing in the marine

and coastal environment.”

Systemic: global and regionalProjects, thematic modules

Region: Institutions, “User-Producer network”, “training of trainers”

Individuals: standalone tools and data for learning/teaching

remote sensing

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Individual: Bilko user network

Probably many many more !!

•Bilko is currently used…

By over 1900 registered users …

… in over 70 countries …

…by 500 international marine science laboratories and educational establishments !!

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Bilko Author networkThrough the Secretariat, provides support and advice for authors on style and specific issues relating to distance learningWritten material explaining:

The philosophy of the Bilko lesson structureSpecific techniques for distance learningSimplicity of languageAccessible and relevant contentPromotion of active learning

Electronic www discussion forum

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“Hands on” international workshops

International Ocean Color Coordinating Group (IOCCG) training course on Applications of Marine Remote Sensing. Held at AIT, Klong Luang, Thailand in 1999. 30 participants from 12 countries in the SE Asian region.

IOC-UNEP regional training course on Seagrass Mapping using Remote Sensing. Held at the Institute of Marine Sciences, Zanzibar in 1997. 11 participants from Tanzania, Kenya and international organisations in the region.

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Future developmentsSeveral New Thematic Modules:

Applications of remote sensing to coastal erosion. Coordinator: Dr Tjeerd Hobma. Contact: hobma@itc.nlVulnerability through the eye of a satellite. Coordinator: Dr Craig Donlon. Contact: craig.donlon@jrc.itApplications of remote sensing to coastal management in India. Coordinator: Dr R. Sudarshana. Contact: rsudarshana@hotmail.comApplications of remote sensing to natural hazards. Coordinator: Dr Cees van Westen. Contact: westen@itc.nl Entering the systemic level - the possibility of GOOS regional modules

Please contact the coordinators if you would like to help !

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SummaryThe ultimate target of the Bilko program is to place the information, knowledge and the power of remote sensing into the hands of the people who actually live and work in the areas imaged by satellites and aircraft systems.

The UNESCO Bilko project constitutes a virtual global faculty for marine and coastal remote sensing It has built confidence and knowledge in the use of remote sensingAbolished the view that remote sensing is the domain of wealthy countriesExposed the strategic benefits of remote sensing in the marine and coastal environment.As no charge is made for any material, the Bilko Project sees itself as an “honest broker” of capacity building initiatives without vested interest.

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Bilko Project Contact Points

BILKO PROJECT OFFICEDivision of Applied Geomorphological Survey

ITC, Hengelosestraat 997500 AA, P.O. Box 6

Enschede, The Netherlands

Tel.: (31) 053-4874487 Fax: (31) 053-4874482

admin@unesco.bilko.org http://www.bilko.org/