(last updated August 23, 2009)

Geographic Information Systems: Theory and Practice

Fall 2009 Syllabus

CRN: 10344

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are computer programs capable of displaying, storing, editing, and analyzing spatial information. GIS has applications in marketing, planning, health, resource management, and scientific research. Students will gain a practical understanding of a wide range of GIS concepts including map making and spatial data analyses using ArcGIS 9.3.

Note: This course is for undergraduate students. Graduate students should register for the MES elective GIS course.

General Information

Instructor: Gregory Stewart, Ph.D.

Textbook: GIS Fundamentals, 3rd Ed by Paul Bolstad  (required)

Prerequisites: GIS is computer intensive class and covering a large amount of material.  Students must be proficient with file management under Windows OS, but no previous experience with GIS is required.

Software:  We will use ArcGIS 9.3 running under Windows XP in the Computer Applications Lab (CAL).  Student copies of the ArcGIS software will be made available, but it will only run under recent editions of Microsoft Windows; ArcGIS it is not supported on Linux or Mac operating systems.

Meeting times: Class will meet on Tuesday nights from 6-10pm. We will start class in SEM II (room TBD) before moving to the CAL.  

Attendance: Students must be prepared to attend all classes and participate with a high level of engagement. 

Homework: Students will be given weekly labs and reading assignments.  Labs are likely to require use of the CAL (or ArcGIS on a home computer) during non-class hours.  This course will be largely paperless. Assignments will be provided and returned electronically. Late work will not be accepted unless pre-arranged with the instructor.

Collaboration: Student collaboration is highly encouraged; although each student is expected to produce his or her own work.  Please see Evergreen's Academic Policies for more information (http://www.evergreen.edu/advising/academicpolicies.htm)

Schedule

Week 1- Introduction to GIS, Data Models and Map Elements

Lecture: What is GIS; why GIS is important; how GIS is used; GIS and cartography; Concept of data model; map design and map elements

Practicum: Mapping exercises.

Reading: Chapters 1 & 2

Week 2– Map Projections and Coordinate Systems

Lecture: Maps and their characteristics (selection, abstraction, scale, etc.); map projections; and coordinate systems; map production.

Practicum: Coordinate transformations, dataset projection.

Reading: Chapter 3 – Map Projections and Coordinate Systems

 Week 3 – Database Concepts

Lecture: Database concepts, queries.

Practicum: Database links and queries.

Reading: Chapter 8 – Attribute data and tables

Week 4 – Basic Spatial Analyses

Lecture: Questions only a GIS can answer; GIS analytical functions, map algebra, classification, buffering, overlays.

Practicum: Spatial queries involving buffers and overlays, geocoding

Reading: Chapter 9 – Basic spatial analysis

Week 5– Raster and Terrain Analysis

Lecture: Using raster datasets for terrain analysis, working with DEMs, spatial interpolation.

Practicum: Spatial analysis and 3D tools.

Reading: Chapter 10 & 11 – Topics in raster analysis & Terrain analysis

Week 6 – Spatial estimation

Lecture: GIS for GIS users, process modeling, creating macro’s.

Practicum: Data modeling in GIS using model builder.

Reading: Chapter 12 – Spatial estimation

Week 7 – Data Modeling

Lecture: GIS for GIS users, process modeling, creating macro’s.

Practicum: Data modeling in GIS using model builder.

Reading: Chapter 13 – Spatial models and modeling

Week 8 – Building a GIS dataset

Lecture: How to acquire, store, and access digital data.

Practicum: User created datasets and maps

Reading: Chapters 6 & 7

Week 9 – Data Sources, data entry and GPS

Lecture: Data feeds to GIS and their characteristics: maps, GPS, images, databases, commercial data; locating and evaluating data; data formats; data quality; metadata.

Practicum: Creating GIS data using outside data sources including digitization and GPS data, metadata documentation.

Reading: Chapters 4 & 5

Week 10 – Putting it all together

Practicum: Final exam and project