Geog491
Prerequisite: For undergraduate students, you may take GEO370, or similar course, or experiences with GIS software (ArcGIS or ArcGIS Pro). No Prerequisite for graduate students.
Course Descriptions:
(From Undergraduate Bulletin) Stresses the spatial analysis and modeling capabilities of organizing data within a geographic information system. (GISci)
This course introduces the theories and applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and teaches hands-on skills using spatial technologies. At the beginning of the semester, a briefly review of Geographic Information basics, including terms and history of Geographic Information, map projections, coordinate systems, major data models, will be covered. After this, we will cover more on geoweb, geodatabase design and management, map design, geo-visualization, spatial data analysis, and spatial modeling.
Text:
Geographic Information Science and Systems by Paul A. Longley, 4Th edition, WILEY
ISBN: 978-1-118-67695-0 (Paperback)
Supplementary Materials:
Bradley A. Shellito, Introduction to Geospatial Technologies, 4th Edition, 2017
Grading Items:
There will be 8 labs, a midterm, a term project, and a final exam.
Term Project
Term project proposal
From the beginning of the semester, you need to identify a spatial analytical problem, which can be answered via the usage of geo-technologies (including geo-referencing, geo-visualization, mapping, spatial data querying, spatial data modeling, etc. You do not need to use all of them.)
(1) Your proposal should include the following components – problem statement, literature review, data sources, data availability, time expected to collect your data, and methodology (may include urban model specifications, flowcharts of data analysis).
(2) If you choose to work with other students in a group setting (maximum 3 students in a group), you still need to submit your own proposal (you may have similar materials with other group members though, such as methodology, data source, etc.)
(3) Limit of words – 2-3 pages, double space.
Term project report:
(1) Please include your proposal materials for the first few Chapters, such as problem statement, literature review (please provide references), and methodology. Also include names of all group members, and list contributions of all members as well (such as data collection, data processing, spatial analysis, model implementation, or report composition, etc.).
(2) Implementation of your project and results analysis – please include maps, tables, charts, or other results. Multiple large maps should be included as appendix. Maps can also be used to introduce your research sites – such as location, population, income, race, etc.; Conclusions.
(3) Length of your report – 5 pages minimum without maps, tables, or other appendix.
(4) How to submit? To submit your report, you can name your report document as FinalReport.doc and copy it to the submission folder. For all other files, such as aprx files, data files, please keep them in your folder as well, I will check them along with your report.
Updated on April 6, 2023