GEOG 667
Geographic Information Systems and Sciences
Fall 2007
Course Description: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is fundamentally an applications-led technology. It's not a new "killer application", but a "must-have" innovative and essential computer application like the word processor, a spreadsheet, or database manager for problem-solving "spatially". Yet, science underpins successful applications. Effective use of a GIS is impossible without understanding the body of knowledge, geographic information science, behind the GIS software tools.
With this premise in mind, the approach taken in this course is to provide the fundamental spatial concepts and principles of GIS with hands-on training in the use of the software. Emphasis in placed on using "real" world data such as census, DEM, soil, landuse/landcover datasets and the steps necessary in using the GIS to solve geographical problems.
By the end of the course, you should have an understanding of the development of GIS, its functionality, methodology for implementing the technology, and its potential usefulness in geographic and environmental studies. ESRI's suite of software packages are used in this course.
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course.
Class Meetings: Class is scheduled from 11:15am to 12:45pm on Mondays and Wednesdays in the GIS Teaching Classroom located in Penny Hall room 005. Lectures, demonstrations, and exercises will be conducted during this 1 1/2 hour time periods.
Text and Readings:
Project: An individual project will be completed using the GIS techniques learned throughout the semester to address a problem of interest. Students are encouraged to select a research problem and project area associated with his/her thesis/dissertation research with guidance from the Instructor. Each student will collect data and perform GIS analysis to obtain a solution to the research question. A project poster that defines the problem, explains why GIS is an appropriate tool to achieve a solution, and discussion of the data layers, method of analysis and summary of results is required. The project poster is due on or before Wednesday, November 28th. Presentations will be held either Friday afternoon on November 30th or the last day of classes on Wednesday, December 5.
Grading: Grades will be based upon total points accumulated by the end of the semester.
Assignments Total Points 3 Quizzes (50 points each) 150 6-10 Exercises (5-25 points each) 150 Research Project 50 TOTAL 350
Class Policies: Exercises will be accepted late, however, a deduction of 1 point will be applied for each day the assignment is late excluding the weekends. A maximum of 50% may be deduced and exercises may be turned in on or before Wednesday, December 5th. Quizzes may be rescheduled only if Instructor is given prior notice and an additional time is arranged before the exam date.
