|
Overview
This laboratory course uses hands-on
experience to provide students with essential mapping and spatial
analysis skills. This course balances lectures on the core principles
of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with applied instruction on
managing, processing and interpreting spatial data. It should be
particularly useful for students interested in conducting
environmental, demographic, suitability and transportation-related
research.
Students are not expected to have prior experience with GIS; however, a
desire to learn and explore is essential. This course is fast-paced and
requires a large amount of independent work. It relies on student
initiative and interest and is a work-in-progress. Students are
strongly encouraged to share experiences, knowledge and suggestions
with the instructors and each other.
Course Structure
The course web page is central to the organization of the course. It
provides the latest syllabus and assignments. It also provides hints
for solving common problems. The web page is updated with new
assignments, links and hints as the course progresses. In addition, the
web page provides web links for data sources and additional information
on GIS and analysis topics.
During the first two weeks of class, students are expected to create
and post a personal web page. Assignments throughout the quarter will
be posted to this page.
Class will be held in the computer lab and will consist of a mixture of
lectures on the principles of GIS and spatial data, demonstrations of
GIS processes and in-class lab exercises. The class has four principle
elements:
I.
Tutorial
Assignments
In the tutorials, students are expected to independently complete the
chapters of the tutorial Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop (Includes 2 CD-ROMs).
This book should be available in the LuValle bookstore or by ordering
online (from Amazon books, etc.). When installing the ArcMap software
on your computer, BE SURE TO INSTALL ALL OF THE EXTENSIONS!
The tutorials element requires considerable time. This is primarily a
self-learning stage, but the instructors will be available for
consultation if needed. Progress will be tracked through graphic files
you will post on your web pages and in-class lab exercises. These
exercises require students to demonstrate an understanding of the
skills introduced in the tutorial exercises. They are designed to be
relatively straight-forward if students have completed the required
tutorial chapters.
II. In-class Lab Assignments
Each week students will complete one or more
instructor-guided lab assignments, which focus on specific aspects of
GIS data analysis, manipulation and presentation. The assignments are
accompanied by detailed step-by-step instructions.
III. Mid-term and Final
Projects
The midterm and final projects are two phases in a process of
translating the skills and knowledge you accumulate in the course into
a document in which you use GIS to analyze a policy or planning issue.
The topic and design of the final project must be approved by the
instructor or teaching assistants.
In the mid-term element of the project, students
design and prepare the descriptive elements of their final product.
Students are required to acquire spatial and tabular data and produce
demographic and other thematic maps relevant to their chosen planning
or policy issue. Midterm projects will be presented in class on the 6th
week of the quarter. Students are required to make a brief presentation
of maps and charts which concisely and clearly address their project.
In the final project the students will perform
the analytic elements of their analysis to address a planning problem
of interest. The analysis should draw from a combination of geographic
and attribute data including data from an original source.
Grading
It is very important that students keep up with the pace of course
assignments. Students who fall too far behind will be asked to drop the
class. If, for some reason, you must turn in an assignment late, notify
the instructors immediately by email. The final project must be
presented during the final week of class with no exceptions.
Course progress will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Participation & Progress [10%]:
Learning GIS takes a certain amount of perseverance and discipline. For
this reason, we take into consideration whether students are keeping up
with assignments and progressing with the course work. While class
attendance is not required, it is strongly recommended. Although
in-class lab exercises will not be officially counted towards your
grade, the results of lab exercises that are posted to your web page
will help us track your progress.
Tutorial assignments [20%]:
All tutorial and lab assignments must be completed and posted to your
web page by Friday each week.
Mid-term project [25%]:
The mid-term project indicates that you have mastered basic GIS skills.
Your maps and short write-up must be posted to your web page.
Final project [50%]:
The final project indicates that you have used your mapping and
analysis skills to investigate a planning/policy issue. Your maps and
short write-up must be posted to your web page. In addition, all
students are required to present their final project during the Final
Project Presentations at the last meeting of the class.
Additional
Information
To complete the course, students must devote considerable time and
effort. Students with some past experience will be able to complete the
course assignments with little help. Other students are encouraged to
work in small groups to learn together, but each student will be
responsible for his or her own assignments. Students who need
additional assistance are encouraged to work in the computer lab to
obtain help from other students or the instructors.
The SPA computer lab assistants can be helpful should you encounter
hardware problems (printing, memory, lost files, etc.), but do not have
sufficient knowledge of GIS to help you with mapping questions.
GIS skills have proven to be very helpful to the field of planning.
Upon completion of this course, students should have the necessary
skills to construct maps and perform analysis which can be used in a
variety of planning settings. Students will be exposed to a variety of
introductory GIS concepts and topics, but those students who desire to
know more about the theoretical basis of mapping should enroll in
UP206B: Advanced GIS as well as other courses offered in the Geography
Department.
|
