GEOG 126: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

Spring 2009

 

 

Course:  Geographic Information Systems, GEOG 126, 3 units (Tue 2hrs. Lecture, Wed 3hrs. Lab)

Instructor:  Keane Grivich

Pre/Co-requisites:  None

Units: 3.0                                                                                           

Office hours: ˝ hour before the lecture in classroom

 

Course Description:  This course is an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a tool

for spatial analysis. The course will cover GIS concepts, techniques and methodologies. Lab activities will be used to reinforce lecture concepts. The course will prepare students for advanced university level courses in spatial analysis or for entry level positions in GIS related fields.

 

Instructional Materials:

 

·         Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop, Ormsby, Tim, et al.  ESRI Press 2nd Ed/2004.

·         GIS Tutorial:  Workbook for ArcView 9, Goor, Wilpen L. and Kristen S. Kurland.  ESRI Press 1st Ed/2005.

·         Getting Started with Geographic Information Systems, Keith C. Clarke.  Prentice Hall, 4thEd/2003.

 

 

 

General Requirements:

Attendance & Tardiness: School Policy sets the following guidelines, which I will follow. After 4 absences you may be dropped from the class. Tardiness is to be discouraged as it interrupts the class and causes the student to miss in­formation. 

   

Cell Phone Usage:  Cell Phones may not be answered or used in class. A drop may be issued for cell phone usage. Headsets must be off and out of sight as well.

   

Grading Policy:  Tests and lab assignments are assigned point value. Your grade will be based on a percentage of total possible points. A per­centage scale will be used to determine your grade: 90% - A, 80% - B, 70% - C, 60% - D, <60% - F.

 

Exams and Lab Work:  There will be a midterm and a final exam which will make up 75% of your total grade.  Tests will be graded on a class curve.  Completion of lab assignments will make up the other 25%. 

 

Tentative Course Lecture Schedule/Outline:

 

Week 1 & 2:      Geodesy- Earth Shape, Datum, North Line

Week 3:            Map Projections- Coordinate systems – UTM, Geographic, State Plane, MGS

Week 4 & 5:      Cartography- Map layout, Scale, Design

Week 6-9:         Data Representation- Spatial, Statistical, Format, Raster/Vector, Input, Meta,                                             Referencing, Remote Sensing.

Week 10-14:      GIS Systems- GIS and CAD, GIS Evolution, Spatial Analyses, Software/Hardware                          Capabilities, Data Structures.

Week 15-16:      Analytical Techniques in GIS- Spatial Relationships, Overlay Modeling, Quantitative and                              Statistical/Methods, Geographic Questions and Scientific Investigation.

Week 17:          Application of GIS: Cost and Benefits- Choosing a GIS, Case Studies, Issues and                          Challenges, Future of GIS.