Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 373 – Summer Session II 2007
Section 0101 (3 credits)
Instructor:
Phone 301-405-8891
Room 1104 LeFrak Hall
Office hours: by
appointment
Class Times:
Monday and
Wednesday
Lectures - Room 2166 LeFrak
Lab - Room 1138 LeFrak
Aims of the Course:
This course is intended to provide an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This course will introduce the audience to fundamental concepts of cartography, GIS, and geospatial data management. A particular emphasis is placed on the basics of geospatial data analysis to answer specific geographic questions. As a course in geographic technology, GEOG373 will focus on developing basic skills for manipulating geographic data in ArcGIS environment.
Target Audience:
This course is intended for all students who want to learn fundamentals of GIS and develop basic geospatial data manipulation skills. This course can serve either as a termination for a more general program or as a gateway to 400 level classes in Geography, especially GEOG473. Non-Geography students (at undergraduate and graduate levels) or undeclared majors are welcome.
Prerequisites:
This course does not have any prerequisites. However, basic computer skills are strongly recommended.
Enrollment limit:
40 per section.
Geography Major Program Information:
This course counts as a gateway course for Geography majors.
See GEOG advisers in
Course Materials:
Text
book:
Bolstad, Paul. GIS Fundamentals. A
First Text on Geographic Information Systems, 2nd Edition.
Eider Press,
Lab manual:
Gorr, Wilpen L. and Kristen S. Kurland. GIS
Tutorial, Second Edition: Workbook for ArcView 9. ESRI Press,
Assessment:
The grading for this course will be based on three different aspects: exams, laboratory assignments, and practical exam. The exams include a mid term exam (08/01/2007) and a final exam (08/22/2007) each covering approximately half of the course material. The mid-term exam will count for 20% of the grade and the final exam will count for 30%. Although the final exam will not test specifically the material covered by the mid-term, the questions will require understanding and integration of all aspects covered by the course. All exams will account for 50% of the total grade. The laboratory assignments (30%), practical exam (20%) will account for the remaining 50% of the student’s grade. Each laboratory assignment will be due at the beginning of the next class. Lab assignments build successively and therefore will not be accepted more than one day late.
Final Exam
The final exam will be given on Wednesday August 22, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. If you have a conflict with this time, please contact the instructor.
Recommended lab equipment:
To print in the lab
a print account will be necessary and can be obtained through the Office of
Information Technology. Additionally, a CD or USB jump drive may be used to
store images and screen captures to be printed elsewhere. This is a highly
recommended option since the file sizes are usually large and unforeseen
technical difficulties with the printer might impede your ability to print in
the lab.
Attendance policy:
All students are
required to attend lectures and lab sessions according to the class
schedule. Should it become necessary for
a student to miss a class or attend the lab at a different time due to illness,
religious holidays, emergencies, or other reasons, the student should contact
the instructor as quickly as possible.
Academic Integrity
The
Honor Code:
The University has a nationally recognized Honor Code,
administered by the Student Honor Council. The Student Honor Council proposed
and the University Senate approved an Honor Pledge. The
"I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment/examination."
Unless you are specifically advised to the contrary, the Pledge statement should be handwritten and signed on the front cover of all papers, projects, or other academic assignments submitted for evaluation in this course. Students who fail to write and sign the Pledge will be asked to confer with the instructor.
Disabilities:
If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact the instructor as soon as possible.
Class Schedule:
|
Class |
Date |
Lecture Topic |
Lab topic |
|
|
1 |
7/16/2007 |
Course overview, Introduction to GIS |
GIS Tutorial 1: Introduction |
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2 |
7/18/2007 |
Data Models |
GIS Tutorial 2: Map Design |
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3 |
7/23/2007 |
Geodesy, Datums and Map Projections |
GIS Tutorial 3: GIS Outputs |
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4 |
7/25/2007 |
GIS data sources Digital Data, GPS |
GIS Tutorial 4: Geodatabases |
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5 |
7/30/2007 |
Aerial and Satellite Images |
GIS Tutorial 5: Importing Spatial and Attribute Data |
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6 |
8/1/2007 |
Mid-term exam |
GIS Tutorial 6: Digitizing |
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7 |
8/6/2007 |
Attribute Data and Tables |
GIS Tutorial 7: Geocoding |
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8 |
8/8/2007 |
Basic Spatial Analysis (1) |
GIS Tutorial 8: Spatial Data Processing |
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9 |
8/13/2007 |
Basic Spatial Analysis (2) |
GIS Tutorial 9: Spatial Analysis |
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10 |
8/15/2007 |
Raster Analysis and Terrain Analysis |
Free to finish up the labs |
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11 |
8/20/2007 |
Data Standards, Documentation and New Developments in GIS |
Practical Exam |
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12 |
8/22/2007 |
Final exam |
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