Advanced Geographic
Information Science
Geography 419.001
TR 2:00 – 3:15 pm
R 3:30 – 5:10
Mitchell, A. (2005). The
ESRI Guide to GIS Analysis, Volume 2: Spatial Statistics &
Measurements.
Zeiler, M. (1999). Modeling
Our World: The ESRI Guide to Geodatabase
Design.
Purpose: The purpose of this course
is to further students’ knowledge regarding geographic information science (GIScience) and geographic information systems (GIS).
It is assumed the student has mastered the principles of GIS as well as having
some experience in statistics and computer programming. The use of GIS
for the mapping and analysis of spatial phenomena has never been more
prevalent. This widespread utilization has increased the demand for basic
GIS users as well as people who understand the advanced intricacies of spatial
data handling. This course will provide that understanding by providing
instruction on complex data issues, sophisticated spatial modeling procedures,
and potential system pitfalls. Upon the completion of this course, the
student will be prepared to utilize GIS at an advanced level, either in a
vocational or educational setting.
Attendance:
“The faculty regards the classroom as the center of University life and
students are expected to attend all classes (SU Undergraduate Catalog,
pg. 73).” However, attendance will not be taken regularly. A significant
portion of the exams will be derived from class lectures and laboratory
exercises make up a large portion of one’s final grade. Thus, it is to
the student’s advantage to attend.
Grading: Grading will be based upon the student’s
performance on two examinations, laboratory exercises, laboratory logs, a term
project and the student’s level of professionalism. The grading scale will be the standard 90%=A,
80%=B system for each component. Modification to raw exam grades will
occur to correct for instrument bias. No modifications or “curve” will be
made to final grades.
Exams:
A total of three exams will be given: one mid-term lab exam, one mid-term
lecture exam and one final lecture exam at the end of the semester. The
lecture exams will be comprised of short answer and essay questions and are
cumulative. The lab exam will be designed to test technical skills using ArcGIS 9.1 software. The exams will occur according
to the schedule included with this syllabus unless otherwise noted.
Students that are unable to take the exam at the scheduled time should contact
me at least one week ahead of time. Unscheduled make-up exams will only
be given in extreme circumstances.
Laboratory Exercises: Eight laboratory exercises will be conducted
throughout the semester. Each lab will consist of two parts. The
first part will be completed in-class on Wednesdays. The second part of
each lab will be assigned during that lab section and will ask each student to
apply what he/she has learned during the tutorial. This second part may
be started during the Wednesday lab section but will be completed outside of
official lab time. Each lab will have specific tasks that must be
accomplished and questions that must be answered. Most labs are due at
the beginning of class on the Wednesday following their assignment. Some
labs may be group exercises.
Laboratory Logs: The practice of geographic information systems is a science;
experiments are devised, data collected, results generated, and conclusions
made. Any scientific study requires that detailed notes be kept to insure
the repeatability of the experiment. As more GIS studies are used to
bolster legal arguments, the necessity of knowing exactly how a study took
place increases in importance. Therefore, students will be required to
keep a log of all laboratory exercises. The grades assigned for the lab
log will be separate and distinct from the lab grades themselves.
Students will be given a score of 0 to 10 based on completeness, neatness, and
repeatability potential. Logs will not be examined every week. Each
student’s log will be examined randomly at least three times during the
semester.
Final GIS Project: The student will complete a term project based on his/her area of
interest and the knowledge and skills obtained through the lecture and lab
portions of this course. Term projects will entail taking a concept
through the data collection, manipulation, analysis, and representation process
crucial to using GIS. Students will present their results to the class during
the last week of classes. More details will be given later.
Breakdown of Grade Weights:
Mid-term Lab Exam
7%
Mid-term Lecture Exam
13%
Final Lecture
Exam
20%
Lab Exercises/Questions
35%
Lab Logs
10%
Final
Project
15%
Writing Across The
Curriculum: This course
provides students with many opportunities to display their writing skill
including lab exercises, written exams, and the final report summary.
At the University Writing Center at Herb’s Place (
Academic Integrity: “The foremost virtue upon which the academic life is based is
integrity, a faithful and persistent pursuit of the truth. Integrity is a
principle which permeates all the activities of the University... The
spirit of academic integrity denotes adherence to the precept that ‘one's work
is one's own.’ Academic misconduct is a breach of academic integrity which may
include, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Plagiarism - presenting as
one's own work, whether literally or in paraphrase, the work of another.
2. Cheating on exams, tests and quizzes-the
wrongful giving or accepting of unauthorized assistance, the giving or taking
of unauthorized exam material and/or the use of illegitimate sources of
information.
3. Illicit collaboration with
other individuals in the completion of course assignments.
4. The use of fraudulent methods
in laboratory, studio, field or computer work.
5. Other acts generally
recognized as dishonorable which bear upon academic endeavors. . (2001-2003 SU Undergraduate Catalog, pg. 72).”
All acts compromising a student’s academic integrity
will be dealt with appropriately according to the Undergraduate Catalog.
Lecture Schedule
Date
Topic
Labs
|
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 |
Syllabus discussion and overview |
|
|
|
GIS data
representations The
structure of GIS |
|
Zeiler (3) |
|
|
Geographic data models |
|
|
|
|
Object Modeling / geodatabases |
Lab 1:
Review of ArcGIS Basics |
Zeiler (1) |
|
|
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 |
Walkthrough
of building a geodatabase |
|
|
|
Making features “Smart”
Continue
geodatabase walkthrough; Spatial
database video |
Lab 2:
Getting Real-World Data into GIS |
Zeiler (5) |
|
|
Cartographic modeling |
|
|
|
|
Thursday, February 21, 2008 |
Geodatabase Design Cartographic modeling,
model builder, spatial SQL example Software data models |
Lab 3:
Building Spatial Models |
Zeiler (12) |
|
Spatial database design |
|
|
|
|
Spatial Algorithms Vector functions |
Lab 4:
Geodatabase Design |
Supplemental |
|
|
Vector math Computational geometry |
|
|
|
|
Thursday, March 06, 2008 |
Vector math Vector algorithms Exam review |
Lab 5:
Creation of a Geodatabase |
|
|
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 |
Vector demonstrations Coordinate system
adjustment) Student guest presentation |
|
|
|
Thursday, March 13, 2008 |
MidTerm |
Lab Exam |
|
|
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 |
Class Cancelled –
Spring Break |
|
|
|
Thursday, March 20, 2008 |
Class Cancelled –
Spring Break |
|
|
|
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 |
Cell-based Modeling
with Rasters |
|
Zeiler (9) |
|
Thursday, March 27, 2008 |
Student presentations of geodatabase creation |
Lab 6:
Cartographic Modeling |
|
|
Tuesday, April 01, 2008 |
Linear Modeling with
Networks |
|
|
|
Thursday, April 03, 2008 |
Practical
considerations for networking |
Lab 7:
Network Analysis |
Zeiler (8) |
|
Advanced Spatial
Analysis (identify spatial
patterns) |
|
Mitchell (1-3) |
|
|
NCUR presentations |
Lab 8:
Spatial Statistics |
Mitchell (1 – 3) |
|
|
Spatial autocorrelation |
|
Mitchell (4) |
|
|
Thursday, April 17, 2008 |
Spatial interpolation (Kriging) |
Final Project |
|
|
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 |
Spatial
interpolation continued |
|
|
|
Thursday, April 24, 2008 |
Surface modeling with TINs |
Final Project |
Zeiler (10) |
|
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 |
Guest lecture |
|
|
|
Thursday, May 01, 2008 |
|
Final Project |
|
|
Tuesday, May 06, 2008 |
Error and Accuracy |
|
Supplemental |
|
Thursday, May 08, 2008 |
Exam Review |
Final Project |
|
|
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 |
Final Exam |
Final Lab Exam |
|
|
Thursday, May 15, 2008 |
Final Project
Presentations (1:30 – 4 pm) |
|
|
***Both schedules are very tentative.
Supplemental readings will be announced one week
before scheduled lecture.