Introduction
to Geographic Information Systems
Spring 2008
Course Syllabus – BIOL 2310-1 and BIOLL 2310-1
Instructor: Dr. John
Campbell Credit hours: 3 (2 hr lec. and 2
hr lab)
Texts: GIS
Fundamentals (2nd Ed.), by Paul Bolstad, Eider Press. 2005
Mastering ArcGIS
(3nd Ed.), by Maribeth Price, McGraw Hill. 2008
Office: SM 254
Phone: 754-6140 Meets: TTH 11-11:50 SM 247; Lab W
3-4:50 SM
135
Office Hours: 10-10:50 MTWThF Email:
john.campbell@northwestcollege.edu
Course objective: To gain a basic, practical understanding of GIS concepts,
technical issues, and applications using ArcGIS. By the end of this course you
should be able to do the following.
· Define
Geographic Information Systems
· Identify,
compare and contrast vector and raster GIS
· List and
evaluate the capabilities of ArcGIS
· Apply
cartographic principles of scale, resolution, projection and data management in
a geographic problem
· Apply
spatial analysis functions to a geospatial problem
· Communicate
the results of geospatial analysis through a well designed map
Learning outcomes:
Students completing this course
should be able to
· Demonstrate
sound scientific reasoning and familiarity with basic scientific methodology
and experimental procedures.
· Be able to organize, analyze and interpret data
· Demonstrate
oral and written communication skills
Intended audience: Designed for two audiences: students new to the field of
GIS who want to understand the concepts and technology and assess its value to
their career, and existing GIS practitioners who want to go beyond the software
manuals to understand the fundamental concepts of GIS.
Prerequisites: No prerequisites are required for this course, but some
background in computer operations and keyboarding is needed.
Course format: This course will include classroom lecture, discussion and
demonstration of geographic information systems. Lecture will include computer
presentations. In lab, students will perform practical ArcGIS exercises using
data and ArcGIS software.
Software Used:
The course will use ArcGIS 9.2, a
powerful and popular desktop GIS program from Environmental Systems Research
Institute (ESRI, Redlands, CA).
Absence policy: The college absence policy is to be
used. You may miss 3 class periods
without an excuse, after which your class grade may be dropped one letter grade
for each additional absence. Only illness and participation in a college
sponsored activity are excused absences. People involved in excused school
activities should plan on taking the exam prior to their absence. Makeup and replacement exams may be different
from the missed exam. Unexcused missing
of exams may result in no makeup exam being given or a grade penalty assessed.
Policy on Academic Integrity: You are expected to strictly observe NWC rules
regarding academic honesty. These rules are detailed in your Student Handbook.
These rules require you to abstain from cheating on exams, properly reference
published written and electronic material, and only submit work that is your
own. If you have any questions regarding what behavior is proper, including
what constitutes plagiarism, please do not hesitate to ask.
Students with Special Needs: Students who qualify for specific accommodations
under the Americans with Disabilities Act should notify the instructor in the
first week of class to ensure that their needs are met in a timely manner. It
is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor of his/her needs and
to provide the necessary documentation to the
Catalog Description: Students acquire an introductory-level
understanding of the principles and practices of geographic information systems
(GIS), both as an interactive spatial database and as a powerful analytical
tool. Students learn the theory of mapping and spatial data analysis as well as
learn to use GIS software through exercises and projects (2 hrs. lec, 2 hrs. lab)
Lecture Outline:
Date
Lecture Topics
Text Chapter Readings
Jan. 15, 17 Introduction to
GIS 1
Jan. 22, 24, 29
Data
Models 2
Jan 31, Feb 5, 7
Projections and Coordinate
Systems
3
Feb. 12
Data Sources and
Entry
4
Feb. 14
Exam 1
Feb. 19, 21
Data Sources and
Entry
4
Feb. 26, 28 GPS
5
March 4
Aerial and Satellite
Images
6
March 6
Digital
Data
7
March 11, 13, 18
Attribute
Data and
Tables
8
March 20
Exam 2
April 1 Discussion of Projects
April 3, 8, 10
Basic Spatial
Analysis
9
April 17, 22, 24
Map Design and
Presentation
Lecture material
April 29
Terrain and Raster
Analysis
10
May 1
Project Presentations
11
May 7 (W)
Final Exam
1-2:50 PM
Grading: The lecture portion of the course
will be worth 50% of the total course grade and the laboratory will be worth
50%.
Exam 1
16%
Final Exam 17%
Exam 2
17%
Laboratory 50%
Laboratory
Syllabus
Laboratory objective: The
practical exercises in lab are designed to reinforce conceptual material
learned in the lecture and to learn specific skills using ArcGIS 9.2, a desktop
software implementation of a Geographic Information System.
Laboratory
topics:
Exercises
Lab 1: Introduction to
ArcGIS
1
Lab 2: Working with ArcMap
2
Lab 3: Coordinate Systems and Map
Projections 3
Lab 4: Drawing and Symbolizing
Features
4
Lab 5: Managing tabular
data
(project 1 due)
5
Lab 6:
Queries
6
Lab 7: Presenting
Data
9
Lab 8: Basic Editing in
ArcMap 11
Lab 9: More Editing in ArcMap
(project 2
due)
12
Lab 10: Spatial
Joins
7
Lab 11: Work on Project
Lab 12: Map
Overlay
8
Lab 13: Raster Analysis+ final project
work
15
Lab 14: Work on final projects
Lab 15: Presentation of Final Projects
Projects: Three projects that demonstrate your
skills with ArcGIS and spatial data and analysis are required. These projects
will be broken down into three assignments: two minor projects and one major
project.
The two projects will have specific assignments and the
third will be on a topic of your own choosing. In this large project, you will
gather attribute and spatial information, input the data into ArcGIS, conduct a
spatial analysis, produce graphic output and prepare a report of your findings.
Details and requirements of the project will be covered in class and presented
in a separate handout.
The final project will be turned in as 2 paper copies of all
maps and the associated report, as well as all data and project files burned
onto a CD-R disk.
Much of your GIS skill will develop as you work on your
major project. I expect a project of breadth and depth as warranted for a 3 cr.
hr. class and your grade will be based on meeting this level. A project at this
level will give you an excellent working understanding of GIS and its
capabilities. Unfortunately, it will not give you highly developed GIS skills.
Many students in the past have chosen to create a project with more breadth or
depth than required for this class because they desire the greater capabilities
that come from this additional work. I applaud this additional effort and will
support anyone who desires to go beyond the course requirements. However, I do
not use these larger projects as a standard in grading for the class, but will
use a standard appropriate for a 3 cr. hr. class. Thus, no student should feel
pressured to develop one of these larger and more time consuming projects
unless they desire the challenge.
Grading and evaluation of laboratory exercises:
Weekly laboratory
participation and output: 50 %
Projects:
45% (5% for each of two minor project components and 35% for the main project)
Presentation of final
project
5%
Late Materials: Late assignments will be accepted
after the due date, but will only be worth 80% of their original value.