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Practical Vector GIS

The theory behind GISAnd

Using ESRI’s ArcGIS Technology

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Two flavors of GISs• Vector GIS

– Objects represented by:

• points• lines• polygons• large database

each object

• Raster GIS– AREA represented

by:• Grid cells• one value per cell• Large number

thematic layers

Forest road

Cropland stream

Looks like a map

Looks like a dog’s breakfastDemo

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The Course, briefly

• Shared Resource – grad and undergrad• Slightly different requirements for each• Required Text, so to speak, is the ESRI on-

line course “learning ArcGIS desktop 9.2”• Recommended Text is David Theobald’s GIS

Concepts and ArcGIS methods• All this stuff is in the course syllabus

Demo

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So what do we study?

• Working with maps• Mod 1: Getting Started with ArcGIS

Desktop• Mod 2:Creating Map Symbology• Mod 8:Designing Maps with ArcGIS• Whoa! That was a big jump

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So what do we study?

• Mod 3: Referencing Data to Real Locations (Theory and practice)

• Mod 4: Organizing Geographic Data• Mod 5: Creating and Editing Data• Mod 6: Getting Started with GIS

Analysis• Mod 7: Working with

Geoprocessing and Modeling Tools

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Then…

• We do parts of the ESRI raster course “Learning Spatial Analyst”

• Finally we end with projects – your Project or a canned* one.

*See Syllabus!

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So How does it work?

• Each week you do assigned modules and turn in grade via email

• Then you do a Class exercise that uses the concepts from the Module(s) but without any hand holding.

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Course Attributes

• It is computer intensive and thus can be very frustrating!

It is fast pased and there is a lot to learn

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• Just learn to walk away from a problem, talk it over with someone else in the class or me or the TA and let your subconscious work it out!

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What happens this week?

• Labs NOT in Baker, see schedule• Labs are about maps

– Short PP about maps– Then some study of maps

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Now to see how good your are!

• A friend has asked you to draw a map of the ESF campus around the quad.

• The friend wants to be able to move between buildings without confusion

• Use the sheet of paper provided – you have 5 minutes

• Your name goes on back, upper right corner