Geographic Information Geographic Information Systems Systems

GEO481/506, Fall 2012GEO481/506, Fall 2012

Tu Th 2:30-3:20pm, NSC 210Tu Th 2:30-3:20pm, NSC 210

The course is offered three times a yearThe course is offered three times a year

InstructorInstructor

Ling Bian, 120 WilkesonLing Bian, 120 Wilkeson

Office HoursOffice Hours

Tu Th 4-5pm or by apptsTu Th 4-5pm or by appts

Lab Wilkeson 145Lab Wilkeson 145

LabALabA Tue: 6:30-7:50pmTue: 6:30-7:50pm LabB Wed: 3:30-4:50pmLabB Wed: 3:30-4:50pm

LabC Thur: 9:30-10:50amLabC Thur: 9:30-10:50am

No lab in the first weekNo lab in the first weekNo lab in the first weekNo lab in the first weekNo lab in the first weekNo lab in the first week

Access toAccess toWilkesonWilkesonGIALGIALcomputer account computer account printing account printing account

See Joe if there are still problemsSee Joe if there are still problems

Purpose

There is a spatial component to all activities on There is a spatial component to all activities on the planet. Everything happens somewhere and the planet. Everything happens somewhere and knowing knowing whywhy and and howhow these things happen at these things happen at wherewhere and how these things are related to each and how these things are related to each other are important for us to fully understand the other are important for us to fully understand the spatial phenomena. This course provides spatial phenomena. This course provides a a general introductiongeneral introduction to geographic information to geographic information systems that help study these spatial phenomena. systems that help study these spatial phenomena. The goal of the course is to help students The goal of the course is to help students understand understand principles,principles, application, application, andand techniques techniques of geographic information systems (GIS).of geographic information systems (GIS).

This is the introductory course of a series of GIS This is the introductory course of a series of GIS courses offered in the Geography Department. The courses offered in the Geography Department. The lecture is divided in four sections. The first section lecture is divided in four sections. The first section introduces basics of aintroduces basics of a GIS system GIS system. The second . The second section discusses section discusses GIS Data and their sourcesGIS Data and their sources. The . The third section focuses on third section focuses on GIS functionsGIS functions in order to in order to extract spatial information from geographic data. extract spatial information from geographic data. The fourth section covers The fourth section covers GIS applicationsGIS applications. GIS is . GIS is useful to virtually any discipline that uses useful to virtually any discipline that uses geographic information. The course should benefit geographic information. The course should benefit students from a wide range of background. students from a wide range of background.

A series of laboratory exercises are designed to A series of laboratory exercises are designed to help students familiarize with basic GIS operations. help students familiarize with basic GIS operations. ArcGISArcGIS will be used as the primary software. Digital will be used as the primary software. Digital data of various themes will be used for the lab data of various themes will be used for the lab exercises. Students will gain experience with the exercises. Students will gain experience with the following techniques: manipulating GIS data, following techniques: manipulating GIS data, querying spatial and attribute data, spatial join, querying spatial and attribute data, spatial join, projection, GPS, geocoding, 3D view, analysis, and projection, GPS, geocoding, 3D view, analysis, and online mapping applications. online mapping applications.

Labs

TextText

Lo, C.P. and Yeung, A. K.W. 2002, 2007 Concepts Lo, C.P. and Yeung, A. K.W. 2002, 2007 Concepts and Techniques of Geographic Information and Techniques of Geographic Information Systems. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Systems. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.Jersey.

Annotated BibliographyAnnotated Bibliography

Each graduate student is expected to review Each graduate student is expected to review 1010 GIS application articles and to develop an GIS application articles and to develop an annotated bibliography annotated bibliography for each article. The 10 for each article. The 10 articles should be articles should be from refereed journalsfrom refereed journals. At the . At the end of the semester, graduate students are end of the semester, graduate students are expected to develop a summary of these expected to develop a summary of these bibliographies and bibliographies and present the summarypresent the summary to the to the class.class.

Annotated Bibliography ..Annotated Bibliography ..

The 10 articles should cover The 10 articles should cover one topic of one topic of student's intereststudent's interest. The bibliography should . The bibliography should briefly describe briefly describe (1) the reference(1) the reference of the article, of the article, (2) the purpose(2) the purpose of the study, of the study, (3) the data(3) the data used used for the study, and for the study, and (4) the GIS analysis(4) the GIS analysis used for used for the study. The weekly bibliography is due on the study. The weekly bibliography is due on ThursdaysThursdays..

Annotated Bibliography ..Annotated Bibliography ..

The weekly bibliography should be typed in less The weekly bibliography should be typed in less than than one double-spaced pageone double-spaced page. Each . Each bibliography will be given a maximum of 10 bibliography will be given a maximum of 10 points. The bibliographies account for points. The bibliographies account for 10% of 10% of the total gradethe total grade for graduate students. for graduate students.

   

A Sample ReferenceA Sample Reference

Cowen, D.J., 1988. GIS versus CAD versus DBMS: Cowen, D.J., 1988. GIS versus CAD versus DBMS: What are the differences? Photogrammetric What are the differences? Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 54(11): 1551-Engineering and Remote Sensing, 54(11): 1551-1555. 1555.

Journals that cover GISJournals that cover GIS

► Cartography and Geographic Information Systems Cartography and Geographic Information Systems ► Computers and Geosciences Computers and Geosciences ► Computers, Environment and Urban Systems Computers, Environment and Urban Systems ► International Journal of Geographical Information International Journal of Geographical Information

Science Science ► Journal of Geographical SystemsJournal of Geographical Systems► Transactions in GISTransactions in GIS

Project ProposalProject Proposal

Graduate students are expected to develop a Graduate students are expected to develop a proposal for a project that uses GIS. proposal for a project that uses GIS.

Grading SystemGrading System

                               Undergraduate     Graduate Undergraduate     Graduate

Mid-term examMid-term exam 30%         30%          25% 25%

Final exam          Final exam           30%          30%           25% 25%

Lab exercisesLab exercises 40%40% 30% 30%

BibliographyBibliography 10% 10%

Project Proposal Project Proposal 10% 10%

TotalTotal 100% 100% 100% 100%

You will earnYou will earn two identical grades two identical grades for the lecture and the for the lecture and the lab.lab.

The exams will be mostly based on lecturesThe exams will be mostly based on lectures

Grad cut-offGrad cut-off

A 93.33-100.0 A- 90.00-93.32   B+ 86.67-89.99B 83.33-86.66B- 80.00-83.32C+ 76.67-79.99C 73.33-76.66C- 70.00-73.32D+ 66.67-69.99D 60.00-66.66F <60

Tentative ScheduleTentative Schedule

I. GIS SystemI. GIS SystemAug Aug 3030 Course introductionCourse introduction

            Sep 1   Definition of GIS Sep 1   Definition of GIS

6   Coordinate systems 6   Coordinate systems

                8   Map projections (first bibli due)8   Map projections (first bibli due)

                 13   Data models and data structures13   Data models and data structures

                15   Databases15   Databases

               

Tentative Schedule (2)Tentative Schedule (2)

II. GIS DataII. GIS DataSep 20  Remote SensingSep 20  Remote Sensing

                22  GPS22  GPS                  27  digital elevation models27  digital elevation models              Oct 4  TIGER data Oct 4  TIGER data                 6  Natural resources data6  Natural resources data                11  Data quality 11  Data quality

1313 MidMid Term ExamTerm Exam                  18  Visualization18  Visualization                       

Tentative Schedule (3)Tentative Schedule (3)

III. GIS AnalysisIII. GIS AnalysisOct 20Oct 20 GIS analysis and modelingGIS analysis and modeling

2525 GIS analysis and modelingGIS analysis and modeling 27 27 Guest speakerGuest speakerNov  1 Nov  1 GIS analysis and ModelingGIS analysis and Modeling 33 Guest speakerGuest speaker 88 GIS softwareGIS software

1010 New trends in GISNew trends in GIS

Tentative Schedule (4)Tentative Schedule (4)

IV. GIS ApplicationIV. GIS ApplicationNov 15,17,22,29, Nov 15,17,22,29, Dec 1,6 Student presentations (1, last Dec 1,6 Student presentations (1, last bibliography due)bibliography due)Dec 8 Dec 8 ConclusionsConclusions

Final Exam: Dec 15 (Thur) 3:30-6:30pm, 170 FillmoreFinal Exam: Dec 15 (Thur) 3:30-6:30pm, 170 Fillmore

PlagiarismPlagiarism

What is plagiarism and how to avoid it:What is plagiarism and how to avoid it:http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/plagiarism.htmlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/01/german-defence-minister-resigns-plagiarism

ExpectationExpectation

After this course, you should be comfortable to be After this course, you should be comfortable to be a good GIS intern. a good GIS intern.