Geographic Information Geographic Information Systems Systems

GEO506, Fall 2014GEO506, Fall 2014

Tu Th 5:00-6:20pm, 216 NSCTu Th 5:00-6:20pm, 216 NSC

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: 6:30-7:50pm, Lara IversonTue: 6:30-7:50pm, Lara Iverson LabB Thur: 3:30-4:50pm, Kejin CuiLabB Thur: 3:30-4:50pm, Kejin Cui

LabC Tue: 12:30-1:50pm, Kejin CuiLabC Tue: 12:30-1:50pm, Kejin Cui

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.

Project ProposalProject Proposal

Graduate students are expected to develop a Graduate students are expected to develop a proposal for a project that uses GIS and present proposal for a project that uses GIS and present the proposed idea at the end of semester. the proposed idea at the end of semester.

Grading SystemGrading System

                               Undergraduate     Graduate Undergraduate     Graduate

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

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

Lab exercisesLab exercises 40%40% 30%30%

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 for the lecture and the lab.the 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 26Aug 26 Course introductionCourse introduction

              28   Definition of GIS 28   Definition of GIS

Sep 2   Coordinate systems        Sep 2   Coordinate systems        

                 4   Data models and data structures4   Data models and data structures

                9   Databases9   Databases

               

Tentative Schedule (2)Tentative Schedule (2)

II. GIS DataII. GIS DataSep 11  Remote SensingSep 11  Remote Sensing

                16  GPS16  GPS                  18  Digital elevation models18  Digital elevation models                23  TIGER23  TIGER              25  Natural resources dat25  Natural resources dat

30 Data Quality30 Data Quality              Oct 2  VisualizationOct 2  Visualization

77 MidMid Term ExamTerm Exam                 

Tentative Schedule (3)Tentative Schedule (3)

III. GIS AnalysisIII. GIS AnalysisOct 9Oct 9 GIS analysis and modelingGIS analysis and modeling

1414 GIS analysis and modelingGIS analysis and modeling 16 16 GIS analysis and modelingGIS analysis and modeling 2121 GIS softwareGIS software 2323 GIS analysis and modelingGIS analysis and modeling 2828 GIS softwareGIS software 30 30 GIS applicationsGIS applicationsNov 4Nov 4 Web GISWeb GIS

6 Cloud GIS6 Cloud GIS 11 Open source GIS11 Open source GIS 13 GIS programming13 GIS programming

Tentative Schedule (4)Tentative Schedule (4)

IV. GIS ApplicationsIV. GIS ApplicationsNov 18 GIS applicationsNov 18 GIS applications 20 GIS applications 20 GIS applications

25 GIS applications25 GIS applicationsDec 2 GIS applicationsDec 2 GIS applications

4 Conclusions4 Conclusions

Final Exam: Dec 9 (Tue) 7:15-10:15pm, 216 NSC Final Exam: Dec 9 (Tue) 7:15-10:15pm, 216 NSC (not a comprehensive exam, no multiple choices)(not a comprehensive exam, no multiple choices)

PlagiarismPlagiarism

What is plagiarism and how to avoid it:What is plagiarism and how to avoid it:http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/

plagiarism.htmlplagiarism.htmlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/01/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/01/

german-defence-minister-resigns-plagiarismgerman-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.