GEOGRAPHY 591 GIS FOR APPLIED GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH

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1 GEOGRAPHY 591 GIS FOR APPLIED GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Instructor: Erin Latham Room: SSM B365 Time/Location: 8:30-4:30, SSM A251 Dates: **Two weekends plus one Saturday: Sept 27/28 th and Oct 18/19 th, and Nov 8th Office Hours: TBA TA Mathieu Bourbonnais **Information in this document is subject to change at the instructor s discretion. Course background and description The field of geographic information systems and science includes a range of theories, technologies and applications embraced by geography. As GIS is further developed and specialized into other academic traditions, its foundations are relevant and applicable to the beginning exercises presented in this course. The goal of this course is to provide Geographic Information Systems (GIS) training for graduate students using GIS as a research tool. Topics covered will include: GIS data types and representation, map projections, importing and exporting spatial data, data integration, attribute and spatial queries, terrain analysis and interpolation, and managing GIS problem-sets. Students completing this course will have the skills to search for spatial data, add their own spatial data to a GIS, spatially reference data, and perform basic queries including buffers, intersections, and raster calculations. Course-work will be assigned in the interim between classes, and a course project will be assigned and due at the end of term. Learning objectives By the end of the course, you will be able to: Understand basic theory and concepts pertaining to spatial data types and their representation Perform basic operations involving data importing/exporting, data integration, attribute queries, and raster analysis Pursue GIS problem-sets with your newly acquired skills and toolkit of resources About your Instructor Erin Latham, PhD Candidate (Department of Geography, University of Victoria) is currently pursuing research with north-island First Nations engaged in aquaculture development. She has a background in landscape ecology and a Master s in Geographic Information Systems (MGIS) from the University of Calgary. Over the last three years she has been a tutor and teaching assistant for several 300- and 400- level GIS and remote-sensing geography courses. Reading list Core textbook: Available at university bookstore. Bolstad, P. (2012). GIS fundamentals, 4 th edition. White Bear Lake, Mn: Eider Press. 688 pgs. 1

2 Secondary textbook (advanced): Available online through Kresse, W., & Danko, D. M. (Eds.). (2011). Springer handbook of geographic information. Springer. Course structure and format Classes will include lectures topics with significant lab time to practices skills and gain experience using a GIS. Participation in partnered group work, labs, and assigned reading material will prepare the student for the final project of their choosing. To participate effectively in class activities and discussions, you will be expected to complete the assigned readings before each class. Date Sessions* Readings Sept 27 Sept 28 Oct 18 Oct 19 Introduction GIS Representation and Data Types ArcGIS Intro Map Projections/Coordinate Systems Data Sources, Vector Data and Vector Operations, Raster Data and Raster Operations. GIS Topic Presentations: 7-10 min Quiz 1 Terrain Analysis and Hydrology Interpolation Multicriteria Modeling Lab 1 due GIS Paper Review due GIS Project Planning: Work-Flows and Model-Builder Spatial Data: Error and Error Estimation Quiz 2 Chapters 1-3 Chapter 4 (Map Basics: , Map outputs: ; Data sources: , Digitizing: , Coordinate Transformation: , Raster Geometry and Resampling: , Metadata ); Chapter 6 ( ; Photointerpretation and satellite data: ) Chapter 8 (Attribute data) Chapter 9 (Basic spatial analysis - vectors) Chapter 10 (Raster analysis) Bolstad: Chapter 7 (DEMs and hydrology: Chapter 11 (Terrain analysis) Chapter 12 (Interpolation and prediction: ) 13 (Cartographic models: ) Chapter 14 (Spatial data accuracy, positional accuracy, and spatial data errors: ) 2

3 Nov 8 Online GIS QGIS Intro Python Programming Intro LiDAR data Lab 2 due Project proposal presentations Quiz 3 * Tentative schedule. Chapter 15 (3D Mapping: ; Improved RS, Cloud GIS, Open GIS: ) Lab Policy The lab is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. For access during evenings and weekends, a key fob can be signed out from Rick Sykes at a cost of $10. Login with your netlink ID. Password is your student number (uppercase V ). Grading and assignments Your grade will be based on the following components: Component Percent of mark Date ESRI Online Training Course 5% Due Oct 3 rd Group assignment: GIS Topic Presentation 5% Sept 28 th Quiz 1 5% Sept 28 th Lab Assignment: Vectors and Rasters 10% Due Oct 18 th GIS Paper Review 15% Due Oct 18 th Quiz 2 5% Oct 19 th Lab Assignment: Modelling and Analysis 10% Due Nov 8 th Project Proposal/Presentation 5% Nov 8 th Quiz 3 5% Nov 8 th Final Project 35% Due Dec 5 th Assignment Details ESRI Training Course (5%): Complete this ESRI online training course and send your certificate of completion by to instructor by Oct 3 rd. You will need access to ArcGIS to complete the course. Getting Started with GIS (One module approximately four hours) **Note: I would recommend students complete this course by the first class session, especially if unfamiliar to the geography discipline and/or have never used a GIS. GIS topic presentation (5%): This is a group assignment for three people. Prepare to introduce a topic of interest, and discuss how GIS is used in a specific context. Select one paper as an example in this particular field (identify the objectives, software and analysis, how results were 3

4 presented, discussion and conclusion) in a 5-7 minute oral presentation. What were the advantages and disadvantages of using the GIS? How was the GIS method/analysis presented? Quizzes (15% total): These quizzes will cover both concepts and technical components covered in the readings, lectures, and lab assignments. Lab Assignments (20% total): These assignments will serve as a valuable instructional and information source for students. A formal report will be submitted by the student, and the format will be broken down into sub-headings to communicate the assigned tasks in the lab. Tables and figures must be properly referenced in the text. Good writing is clear and concise, and repeated editing of your work is a necessity at the graduate level. Lab reports should be written in words. GIS Paper Review Assignment (15%) Find an academic paper of your choosing. The only requirement is that it must have GIS listed as a main keyword. Provide a summary of the paper, identifying the context/background of the study, objectives, GIS work process, and investigate its data and the software tools used. Critically explore a few assumptions of analysis (for example, polygon and aggregated data and the modifiable areal unit problem, scale applicability, error estimation) and use background literature to further engage with the topic. Identify the challenges one would encounter if trying to repeat the study. Format 1. Provide full paper citation with web-link. 2. Your review should be maximum 1000 words (not including other references) line spacing is preferred, single for your references 4. All literature that appears in the bibliography must be cited in the text and vice versa. Please use a consistent citation style for references. Project Proposal/Presentation (5%): Each student must present his or her project proposal to the class. This exercise will help focus your objectives through preliminary research on your topic, as well as find specific data sources for your analysis - a very time-tedious task in GIS research projects that is often under-estimated. Presentations should cover your objectives and rationale to pursuing the topic, brief literature review, data description (sources, quality and limitations), proposed methods (overview and flowchart), and work plan (timeline, foreseen limitations). Final Project (35%) The purpose of the term paper is to allow you to apply concepts covered in class and apply them to your own field and research interests. Format 1. The term paper should be a maximum of 3000 words (references are extra). 2. The content of the term paper should be as follows: a. Title b. Introduction and Objectives c. Background 4

5 d. Methods i. Study area map ii. Work-plan iii. Description of data, and software used e. Results i. Include visual outputs if applicable f. Discussion i. Explain expected and unexpected findings ii. Relate to trends in research field iii. Identify challenges encountered and if/how they were resolved g. Conclusion i. Situate study/results in context of research field h. References i. All literature that appears in the bibliography must be cited in the text and vice versa. 3. Figures and tables properly referenced. Appendix A: Course policies All the usual policies of the University of Victoria apply, some of which are shown below. Grading Scale Grade Grade Point Value A A Faculty of Graduate Studies - Grading Scale Percentage for Instructor Description Achievement of Assignment Objectives Use Only * Technically flawless and original work Exceptional demonstrating insight, understanding and Work independent application or extension of course expectations; often publishable. Outstanding Work A Excellent Work B B B C C D Very good work Acceptable work that fulfills the expectations of the course Unacceptable work revealing some deficiencies in knowledge, understanding or techniques 5 Demonstrates a very high level of integration of material demonstrating insight, understanding and independent application or extension of course expectations. Represents a high level of integration, comprehensiveness and complexity, as well as mastery of relevant techniques/concepts. Represents a satisfactory level of integration, comprehensiveness, and complexity; demonstrates a sound level of analysis with no major weaknesses. Represents a satisfactory level of integration of key concepts/procedures. However, comprehensiveness or technical skills may be lacking. Represents an unacceptable level of integration, comprehensiveness and complexity. Mastery of some relevant techniques or concepts lacking. Every grade of 4.0 (B-) or lower in a course taken for credit in the Faculty of Graduate Studies must be reviewed by the supervisory committee of the student and a recommendation made to

6 F Failing grade CTN Exclu ded Grade the Dean of Graduate Studies. Such students will not be allowed to register in the next session until approved to do so by the Dean. Unsatisfactory performance. Wrote final examination and completed course requirements. N/A Continuing Denotes the first half of a full-year course. Plagiarism Plagiarism is copying other peoples words, illustrations, or innovations without giving credit or indicating that you are quoting someone else. This is not allowed at UVic. If you copy information or even ideas from a book, article, or from the internet, you must provide a full citation of the source, and if you use exact words, you should use quotation marks and cite the page reference. Also, students are not allowed to submit a term paper written as an assignment for one course for credit on another course without permission of the instructor. Please be advised that in some circumstances the Turnitin system may be used to detect plagiarism (see: Further information can be found at University of Victoria s Policy on Academic Integrity. 6