2664.12 - Practice course - Geographical Information System (GIS))
Course number
2664.12
Title
Practice course - Geographical Information System (GIS))
ECTS
2.5
Purpose
The purpose of the course is to provide the students with an introduction
to Geographical Information Systems (GIS). It will explain the basic
theoretical concepts behind the GIS, and it will give basic practical skills as
well. It will introduce the most commonly used GIS package: ESRI’s
ArcGIS. The couse will also shortly introduce the free GIS software:
Quantum GIS.
Content
Theoretical part
Introduction to GIS (what is a GIS, components of GIS)
Projections and coordinate systems
Types of geographic data (points, lines, areas, surfaces) +
(continuous and discrete)
Data models in GIS (vector, raster)
Accuracy, precision and error in the data
Metadata
Practical part
Introduction to ArcGIS applications: ArcCatalog, ArcMap
Use of ArcMap for editing, display and production of cartographic
output
Use of ArcGIS for various analyses (attribute query, spatial
selection, spatial query)
Basic spatial operations in ArcGIS (buffering, overly, aggregation)
Mapping your own data (joining data in Excel to maps, etc.)
Introduction to Quantum GIS (free alternative to ArcGIS)
Learning and teaching approaches
Short presentations on the theoretical fundamentals underpinning the GIS. Most of the time will be spent by excersises where we will learn to work with ArcGIS in practise. As a part of the course, the students will be requsted to collect their own data, which they will afterwards import, analyze and display in GIS.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the students will:
define and assess the main concepts and data models
used in GIS.
Define and assess the values and possibilities offered by
GIS, and be aware of its limitations.
Explain the basics in map projections and coordinate
systems.
display, analyze and edit geographical and attribute data
in ArcGIS.
collect and import one’s own attribute and spatial data
into a GIS.
demonstrate practical knowledge in using Quantum GIS
to display, analyze and edit geographical and attribute
data.
Assessment method
80% compulsory attendance.
Examination consists of a written test.
Examination
External
Marking scale
13-