Geographic Information Systems - Vector Geo 3230, Section 01, 3 Credit Hours	Class - T Th - 9:00-9:52 | Lab - Tu - 10:00-11:52
	Boebel 104 - Class and Lab

Copies of Schedule here

Lab supplies: Jump (Flash) Drive to back up work.

Final Exam: -Tuesday, May 13, 10 AM -12 PM Final Exam Schedule

Prerequisites: An understanding of geographic (shapes) and tabular (attribute) data in a computer is required to successfully complete this course as well as prior familarity with the Windows operating system, especially file management.

Course Description:The function of the GIS is to solve a locational problem. It uses the same software file types as those used to produce a map, the geographic and attribute files, but is no longer an inventory or map production process, which differentiates this from a computer cartographic process. Only selectively displaying entered map data is cartography (ArcView 3.3 for example). The software is used to generate new data that is different from the input data using what are known as GIS functions such as the neigborhood and overlay. These functions will be examined in class and examples will be run through in laboratory exercises using ArcGIS 9.2. This is the first course in GIS and it will mainly examine the characteristics of a vector GIS. The second GIS course will examine the differences in using a raster GIS.

Course Objectives:There are three primary objectives in this course.

1. Learn the fundamental concepts and procedures of digital (computer-assisted) Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
2. Gain "hands-on" experience with GIS and graphics hardware and software.
3. Develop, implement, and analyze hypothetical or applied spatial problems using digital GIS.

Course Format: The objectives in this course will be attained through a series of lectures, readings, laboratory exercises, and student papers/projects. The class period will be used to present lectures, discuss the readings and exercises, demonstrate computer hardware, and present and discuss student projects. Work done on lab exercises and individual projects is started during the lab period but will continue to be done outside of the class period.

Assessment: 2 exams - Midterm (100 points) and Final (150 points)
± 10 quizzes (100 points)
± 12 labs (120 points)
1 paper/project (100 points)

Grading Chart:

Labs: Labs are held in Boebel 104. Each lab assignment will be due one week from the time that it's handed out. There may be a sign-up sheet to reserve a computer for lab use if necessary (let me know if there are any problems), otherwise it's first come, first serve. Having all your labs and data on a Flash drive will allow you to work at any machine that's available. Occasionally, a class lecture period may be used for computer access instead of lecture.

IF YOU LEAVE EARLY FROM LAB, you must turn in the lab!

LABS ARE DUE at 9 AM the following week!! NO LATE LABS ACCEPTED (0 points).

Arc Info Tutorials (for extra information and approaches)

• It should be typed and double-spaced.
• The font used should be no more than 12 points and no less than 10 points.

Your project is to examine the uses of GIS and to semi-implement a proposed project. The project should contain the following sections: TITLE: The title will be The Applications of GIS to ________________, where the blank is your choice. Examples are "Wetland Restoration; Wetland Management; Wildlife Management; City Planning; Environmental Management; Geology; Anthropology; or Biology". Click here for some sample exercises.

Part I should be a research paper using current periodicals, RS, Geo-Info Systems, etc.) and report on how GIS is being used in the area that you've chosen. Pay attention to

• types of GISs (which brand of GIS is being used; which type - vector or raster and why),
• data sources (secondary or primary data - types, such as satellite imagery or field GPS work),
• data manipulation (what GIS functions were used, step by step) to get to the end result - most important), and
• generated output, if any (maps or screen only).

In addition, you must provide a PRINTOUT of the FIRST PAGE of at least 10 WEB DATA SITES that match your topic. The address AND date should be printed out on the page along with your name. In Internet Explorer go into Page Setup, click on the question mark, and then click on Footer. You should get a list of variables such as &U &D and &t that you should have along with your name typed out in the footer space.

Part II should be a hypothetical project of your choosing. (You pick a SPECIFIC problem to solve.) Topics could be something like

• locating better arrival and departure routes for airplanes at an airport;
• developing a mass transport system for a small city;
• determining sources of pollution for the Wisconsin River
• finding optimum areas for church recruitment
• locating test market areas for a certain product in Wisconsin
• finding potential archaeological sites in a river basin
• setting up a recycling program for rural areas
• determining fish distribution in a stream (identifying contiguous areas in a stream to match habitats)
• determining an optimum route to find rock outcrops for a geology field trip, minimizing transportation time and distance but visiting the greatest variety of sites.

  For this section, you
  1) set goals,
  2) define data needed, and
  3) design the project (Data, Derived Maps, GIS functions needed to get maps, and how maps used to answer goal).

Include a flow chart model indicating data, maps, and functions performed to reach your desired goal. Draw this as carefully as possible. There is an installed free flow-chart program on the computers, VISIO. The flowchart should contain maps (boxes), queries (diamonds) and any other action needed to obtain your objective. You won't have time to actually carry out the project, but if you did, Part II would provide clear instructions on how to easily complete it.Your report should consist of the following parts:
1. Problem statement. Which aspect of this research problem would benefit from spatial analysis and GIS technologies?
2. Data requirements. What digital data you need for this research? What question does it help to answer?
3. Data collection. Description of data and data sources. Discuss sources and formats of your input data. Indicate file and data format in which the data is distributed as well as the georeferencing information.
Include names of agencies that supply the data and describe web sites from which data was downloaded (e.g., Name of the site and nature of organization that posts the data for downloads in addition to its URL (web address)).
4. Data integration. Describe how you imported the data into your GIS software. How did you go about discrepancies in georeferencing if any? How did you solve issues of scale and resolution? Did you have to rasterize or vectorize your data? Issues of data quality?
5. Data analysis and findings. Describe your analytical procedures (and why they are appropriate) and your findings.
6. Discussion and conclusions. What are the advantages and limitations of your GIS analysis? What are implications of your findings for communities you studied or the issues you researched? Do you find any connections between your project and previous readings about GIS and society issues?

An ANNOTATED bibliography is mandatory listing all the sources you used for Parts 1 and 2. The bibliography must contain at least 6 non-web journals. You need to find as much as necessary to completely define your applications to your chosen field.

Method of evaluating term paper: Your project is to examine the uses of GIS and to semi-implement a proposed project. The project should contain the following sections:

• (2 points) TITLE: The title will be The Applications of GIS to ________________.
• (40 points) Part I should be a research paper
  ________ how GIS is being used in the area that you've chosen.
  ________ data sources
  ________ data manipulation
  ________ generated output
  ________ web addresses.
• (25 points) Part II should be a hypothetical project defined as part of your major topic with
• (20 points) a flow chart model indicating data, maps, and functions performed to reach your desired goal.
• (5) 10 web pages printed out with the correct information.
• (8) An ANNOTATED bibliography is mandatory listing all the sources you used.
• TOTAL (100 points)

Examinations: The examinations will cover material from class, reading assignments, and labs. The Final Examination will have 100 points on the material since the second examination. The first examination is easily answered from your notes and deals with concepts presented in class. If you take good notes, the exam is easy. If you don't take good notes or you miss a class, you may not think so, as the text may not have the same organization as the question. The FINAL examination covers your expertise with the GIS program and ability to think a GIS problem through.

FINAL: Makeup Examinations: There will be NO makeup examinations unless I am notified BEFORE the exam is given AND you have a doctor's notice or other proof; a makeup may be taken no later than 1 WEEK after the normal date of the given exam. Generally, makeups are more difficult than the regular exam.

Absenteeism: You are expected to attend class and are responsible for material that is presented in class. Examinations will emphasize what is covered in class. Skipping class or doing the labs as "recipe" as fast as possible just to get them done will not aid in your understanding of this course.

As this course, much like Computer Cartography, is cumulative in nature, you must understand the first part to continue to the next. Failure to grasp concepts when presented will place you in a state of incomprehension. DON'T FALL BEHIND-DON'T SKIP CLASSES! COMPLETE & UNDERSTAND ALL LABS!

Extra-Credit There will be no extra credit unless it is to attend a speaker. Details will be announced ahead of time.

Assignments -- Should be read by the date listed:

"Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your education opportunities."