Course Details:
Fall semester 2009
2 credit hours (two lectures and one lab per week for 10 weeks)
Please note:
Lecture meets in Room 1001, Agricultural Sciences Building, Mon & Wed 12:00 - 12:50pm
Labs meet in Room 317 Percival Hall at assigned time/section
Course Goal:
The goal of this course is to introduce the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and build foundations in its use to allow students to solve spatial problems. Specifically, the course will teach students necessary spatial and quantitative analysis methods to solve problems in many interdisciplinary applications. The course will focus on the elements and capabilities of a GIS by emphasizing acquisition, management, manipulation, and analysis of data for the solution of spatial problems. This course is designed to build confidence and familiarity in students with the use of GIS technology with timely and appropriate local applications and datasets for West Virginia and beyond.
Prerequisites:
This course is designed for students with little or no GIS knowledge or
experience. Students are encouraged to take this class if they have an interest in questions with a spatial extent.
Learning Objectives:
On successful completion of this course, students will…
1. Understand why location matters and how the development of spatial data and analysis methods can be useful to solve problems that have a spatial component.
2. Be able to describe the components, functions, and applications of GIS. Be familiar with various spatial data formats, data sources, data source limitations, and methods for acquiring and/or creating spatial data.
3. Gain familiarity in using GIS software to produce mapped and tabular output, be able to independently perform both vector and raster spatial analysis.
4. Develop models that provide insights into spatial problems and present results as cartographic quality output.
To accomplish these objectives, the course will integrate lectures, readings, and a weekly structured lab session. Lectures and readings will provide background information on the fundamental concepts underlying GIS, while exercises will provide an opportunity to further develop specific GIS skills to solve spatial problems.
Followup Courses:
RESM 493-Q Applied GIS - Natural Science (1 credit, remaining 6 weeks of fall semester)
RESM 493-R Applied GIS - Social Science (1 credit, remaining 6 weeks of fall semester)
CRN numbers and class days/times for RESM493Q and RESM493R can be found here.
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