Wells College - Environmental Studies Spring, 2008
ENVR
106: Geography and Geographic Information Systems
COURSE INSTRUCTION/CONTACT
Instructor: Dr. Michelle M. Thompson
Email: mthompson@wells.edu
Office: pending
Office hours: by appointment/to be determined
Phone: pending
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This
is a 3 credit-hour course that is designed to provide students with a
conceptual understanding of geographic information systems (GIS) and sciences,
as well as how GIS can be applied to practice and research. Students will be
introduced to the basic concepts, structures, and functions of GIS as well as
their applications and limitations. Topics include map design and
visualization, querying, editing and on-screen digitizing, georeferencing and
projecting, data models, GIS data structures, data classification
and sources, spatial analysis techniques, manipulating census data, as well as
ethical and social criticism of GIS. During the lab sessions, the students will
learn the basic functions of ArcGIS9.2 software through hands-on exercises.
This course is letter grade only. Although there are no prerequisites, it is
expected that students have basic computer operating skills and are familiar
with the use of spreadsheet software (such as Excel) that assists in processing
data for use in GIS. To make the course
more applicable to student interests, local data and examples will be used as
much as possible.
COURSE FORMAT/SCHEDULE
The
class will be conducted as a lecture/lab with computer lab sessions to build
familiarity with the software. Lectures and discussions will build upon
assigned readings. Required labs will then build upon knowledge and skills the
student have gained during both the labs and lectures. Lecture/Labs will be held on Wednesdays from 1-4pm beginning 30 January
2008. The class will be held in Stratton Hall computer lab, Room 107.
Required
Textbooks:
Longley,
Paul A., Michael F. Goodchild, David J. Maguire, David W. Rhind. June 2006. Geographic Information Systems and Science,
2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN: 0-470-870001-X.
Ormsby, Tim, Eileen
Napoleon, Robert Burke, Carolyn Groessl, and Laura Feaster. 2004. Getting to
Know
ArcGIS Desktop.
Second Edition Updated for ArcGIS9. Environmental Systems Research
Institute. ESRI Press. ISBN: 978-1-58948-083-4 (GTKArcGIS9.2)
Additional materials will be distributed by the
instructor, on the class website, or on library reserve.
CLASS WEB PAGE
This
web page contains several reading assignments and pertinent information. Please go to http://aurora.wells.edu/
website.
COURSE
GRADING
1.
Problem sets (40%)
There are 10 scheduled lab
assignments. They are to be worked on either during the scheduled lab session, or later at your own pace. They will
be due at the beginning of the lab
session a week from when they are passed out in class. LATE lab assignments will automatically be
downgraded by 10% (up to one week) and 25% (after one week) unless there is a
medical or family emergency. Disabling of computer lab accounts due to
violation of lab rules will not be accepted as an excuse. ALL outstanding labs
are due, no later than, Monday April 21st. Otherwise, you
will receive an “F” for the outstanding lab(s). You are required to fill
maintain an active account that will allow you to access the
2. Midterm
exams (25%)
A Midterm exam is scheduled for the week of March 10th,
and will cover the material up until that point. No
make-up will be given, except under extraordinary circumstances.
3.
Final project (30%): report (20%), and
presentation (10%)
The purpose of the project is to provide additional experience in
collecting, processing and/or analyzing spatial data and should focus on a planning analysis/research problem
that requires GIS data and spatial analysis to address/analyze this problem.
This project can (and should) be of the students choosing (for instance, it can
overlap with outside work or another class). If not, there is a standard
project format that students can follow. Undergraduates are encouraged to work
in teams, while graduate students are required to work alone. Three lab sessions are devoted to working on
projects in the latter part of the semester. However, students must start
thinking about project ideas as soon as possible. You are expected to provide
us with a preliminary project proposal by the date specified.
4. Class Participation (5%)
Class participation is an important part of your course grade. Material is presented in a cumulative fashion, so it is very important to attend class so you don’t fall behind. In-class lab work is essential to comprehension and understanding of the course material.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITYEach student in this course is expected to abide by the Wells College Code of Academic Integrity. Although students should work together labs, in particular asking specific technical questions, any work submitted by a student in this course for academic credit will be the student’s own work. Please cite all work that you rely on to write your papers. Direct quotations of other work should be enclosed with quotation marks, with a citation afterward that contains the page number of the work where available. When you rely substantially on another person’s work without quoting from it directly, please use in-text citations at the end of an appropriate section. Failure to provide complete and proper citations may constitute plagiarism, which violates the Wells College Code of Academic Integrity. If detected, plagiarism may result in a failing grade for the course. In compliance with the Wells College