Fall 2012 Introduction To Geographic Information Systems

You can solve spatial problems!

http://nrm.salrm.uaf.edu/~dverbyla/nrm338/

(cross-listed as Geog338 and NRM338)


3 credits: 2 lectures, 1 computer lab per week

Lectures: Tuesday/Thursday, 9:45-11:15am  Reichart Building Room 201A

Lab: Tuesday 2-5PM ONeill 359

or Weds 8:30-11:30am ONeill 359

or Weds 2:15-5:15pm ONeill 330

Instructor:  Dave Verbyla,  Professor, ONeill Building, Room 366

Phone: 474-5553 (but Email is much preferred instead of telephone tag!)

Email: dlverbyla@alaska.edu.

Dave's  Office Hours:  ONeill 366  Wednesdays 1-2pm or by email appointment..


Teaching Assistant: Shana Loshbaugh Email: sloshbau@alaska.edu

 

Course Description:  This course is designed for geographers, wildlife biologists, fisheries biologists, ecologists, natural resource managers, geologists and field-oriented professionals who use spatial technologies in their jobs.  Spatial technogies are especially important in Alaska, where road-access is typically limited. Our emphasis in this course is on obtaining and using Alaskan geographic data.

You should have basic computer skills and basic algebra (especially for conversion from english to metric units) before you take this course.  The course is cross-listed as NRM/Geog, so if a Geog 338 lab that you want is full, it may have an opening in the NRM338 section at the same time.

Welcome Video Clip

Course Objectives:

1) To learn how to solve spatial problems using GIS.

2) To understand basic concepts independent of any particular software.

3) To learn ArcMap GIS through hands-oncomputer lab exercises.

4) To learn how to download and used Alaskan geospatial data.

Grades Based on total points as follows:

Final grades will be  based on total points earned in the course as follows:

> 485 total points = A

445 to 485 total points = B

400 to 444 points = C

350 to 399 total points = D

< 350 total points = F


Disability Services:  We will work  with the Office of Disabilities Services (203 WHIT, 474-7043)  to provide reasonable accommodation to to any student with a disability.

Please inform us the first week of class if you have a disability that we should be aware of.


Textbook:  None---weekly web site readings


Fall 2012  Schedule

Date Lectures
Thursday's Spatial Problems
Lab



Course Overview

Course Learning Map

Virtual Campus Course:Learning ArcGIS

Sept. 4-6

Reading Assignment: ArcGIS Help:What is GIS?

Intro. to ArcGIS

Installing ArcGIS Student Version

 

Week1 Spatial Problems

Key: Week1 Spatial Problems


Lab1:  Introduction to ArcGIS10
Sept. 11-13

Reading Assignment: ArcMap Basics

Five Dimensions of GIS:

  • Location
  • Distance
  • Measures
  • Depth
  • Time


 

Week2 Spatial Problems

Key: Week2 Spatial Problems

Lab2: Five Dimensions of GIS
Sept. 18-20

Reading Assignment: Map Projections

GIS Coordinate Systems

 


Week3 Spatial Problems

KEY: Week3 Spatial Problems

Lab 3: GIS Coordinate Systems and Projections

Sept. 25-27

Reading Assignment: Geoprocessing Tools

GIS features data::

  • points, lines, and polygons
  •  

    Week4 Spatial Problems

    KEY: Week4 Spatial Problems

    Lab 4: GIS Feature Data Formats
    Oct. 2-4

    Reading Assignment: Rasters

    GIS raster data: Scanned USGS topos


     

    Week5 Spatial Problems

    KEY Week5 Spatial Problems


    Lab 5: USGS DRG scanned maps
    Oct. 9-11

    Reading Assignment: Surface Geoprocessing Tools

    Elevation Rasters


     


     

    Week6 Spatial Problems

     

    KEY Week6Spatial Problems

    Lab 6: Elevation data
    Oct. 16-18

    Reading Assignment: Editing Geoprocessing Tools

    Editing Shapefile Features

    Virtual Campus Course (due 20Nov2012)


     

    Week7 Spatial Problems

    KEY Week7 Spatial Problems

    Lab 7: Editing shapefiles
    Oct. 23-25

    Geodatabases

    Reading Assignment: Geodatabase Domain and Topology Tools



     

    Week8 Spatial Problems

    KEY: Week8 Spatial Problems


    Lab 8: Editing geodatabases
    Oct. 30 - Nov1

    Image Georeferencing

    Reading Assignment: Imagery




     

    Week9 Spatial Problems

    KEY: Week9 Spatial Problems


    Lab 9: Raster imagery: georeferencing
    Nov. 6-8

     

    Image Display, Classification, and Accuracy Assessment

    Reading Assignment: Raster Tools



     

    Week10 Spatial Problems

    KEYWeek10 Spatial Problems



    Lab 10: Raster imagery: classification and accuracy assessment


    Nov. 13-15

     

    Feature Analysis Tools

    Creating Personal ArcGIS Toolbars

    Reading Assignment: Feature Analysis Tools


     

    Week11 Spatial Problems


    Lab 11:  Feature Analysis
    Nov. 20-22

    No Lectures

    (Thanksgiving week)


    No Class

    (Thanksgiving week)


    No Labs

    (Thanksgiving week)


    Nov. 27-29

    Map Layouts



    Practice Final Exams

    Class Evaluations

    KEYPractice Final Exams

    Lab 12: Map Layout
    Dec. 1-14

    email me at least 24 hours in
    in advance when you want
    to take final exam

     

    Study or take online final

    On-Line Exam 9am-5pm

    By noon Friday Dec. 14, 2012


    Email: Dave Verbyla (dlverbyla@alaska.edu.edu).


    Page last updated August 2012.