Course description:

A geographic information system (GIS) is a powerful tool for displaying, exploring, and analyzing geographic data. Any data that has a geographic component (including most data in the Earth sciences and environmental sciences) can benefit from GIS. Formerly a tool employed primarily by city planners, conservationists, utilities, and developers, GIS is becoming increasingly ubiquitous in geology and even in non-traditional fields such as the social sciences. Familiarity with GIS can be a decided advantage in today’s job market.

Course objectives:  

• Learn how geographic data is created, stored, projected, and analyzed
• Become proficient with ArcGIS 9 software
• Understand how to answer questions about spatial relationships using GIS
• Use GIS concepts to advance your own research 

Course Competencies

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

• Introduction
• GIS Basics
• The Nature of Geography Inquiry
• Getting to know GIS using ArcGIS

The Map as a Model of Geographic Information

• Map Scale
• Map Abstraction and Scale
• The Shape of the Earth
• Latitude/Longitude
• Geographic Coordinate Systems

Cartography and GIS

• Basic Concepts in Cartography
• Employing Good Cartographic Design in ArcGIS

Map Projections Theory and Applications

• Datums
• Map Projections
• Coordinate Transformations

GIS Data Models Vectors

• A brief raster/vector comparison
• Fundamentals of vector data models
• Common vector models in use today
• Georeferencing in ArcGIS

GIS Databases Attribute Queries

• An Introduction to Relational Database Theory
• Attribute Queries
• Attribute Tables and Queries

GIS Databases Spatial Queries

• Geographical Querying of Spatial Data
• Spatial Querying