Syllabus

GEOG 070:  Introduction to Geographic Information

Spring 2005

Instructor:  David Tenenbaum

 

Course Description:

 

There is a spatial component to all that occurs on our planet.  Everything happens somewhere and knowing where things happen and how they are related to each other are important to fully understanding phenomena.  This course provides a general survey of geographic data, including maps, photos, images, census data, etc.  Emphasis is placed upon geographic information stored in a variety of digital formats and data structures.  Topics that will be covered include:

 

·        Geographic data structures

·        The global positioning system (GPS)

·        Coordinate systems & map projections

·        Remote sensing

·        Analysis of geographic data (including spatial analysis)

·        Map production and design

 

Students will be provided with hands-on experience, working with the ArcView desktop geographic information system (GIS), and by  navigating and collecting data using GPS in the field.  The goals of the course are to help students:

 

1.      Establish a geographic perspective of social and physical phenomena in the real world

2.      Understand the key issues in dealing with geographic data

3.      Learn how to use geographic data in a GIS

 

Office hours: 

 

1:00 – 3:00 PM Monday

            3:30 – 5:00 PM Tuesday

Other times by appointment only.

325 Saunders Hall

Email: davidten@email.unc.edu

Phone: 843-4762

 

Teaching Assistants: 

 

Jonnell Allen

Email: jonnella@email.unc.edu

Office hours:  1:00 - 2:00 PM Thursday @ Hanes Hall Room 02

 

Ling Zhang

Email: zling@email.unc.edu

Office hours:  3:50 - 5:00 PM Wednesday @ Hanes Hall Room 02
 

Lab Sessions:

 

Wed:    2:00-2:50pm

Wed:    3:00-3:50pm

Thu:      2:00-2:50pm

 

Location:  Hanes Hall Room 02
 

Grading Policy:

 

Final course grades will be determined using the following formula:

 

Test 1 (Friday, February 25, 2005): 15%

Test 2 (Friday, April 8, 2005): 15%

Final Exam: 30%

            Labs: 40%

 

Note: No make up tests are given. Any student failing to take an exam will score zero for that test unless a legitimate, documented reason is presented. In the latter case the student will have the average score from their other exams added in place of the missing test.
 

Required Textbook:

 

Paul A. Longley, Michael F. Goodchild, David J. Maguire, and David W. Rhind. 2001.  Geographic Information Systems and Science.  1st Edition.  USA:  Wiley.

 

 

Recommended Textbook:

 

John Spencer, Brian G. Frizzelle, Philip H. Page, and John B. Vogler.  2003.  Global Positioning System – A Field Guide for the Social Sciences.  United Kingdom:  Blackwell.

 

 

Topics (tentative, subject to change)                       Chapter:Pages

                                                                                                (Longley et al.,

 Spencer et al.)

Section I:  Spatial Data Fundamentals

 

Course Introduction

Introduction to GIS/Systems, Science and Study                       1:1-26

Introduction to Maps and Applications, (part 2)                        2:27-58

Geographic Representations                                                      3:59-71, 8:90-112

Spatial Data Structures - Vector & Raster, Conversion             3:72-74

Georeferencing - General Theory/Geodesy                                4:79-86

Georeferencing - Map Projections                                            4:89-95, 4:43-49

Georeferencing - Coordinate Systems                                       4:86-89, 4:34-42

Scale Issues                                                                              5:97-103

Film:  Lost at Sea, the Search for Longitude                              PBS Website

Geographic Data Modeling/Features and Their Attributes          9:183-203

Attribute Data Management/Geographic Databases                   11:225-245

 

Section II:  Sources of Geographic Information

 

GPS                                                                                         10:211-213, 13:179-183

                                                                                                Garmin Web (1, 2)

 

Review for Test 1

 

Remote Sensing (Theory 1, Theory 2, Airphotos)                      10:205-210, NASA (1, 2)

(Platforms 1, Platforms 2, Radar)                                              CCRS (1), USGS (1),

Census Data                                                                             Census Bureau (1), UNC Library Web (1)

 

Section III:  Quantitative Analysis

 

Probability, Data Sampling and Portrayal                                   Lecture

Descriptive Statistics and Distributions                                       5:103-114

 

Review for Test 2

 

Simple Linear Regression                                                          5:114-118

 

Section IV:  Spatial Analysis

 

Geographic Query and Analysis, (part2)                                    13:277-302, 13:185-193

Advanced Spatial Analysis                                                        14:303-323

Uncertainty, Error, and Sensitivity                                             15:325-344

Drainage Network Analysis                                                      Lecture

 

Review for Final Exam (part1, part2, part3)

 

 

Lab Exercises

Lab #1:  Introduction to UNC Network Computing

Due Dates:      Wednesday Labs:  Tuesday, January 25, 2005 by 5:00 PM

Thursday Labs:  Wednesday, January 26, 2005 by 5:00 PM

Lab #2:  Introduction to ArcView

Due Dates:      Wednesday Labs:  Tuesday, February 8, 2005 by 5:00 PM

Thursday Labs:  Wednesday, February 9, 2005 by 5:00 PM

Lab #3:  Geographic Data Fundamentals

Due Dates:      Wednesday Labs:  Tuesday, February 22, 2005 by 5:00 PM

Thursday Labs:  Wednesday, February 23, 2005 by 5:00 PM

Lab #4:  Mapping Thematic Data in ArcView

Due Dates:      Wednesday Labs:  Tuesday, March 8, 2005 by 5:00 PM

Thursday Labs:  Wednesday, March 9, 2005 by 5:00 PM

Lab #5:  Satellite Image Data

Due Dates:      Wednesday Labs:  Tuesday, March 29, 2005 by 5:00 PM

Thursday Labs:  Wednesday, March 30, 2005 by 5:00 PM

Lab #6:  Geographic Data and Quantitative Methods

Due Dates:      Wednesday Labs:  Tuesday, April 12, 2005 by 5:00 PM

Thursday Labs:  Wednesday, April 13, 2005 by 5:00 PM

Lab #7:  Spatial Analysis

Due Dates:      Wednesday Labs:  Tuesday, April 26, 2005 by 5:00 PM

Thursday Labs:  Wednesday, April 27, 2005 by 5:00 PM