Introduction to Geospatial Information Engineering

Catalog description

Geospatial information technology provides a means through which data about land can be analyzed to obtain information that may be used to support land management decisions. The objective of this course is to teach students to collect and process spatial data, analyze and make decisions, and to communicate the results using maps and other information delivery formats. This course begins with the introduction of geospatial technology and its application in decision making, resource allocation and management, a socio-economic development. Students learn the different types of data that are used in geospatial information technology. They learn about graphical data structures as well as descriptive databases and how to build them. Spatial data models are discussed together with their advantages and drawbacks, as well as descriptive databases. Students capture various datasets from the field, convert them into usable formats, and process them using the models that have been discussed so as to reinforce the knowledge. The use of technology for land parcel information management is discussed. Procedures for performing geospatial analyses and querying databases are discussed and students conduct laboratory exercises using the field data that they captured. Map making techniques are discussed and students learn to communicate the results of analysis through maps.