Advanced Concepts in Geographic Information Science

Catalog description

This course offers an in-depth exploration of advanced concepts, methods, and applications in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Through a combination of lectures, weekly labs, and final projects, students will gain proficiency in advanced spatial analysis and statistics, spatial modelling, as well as 3D mapping and visualization. The course will discuss an array of topics ranging from: space-time analysis, watershed modelling, advanced remote sensing concepts, spatial interpolation, and site suitability modelling. At the end of the course students will gain the ability to work with data from different sources, quantify spatial variability, and make predictions at unsampled locations based on observed data points. In addition to this, students will be able to identify prevalent patterns and trends in the data and create effective visualizations. This advanced course (3-4 units) consists of two lectures and one computer lab per week discussing advanced concepts, analysis and methods of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A student's understanding of the course content is evaluated through a midterm exam and final project (that has both written and an oral components). The course does not include a final exam. Students taking the course for 4 units will have to complete 8 labs, and their final project has to contain a greater level of detail compared to students taking the course for 3 units. Students taking the course for 3 units will only have to submit 7 completed labs. This is a Cardinal Course certified by the Haas Center for Public Service.