Department of Geosciences
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
GEO-SCI 594A: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and 594L GIS Lab
4 cr
Spring 2008
Lecture: MW 11:15 - 12:05 Morrill IV 161
Lab: W2:30-5:00 Morrill IV 271
Instructor Qian Yu, Morrill 267 , qyu@geo.umass.edu, 545-2095(O)
Office hour M 2:30-3:30pm W 1:30-2:30pm or by appointment
TA Weining Zhu, Morrill IV 264, zhuwn@geo.umass.edu
TBA
Objectives
The objective of this course is to introduce you the concepts and principles of GIS. Both theoretical and applied realms of GIS are emphasized in this course. Some important spatial analysis topics in GIS are also included in this class. Through the completion of labs and a final project, the students will be able to use ESRI ArcGIS for mapping, basic spatial analysis and other GIS applications.
Prerequisite
- Basic knowledge of computers, including MS windows
- High school math and geometry, including Trigonometry
Required textbook
Available in Textbook Annex
- GIS Fundamentals: A First Text on Geographic Information Systems, 2nd edition, Paul Bolstad, 543 pp / Softcover / ISBN: 0-9717647-1-9, Publisher: Bookmasters Dist.
- Mastering ArcGIS with Video Clips CD-ROM, 3nd Edition, Maribeth H. Price, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2007
Reference book
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, K. Chang, McGraw Hill (2004)
Concepts and Techniques of Geographic Information Systems, 2/E, Chor Pang Lo, Albert K.W. Yeung, (2007)
Arrangement
Lectures on Monday and Wednesday are about GIS concepts and theory.
Lectures on the first lab hour are about ArcGIS.
You will work on ArcGIS tutorials and assignments on lab hours.
Submit assignment by email attachment in MS Word or PDF format to TA with "GEO-SCI 594A LabN" as your email subject.
Policies
- Attendance to both lecture and lab is required in the normal circumstances. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain any materials (i.e. notes) from other students in the event the student cannot attend class for some reasons.
- All exercises must be turned in by the date the exercises are due. Any late submission without advance permission by the instructor will cause a grade deduction by half. No exercise will be accepted after one week following the due date.
- For any reason you can not make the exam, you must ask for the instructor’s permission one week prior to the exam. Otherwise, no make-up exam will be given.
Grading Two midterms 25% x 2
Final project 20%
Labs 25%
Class participation 5%
Labs
- Exercises will be assigned at the beginning of lab and most exercises should be completed during the allotted lab period. In the event exercises are not completed during lab, it is the responsibility of the student to complete the exercise before the due date.
- Submit assignment by email attachment in MS Word or PDF format to qyu@geo.umass.edu with "GEO-SCI 594A LabN" as your email subject.
Final
Project
All students are required to complete a project either individually or with another student. You are encouraged to define the objective of your project, collect all necessary data and perform spatial analysis. A finally report is due on May 25, 2006.