Geographic Information Systems

GEOL- 4611 (Section 8027)    Fall 2014

CLASS  SCHEDULE

 

Lecture: 9:30-10:45 AM Tuesday and Thursday (Roney - Room 203)

Lab: 3:00-4:50 PM Wednesday (Roney Room 311)       

Textbooks: Clarke, K.C., 2011, Getting Started with Geographic Information Systems 5th Edition: Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 371 pp. (ISBN:0131494988)

Instructor: Dr. Tom Weiland (Office 212 Roney) 931‑2327   Email: Thomas.Weiland@gsw.edu

Office Hours: 11:00-11:30 AM Monday through Thursday (and by appointment)

 

Class                                      Subject                                               Readings           

Thursday, August 21.......... Defining GIS................................................ Chapts. 1 & 9

Tuesday, August 26........... Defining GIS................................................ Chapts. 1 & 9

Thursday, August 28.......... Scales, Projections and Coordinates...... Chapt. 2

Tuesday, Sept. 2................. Scales, Projections and Coordinates...... Chapt. 2 (quiz)

Thursday, Sept. 4................ Scales, Projections and Coordinates...... Chapt. 2

Tuesday, Sept. 9................. Spatial Data Models and Structures........ Chapts. 3 & 4

Thursday, Sept. 11............. Spatial Data Models and Structures........ Chapts. 3 & 4 (quiz)

Tuesday, Sept. 16............... Spatial Data Models and Structures........ Chapts. 3 & 4

Thursday, Sept. 18............. Spatial Data Models and Structures........ Chapts. 3 & 4

Tuesday, Sept. 23............... Spatial Data Models and Structures........ Chapts. 3 & 4

Thursday, Sept. 25........... Lecture Test #1.......................................... Chapts. 1- 4 & 9

Tuesday, Sept. 30 .............. Attribute Data Analysis.............................. Chapt. 5

Thursday, Oct. 2.................. Attribute Data Analysis.............................. Chapt. 5 (quiz)

Tuesday, Oct. 7................... Attribute Data Analysis.............................. Chapt. 5

Thursday, Oct. 9.................. Fall Break – No Class

Tuesday, Oct. 14................. Attribute Data Analysis.............................. Chapt. 5

Thursday, Oct. 16................ Spatial Data Analysis................................. Chapt. 6 & 7

Tuesday, Oct. 21................. Spatial Data Analysis................................. Chapt. 6 & 7 (quiz)

Thursday, Oct. 23................ Spatial Data Analysis................................. Chapt. 6 & 7

Tuesday, Oct. 28................. Spatial Data Analysis................................. Chapt. 6 & 7

Thursday, Oct. 30................ Spatial Data Analysis................................. Chapt. 6 & 7

Tuesday, Nov. 4................ Lecture Test #2.......................................... Chapts. 5-7

Thursday, Nov. 6................. Map Construction....................................... Chapt. 8

Tuesday, Nov. 11 ............... Map Construction....................................... Chapt. 8 (quiz)

Thursday, Nov. 13.............. Map Construction....................................... Chapt. 8

Tuesday, Nov. 18................ Map Construction....................................... Chapt. 8

Thursday, Nov. 20.............. Applications and Examples...................... Chapt. 10 & 11

Tuesday, Nov. 25................ Thanksgiving Holiday

Thursday, Nov. 27.............. Thanksgiving Holiday

Tuesday, Dec. 2 ................. Applications and Examples...................... Chapt. 10 & 11 (quiz)

Thursday, Dec. 4................. Applications and Examples...................... Chapt. 10 & 11

 

Thursday, Dec. 11............. Comprehensive Final............................... (8:00-10:00am)


 

 

 

LAB TOPICS and SCHEDULE

Lab Lecture: 3:00-4:50 Wednesday (Roney Room 311)                 

Lab Manual: Handout Materials (Purchase a 1 or 1 1/2" binder to keep these organized.)

                                                                             

Date                               ...                      Topic                                                              _    

Wednesday, August 20...................... No Lab

Wednesday, August 27...................... Lab #1 Sources of GIS Data on the Internet

Wednesday, September 3................. Lab #2 Introduction to ArcGIS 9.0 Software

Wednesday, September 10............... Lab #3 Projections and Coordinate Systems

Wednesday, September 17............... Lab #4 Raster and Vector Data Models

Wednesday, September 24............... Labs #5 & 6 Entering and Editing Spatial Data

Wednesday, October 1…................... Labs #5 & 6 Entering and Editing Spatial Data

Wednesday, October 8....................... Lab #7 Entering, Editing and Analyzing Attribute Data

Wednesday, October 15 .................... Lab #8 Analysis of Spatial Data

Wednesday, October 22 .................... Lab #9 Americus Hazmat Project

Wednesday, October 29…................. Lab #10 Americus Landcover Project

Wednesday, November 5.................. Lab #11 Cohutta Spatial Analyst Project

Wednesday, November 12................ Lab #12 Rockware Project

Wednesday, November 19................ Student Project Construction

Wednesday, November 26................ Thanksgiving Holiday

Wednesday, December 3.................. Student Presentations

 

GRADING POLICY FOR LECTURE AND LAB

                     Lecture Tests (3).......................................................... 51% (17% each)

                     Lab Exercises (12)...................................................... 30% (2.5% each)

                     Individual GIS Project................................................. 16%

                     Reading Quizzes (6)...................................................   6% (.5% each)

                                                                                                             103% Total

 

 

Attendance and Other Class Policies

 

1)  All students at Georgia Southwestern State University are to abide by published

rules outlining academic honesty.  Please review the “Policy on Academic Integrity” from the GSW Undergraduate Bulletin that can be found at the following URL:

https://gsw.edu/campus-life/resourcesinformation/studenthandbook/academic-information#ACADEMIC-INTEGRITY-POLICY

In addition, it is possible that this course will involve the use of plagiarism-prevention technology.  For example, you may be required to submit written assignments on-line through a plagiarism-prevention service or to allow me to submit copies of your writing to such a service. The written assignments may then be retained by the service for the sole purpose of checking for plagiarized content in future student submissions.

2) A student requesting classroom accommodations or modifications due to a documented disability must notify me within the first two weeks of the semester.  The student must also contact and register with the Office of Disability Services located on the third floor of Sanford Hall.  Their phone number is 229-931-2661.

3) Attendance is required for both lecture and lab.  If you miss an exam, you must have a valid excuse to make it up.  Failure to provide an adequate excuse within one week of the absence will result in a grade of zero on the exam.  Anyone arriving late for a lecture test after someone has already completed the test and left the classroom, will not be allowed to take the test unless a valid and appropriate excuse is provided.

4) Come to class prepared to learn.  You should not be talking with your neighbor during class unless it is necessary for an activity.  Pay attention and take notes as appropriate.  All electronic devices must be turned off before class or lab begins.  You will be asked to leave class if your phone rings, you are texting messages, you repeatedly talk during lecture or if you are disruptive in any manner. If there is a special situation where you need to receive and respond to cell phone messages, you must see me before class for permission.

5) Labs will be formally graded.  Missed labs must be made up by the student on their own time.

7) Course information will occasionally be sent to your GSW student email account (radar address). It is important that you check and maintain this email account.