Week 1: Unit Introduction

ENV208/ENV508 – Applied GIS

UNIT OBJECTIVES

• To introduce the concepts and practice of geographical information systems (GIS)

• Provide an overview of the applications of GIS in the applied science and related fields

• Provide practical training in the use of GIS software

INTRODUCTIONS

Ian Leiper

Unit Coordinator and Lecturer

Email: ian.leiper@cdu.edu.au

Phone: 08 8946 7290

Room: Purple 12.2.27 (by appointment only)

INTRODUCTIONS

Billee McGinley

Technical Support

Email: rsgsupport@cdu.edu.au *First point of enquiry should be via Learnline Discussion Board

INTRODUCTIONS

Other people involved

- Guest lectures from research and industry

AIMS OF THIS UNIT

– To develop spatial awareness and understanding of the issues involved in using spatial information

– To examine the GIS environment, including hardware, software and data

– To investigate the practical use of GIS through applications and online training

A PRACTICAL UNIT

– Very hands on

– Focus on learning the software and how to apply GIS

– ESRI ArcGIS Software, but all of the skills that you learn are transferable to other GIS software programs

LEARNING APPROACH

– Blended learning

– Flexible delivery

– Continuous assessment

– Weekly

UNIT STRUCTURE

• Tutorial sessions: Mondays 9am-11am – Tutorials

– Guest presentations

– Q&A sessions

• Practical sessions: Mondays 12-3pm – ESRI Virtual Campus modules (x11)

– Practical exercises (x5)

– Final project work

• 7 themes of study

ASSESSMENTS • ESRI Virtual Campus modules (x11) = 15%

– Online multiple choice tests

– Submit transcript of results via learnline

• Practical exercises (x5) = 25% – Submit via learnline

• Discussion questions online (x5) = 5% – Submit to Learnline Discussion Board

• Final project = 55%

– Submit via Learnline

Due dates in Unit Information document and on Learnline

ASSESSMENTS

• Extensions – Granted on case by case basis

– must be requested in writing a minimum of 48hrs prior to the due date

• Late submissions – Penalty of 10% per day may be applied – School Policy

• Don’t leave things until the last minute – Modules and practical exercises take time

– Computer hardware/software can be unpredictable

RESOURCES

• Study guide and unit information on Learnline – http://learnline.cdu.edu.au

• Discussion Board (Learnline) – Fellow students

– Lecturer and technical support

• ESRI Virtual Campus modules – http://training.esri.com

• All modules from Learning ArcGIS Desktop

• All modules as listed associated with Raster basics

– You will need ESRI access codes (these will be e-mailed to your email address as registered on learnline)

• Pros – Extensive professional toolset (hundreds of functions)

– Skills transferable to workplace

– Widely available (although not free)

– Many educational resources available

• Cons – Complex user interface (it's an advanced tool)

– Requires installation and particular system configurations

– Sharing work products not always straightforward

ArcGIS Software

RESOURCES

• Computers with ArcGIS 10.2 (Casuarina Campus) – Purple 12.3.17 (Tutorial and Practical timeslots)

– Library computers – need to check

– Personal computers – external students should have received ArcGIS 10.2 in mailout; internal students may request a copy if needed

• Make sure you have your enrolment sorted out and have computer login and internet access

ArcGIS COMPATABILITY

ArcGIS requires Microsoft Windows.

You can get around this by: 1. Install Windows on your Mac (via Parallels, Bootcamp etc.)

http://blogs.esri.com/esri/gisedcom/2007/09/05/arcgis-on-a-mac/)

2. Use the Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) that ITMS have developed

The VDI is basically a virtual Windows computer that appears in a browser on your Mac. We’ve pre-installed all the programs that you will need onto the VDI (including ArcGIS). You connect to it using an internet connection with your student login.

If you think you’ll need to use the VDI please contact me ASAP

FEEDBACK AND INPUT

• Welcome at all times

• Mid-semester evaluation

• End of semester teaching and unit evaluation

ANY PROBLEMS

• Unit coordinator (ian.leiper@cdu.edu.au)

• Technical support (rsgsupport@cdu.edu.au)

• Course coordinator

• Head of School

• Student admin (Faculty Academic Liaison Unit)

• Support and Equity Services

• General IT support - ITMS helpdesk

CONTACT

• Post problems to Discussion Board (learnline)

– Fastest response

– Help each other out

• via e-mail at all times

• Face-to-face or over phone – by appointment

UNIT OVERVIEW

ENV208/508 organised into 7 themes:

1. What is GIS?

2. Map symbology

3. Working with geographic data

4. Creating and editing data

5. GIS analysis, geoprocessing and modelling

6. Cartography

7. Working with rasters

UNIT OVERVIEW

Theme 1: What is GIS?

The aim of this theme is to expose students to the basics of geographic information systems including:

– exploring GIS maps

– exploring GIS software applications

– using GIS to solve problems

UNIT OVERVIEW

Theme 2: Map symbology

The aim of this theme is to expose students to the main categories of maps and techniques for choosing and modifying symbols and text to make for effective maps.

The theme includes:

– working with map symbols and labels

– symbolising features based on attributes

– classifying data

– mapping density and proportion

UNIT OVERVIEW

Theme 3: Working with geographic data

The aim of this theme is to expose students to the issues associated with referencing data to real locations using coordinate systems and map projections and to the organisation and storage of geographic or spatial data.

This theme includes

– understanding coordinate systems

– working with map projections

– geographic data models

– vector and raster data formats

– understanding geodatabases

– features, fields and attributes

UNIT OVERVIEW

Theme 4: Creating and editing data

The aim of this theme is to expose students to the creating and editing of feature shapes and attributes in the database.

The theme includes:

– editing feature shapes

– editing feature attributes

– creating new features and attributes by digitizing

– creating new features and attributes from tabular data

UNIT OVERVIEW

Theme 5: GIS analysis, geoprocessing & modelling The aim of this theme is to introduce students to spatial analysis, geoprocessing and modelling techniques which are needed to plan and manage more complex spatial analysis. The theme includes:

– the steps in the analytical process – finding features by attributes and/or locations – presentation of the results in maps and/or reports – working with geoprocessing tools – creating and using models

UNIT OVERVIEW

Theme 6: Cartography

The aim of this theme is to introduce students to basic cartographic design principles and effective presentation of spatial information.

The theme includes:

– cartographic design principles

– elements of a map

– creating presentation maps

– streamlining map design with templates

– making maps more readable

UNIT OVERVIEW

Theme 7: Working with Rasters

The aim of this theme is to introduce students to the raster data structure.

This theme demystifies raster data. It provides a firm understanding of the raster data model, its many uses, and ways in which it can be displayed and managed. The foundation provided in this theme will prepare you for the countless GIS tasks that use raster data.

UNIT OVERVIEW

Learning materials – available on learnline

• Structured into Themes

– Theme objectives

– Learning materials

– Weekly tasks/exercises

– Weekly assessments

• ESRI Virtual Campus module tests

• Practical exercises

• Discussion questions

UNIT OVERVIEW

No set textbook, but useful texts..

• Delaney, J and Van Neil, K. (2007). Geographic Information Systems: An Introduction (2nd Edition)

• Delaney J (1999). Geographic Information Systems: An Introduction

• Longley et al (2001). Geographic Information Systems and Science

UNIT OVERVIEW

Other readings

• ESSENTIAL to read ESRI module notes (theory & prac instructions)

• Other readings suggested week by week – see Course Material – on Learnline

• Recommended to read around the subject

Science and the Environment Scholarhips • Barbara Singer Environmental Studies Scholarship

• CDU Postgraduate Scholarship in Energy and the Environment

• City of Palmerston Conservation and Land Management Scholarship

• Flynn Family Fund Scholarship

• George Brown Memorial

• Northern Territory Field Naturalists' Club Scholarship

• Top End Native Plant Society Scholarship

• https://www.cdu.edu.au/student-central/scholarships/categories

• Applications for these scholarships will close 3pm on Friday 6 March, 2015

• Scholarships Office: T: 08 8946 6442; E: scholarships@cdu.edu.au