Postgraduate Course: Principles of Geographical Information Science (Block1) (PGGE11067)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Geosciences |
College |
College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits |
10 |
| Home subject area |
Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences) |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/MSc/GISpages.html
|
Taught in Gaelic? |
No |
| Course description |
This course provides an essential background for students with limited knowledge of the field and as a foundation for other postgraduate courses. The course begins by tracing the origins and recent rapid development of GIS. Different models that GIS employ to represent real-world entities are presented (vector and raster data models). Also considered are the effects that these models and the analytical functionality of systems have on the information that can be derived. The basic elements of graphic design and communication are reviewed together with co-ordinate reference systems, and map projections. A series of case studies are used to illustrate the breadth of application of GI technology. A series of associated practicals reinforce lecture material and provide a practical hands-on introduction tailored for new users of GIS. |
Entry Requirements
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites |
|
| Prohibited Combinations |
|
Other requirements |
None
|
| Additional Costs |
None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Block 1 (Sem 1), Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: No |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Laboratory | | 1-6 | | 16:10 - 18:00 | | | | | Central | Lecture | | 1-6 | | 14:00 - 15:50 | | | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Tuesday, 14:00 - 18:00, Zone: Central. Lecture Theatre High School Yards |
| Additional information |
2 hour(s) per week for 5 week(s). |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
Stationery Requirements |
Comments |
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Principles of Geographical Information Science (Block1) | 1:00 | 8 sides | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students should have achieved and demonstrated the ability to:
- understand the components and range of methods which make up a geographical information systems and the field of geographical science
- understand the importance of both spatial and attribute data within the GIS database
- appreciate the fundamental difference between raster and vector data
- apply appropriate cartographic principles in the construction of maps
- appreciate the functionality of the ArcGIS software
- import and export data in ArcGIS, and be able to link spatial data to attributes |
Assessment Information
1 x 1hr exam
1 x coursework assessment |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Reading list
Burrough, P. A. & McDonnell R.A (1998) Principles of Geographical Information Systems for
Land Resources Assessment. Clarendon, Oxford. Chapters 1 - 3.
Chrisman, N. (1997) Exploring GIS. Wiley, New York.
Heywood, I., Cornelius, S. and Carver, S. (2002) An Introduction to Geographical Information
Systems. Prentice Hall, Second Edition.
Jones, C. (1997) GIS and Computer Cartography. Longman, Harlow.
Kraak, M.-J. and Ormeling, F. J. (1996) Cartography: Visualization of Spatial Data.
Longman, Harlow.
Longley, P. A., Goodchild, M. F., Maguire, D. J. and Rhind, D. W. (Eds.) (2001) Geographical
Information Systems and Science. Wiley, Chichester.
Longley, P. A., Goodchild, M. F., Maguire, D. J., and Rhind, D. W. (Eds.) (2005, Second
Edition, Abridged) Geographical Information Systems: Principles, Techniques,
Management and Applications. Wiley, Chichester.
Maguire, D. J., Goodchild, M. F. and Rhind, D. W. (Eds.) (1991) Geographical Information
Systems. Vols 1 and 2. Longman, Harlow. Selected chapters at:
http://www.wiley.com/legacy/wileychi/gis/volumes.html
Peuquet, D. J. and Marble, D. F. (Eds.) (1990) Introductory Readings in Geographic
Information Systems. Taylor & Francis, London. Especially Chapters 1 - 4, 6 - 12, 17 -19.
|
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords |
GIS, ArcGIS, ArcMap, vector, raster |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr William Mackaness
Tel: (0131 6)50 8163
Email: William.Mackaness@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Ms Caroline Keir
Tel: (0131 6)50 2543
Email: caroline.keir@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh -
13 January 2011 6:28 am
|
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