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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences)

Postgraduate Course: Distributed GIS (PGGE11084)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis course introduces students to the concepts, technology and benefits of distributed GIS services (web, mobile and multi-computing architectures) and contrasts these with previous monolithic systems. It will illustrate the growing importance of distributed GIS in corporate and enterprise environments. The underlying technology of computer networks and the Internet are explained. Emphasis is placed on web-based systems, although consideration is also given to real-time systems and location-based services accessible via mobile devices and smartphones. Web mapping systems are explained in detail, including GoogleMaps and developments in data to feed these systems, together with the impact of Web 2.0, are reviewed. The importance of standards is highlighted, and OpenGIS and other key standards are explained (including WMS, WFS, WMTS). The use of these standards to produce a range of applications - from AJAX-based mashups to integrated web services - is discussed. Practicals and exercises will examine different solutions to serving geographical data.
Course description - Technological Infrastructures for Distributed GIS
- The Place of Standards, OpenGIS and Spatial Data Infrastructures
Practical: Authoring web pages
- Building Distributed GI Services
Practical: From Database to Web
- The Battleground of GI: Local Search and Web Mapping
Practical: Web Mapping APIs
- Mobile GIS, Location-Based Services and Data Issues
Practical: Integrating Paper Maps with Web Services
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  40
Course Start Block 2 (Sem 1)
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 10, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 78 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 50 %, Coursework 50 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Diagram (15%)
Report (20%) Set week 2, due Tuesday 4th November 2014 week 3
Practical (65%) SVG Exercise, set week 3,due Tuesday 18th November 2014 week 5
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)Distributed GIS1:00
Learning Outcomes
- understand the value of distributed geographical information and services
- understand the value of networked information and the organisation-wide deployment of a system
- understand the technological underpinnings of distributed GIS and the restrictions inherent in both hardware and protocols, mitigating strategies and opportunities
- predict future developments and understand the implications of standardisation efforts
- appreciate the importance standards such as the OpenGIS web mapping suite
- understand the concepts of interoperability
- become familiar with tools to create distributed web services
- be aware of contemporary debates in the industry relating to distributed GI services
- locate, read and summarise relevant literature, from both traditional and electronic media, to extend your understanding of the topic
- develop reasoned arguments, firmly grounded in the available literature
- plan and write assignments, within the specified parameters and to a professional standard
- take responsibility for your own learning through reading and the preparation of assignments, and reflect upon your learning experience.
Reading List
Reading List (more extensive list on Course Outline and course web page)
- Groot, R. and McLaughlin, J. (2000) Geospatial Data Infrastructure, Oxford University Press
- Kraak, M.-J. and Brown, A. (2001) Web Cartography, Taylor & Francis, London
- Mitchell, T. (2005) Web Mapping Illustrated, O'Reilly
- Peng, Z-R and M-H Tsou (2003) Internet GIS: Distributed Geographic Information Services for the Internet and Wireless Network, Wiley, London
Additional Information
Course URL http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsPGGE11084 Distributed GIS, web mapping, OpenGIS
Contacts
Course organiserMr Bruce Gittings
Tel: (0131 6)50 2558
Email: Bruce.Gittings@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Lynne Mcgillivray
Tel: (0131 6)50 2543
Email: Lynne.McGillivray@ed.ac.uk
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