Winter 2009

• This class is an introduction to the rapidly growing GIS technology informing scientific discovery, environomental analysis, and public policy debate. 
  I have the following learning objectives for this course
  • learn fundamental concepts of GIS and remote sensing including the electromagnetic spectrum, map projections, and nature of geospatial data
  • understand and apply simple to complex analyses of geospatial data
  • gain familiarity with computer architecture, file systems and programming
  • make maps and present findings to lay and scientific audiences
  • develop a dogged persistence in the solution of complex computer algorithms by overcoming the errors and pitfalls inherent in the process
• I want you to become aware of the data and analyses, while getting some practice in two particular pieces of software, ArcGIS and ERMapper.  I am not particularly interested that you become proficient in the software, because you may have to use something else in your job or grad school.  It is the knowledge and process that I'm trying to teach, not the use of the software.  Alas, you will have to get pretty good with the software to accomplish the complex tasks that are the hallmark of GIS/Remote Sensing.  This is not a course in how to build a GIS program, or the history of the concepts and their utilization:  to get this point of view, you'll have to take a geography course somewhere else.
• To read about GIS, we have digital copies of ESRI textbooks (the manufacturer of the GIS software) available at Q:\courses\geolgis\ESRI_Library . Remote sensing "texts" are available online. In classes, I will focus on the "theory" and approaches to digital spatial analyses and remote sensing.  Tutorials help you learn to use the software.  The purpose of the weekly lab is to introduce you to the skills you will needs to complete the analyses discussed. Weekly lab assignments are due at classtime on Monday the following week.
• You should complete these exercises & tutorials if you want to gain enough proficiency to copmlete the assignments. Some of the tutorials were written by me, some are ESRI or ERMapper tutorial, and others are web sites. To be of any use, readings and tutorials/courses must be completed before class in which they're needed.
• Participation and Honor: You are expected to attend every class, and should be ready to work at 9:05. If you must be absent, you are resonsible for the material missed. You are not allowed to view, copy, or use any materials (maps/metadata/web pages, etc) generated by another student (this year or previous). To do so is an honor violation.
• Grading will be based on exams, quizes and assignments as follows

Assignments not turned in on time will be assessed a 40% penalty, with another 10% each for the next six 24 hour periods.  The final project, which is about half of the assignment grade, will be a detailed analysis of a geologic or environmental/natural resource question approved in advance by Harbor.