Northeastern State University
College of Liberal Arts
Department of Social Sciences
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
GEOG
3813:
Geographic
Information Systems
FALL 2010
11:00 - 12:15 TTh
INSTRUCTOR:
| Dr. Chuck Ziehr |
(pronounced "Z-ear"), Professor of Geography |
| Office: |
Seminary Hall 353 |
| Office Hours: |
8:30-11:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; 8:30-10:45
a.m. Tuesday and Thursday;
or by appointment
(I'm around a lot) |
| Phone: |
(918) 444-3525 |
| Fax: |
(918) 458-2390 |
| E-Mail: |
ziehr@nsuok.edu |
| WWW: |
http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~ziehr/ |
| COURSE TITLE AND NUMBER: |
CLASS TIME & DAYS & PLACE: |
|
|
| GEOG 3813 - Geographic Information Systems (GIS) |
11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Tuesday & Thursday, Seminary
Hall 232
|
PREREQUISITES:
Basic familiarity with maps and computer proficiency are
strongly recommended.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
OF
COURSE:
Introduction to GIS as a decision-support system using
spatially-referenced data. Provides experience with GIS software
in environmental and social science applications.
COURSE PURPOSE:
The primary goal is to provide an introduction to geographic
information systems (GIS-- an initialism-- is
always pronounced as three
separate letters: G-I-S, never as the word "gis" ). This includes an
introduction to the
concepts, hardware, software, and operations of computer-based,
decision-support
systems involving the integration and analysis of spatially-referenced
data
(information that includes location) in a problem-solving context. The
data,
and, therefore, the types of problems that may be addressed, can
involve
information about the physical environment, the human environment, or
both.
The course overviews concepts and applications of GIS including data
capture,
storage, data characterisitics, analysis (the major focus of the
course), and display. A
significant
component of the course will be to develop skills with a desktop
(microcomputer) GIS, ArcGIS ArcView 9.3, in order to learn fundamental
geospatial concepts
and then to solve spatial analysis problems using these GIS concepts.
STUDENT LEARNING
OUTCOMES:
Each student will be expected to:
- Use fundamental map concepts such as projections, scale, and
coordinate systems to create spatially-referenced databases.
- Be able to manipulate geospatial data within ArcGIS ArcView to
produce base and choropleth (thematic) maps.
- Acquire skills in utilizing GIS software as analytical tools
for
problem-solving in a spatial context. Major GIS analytical
capabilities include distance and area calculations, spatial overlays,
spatial queries, coordinate and projection conversions, and analyzing
spatial relationships (such as near, within, adjacent, intersection).
- Develop strategies to use GIS capabilities to help in
problem-solving and decision-making for environmental and social
science applications.
INSTRUCTIONAL
MATERIALS:
Required Textbook
Ormsby, Tim; Napoleon, E.; Burke, R.; Groessl, C; Feaster, L. Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop:
Basics of ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo. Second Edition, Updated
for ArcGIS 9.3. Redlands, CA: Environmental Systems
Research
Institute, Inc. (ESRI), 2008. [Be sure the book you buy has a DVD
with a 180-day trial version of ArcGIS ArcView 9.3 and a CD
Exercise Data. If it's a used book the 180-day trial version of
the software is likely NOT to work.] The RiverHawk Shoppe
has the books for $59.95. If you buy online, be sure to get the
book for version 9.3; there's another book now out for version
10.
Required Supplies
Each student will need to have at least one 256 MB (minimum) flash (or
thumb) drive
(USB
connection)--bigger would be better. I say "at least
one" because
you will need to turn your homework exercises in on the flash drive,
and it will be a few days before I will return it (you may want to
store other data on another flash drive during this interim
period).
INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:
The pedagogic strategies employed in the course include in-class
lecture and discussion; assigned readings in the textbooks and on the
WWW; data gathering and analysis using the WWW; in-class, group
problem-solving; and lots on hands-on experience using
ArcGIS ArcView 9.3 software. Students are encouraged to contact the
instructor for personal assistance as needed. Students are also
encouraged to work and study in pairs and groups both inside and
outside of class. Students should obtain their "first exposure"
to the conceptual content of the course by reading the textbook and
assigned WWW readings before coming to class. While some
content will be introduced and/or reviewed in class lectures, much of
the in-class time will be spent "processing" the conceptual information
via discussion, analysis, and practical applications. The course
will meet twice per week in a
lecture/discussion/demonstration/lab format. Each class session will be
conducted in a computer lab (Seminary Hall 232) where the appropriate
software
will be installed. However, there will still be the need to spend a
significant amount of time outside of scheduled class times working in
the
computer lab (or your home computer) with the GIS software. I
estimate that most students
will
average about three hours of outside-of-class lab time per week during
the
last two-thirds of the course. The software is installed on
30 machines in SH 232 and on two machines in NET (Webb Building) 212
(center cubicle
along the
north wall). A 180-day
evaluation copy of the software comes with the textbook and may be
installed on a student's home computer or laptop; requires Microsoft
Windows XP (or Home Edition) operating system (it does not work with
Vista).
This course can be categorized as "web-enhanced." This class
will
use the Blackboard course management software to provide online
materials
for the class. Blackboard can be accessed by going to nsuonline.nsuok.edu
on the WWW. Several entries can be found under the four most important
headings: Announcements, Course Information, Assignments, and
Discussion Board
in Blackboard. Each of you is already enrolled in the Blackboard
course entitled: 02-10-1320: GEOG3813: GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYST.
This is the type of course that usually requires a lot of
cooperative
effort between the students and the instructor and among the students.
I strongly encourage you to stop by my office (or phone or e-mail) and
discuss
any questions or problems that you may have. I strongly encourage you
to
work with other students, especially on your computer exercises.
Everyone
must eventually do all the work, but feel free to help each other
master
the material, the techniques, and the software. The only things that
cannot
be done cooperatively is the take-home mid-term exam and the in-class
final
exam.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE
ACTIVITIES: (Attendance/Punctuality)
Class attendance and participation are essential to your success
in
this course. If you miss a class, borrow a classmate's notes and then
ask the instructors for clarification if necessary. Considerable
time outside of class will be needed to complete the homework
exercises. The SH 232 lab is currently available only 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Monday through Thursday when no other classes are scheduled there; I
know 4-8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and 5-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday
are open access times. The NET (Webb Building)
212 is almost always available. You must be able to find time
to complete the
ArcGIS ArcView exercises. You will also need to use the WWW for some
readings
and exercises; you may access the Web in the SH 232, the NET (Webb
Building) or in any of the
general access computer labs on campus or from home if you have a
computer, modem, and an ISP account.
ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES:
Course Outline, Assignments, and Reading Assignments
Assignment
or Topic
|
Reading
Assignment*
|
Date
|
Introduction to GIS
|
GIS: Getting Started -- What is
GIS? Why Use GIS? How Does GIS Work? Get Answers with
GIS. Demo: What is GIS?
http://www.gis.com/node
Technology Reveals New Worlds to Map
http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~ziehr/courses/geog3813/GIS_article-NYTimes-August2007.pdf
Chapters 1-2, GTKArcGIS
|
Week 1
|
Student Introduction
|
Add an introduction of yourself as a Thread in the
Discussion Board Forum entitled "Student and Instructor Introductions"
(see Assignments on Blackboard for details) |
Aug. 20, by 11:00 p.m.
|
| ArcGIS ArcView 9.3 Basics |
Chapters 3 & 4, GTKArcGIS |
Week 2
|
Spatial Data Fundamentals
-- A Review |
Readings (see below) |
Week 3 |
| ~ Coordinate Systems |
Coordinate Systems Overview
http://www.Colorado.EDU/geography/gcraft/notes/coordsys/coordsys_f.html |
|
| ~ Projections |
Map Projections Overview
http://www.Colorado.EDU/geography/gcraft/notes/mapproj/mapproj_f.html |
|
| ArcGIS ArcView 9.3 Basics |
Chapters 3 & 4, GTKArcGIS |
Week 3
|
LABOR
DAY
|
NO
CLASSES
|
Monday,
Sept. 6
|
Symbolizing spatial features
|
Chapter 5 (pages 85-116), GTKArcGIS
|
Week 4
|
| Homework Exercise #1 |
See Assignments in Blackboard for details; online
at least two
weeks in advance
|
Sept. 10 |
Data models and structures
|
Theory component in the Introduction of
GIS module in the "gis self learning tool"
http://www.sli.unimelb.edu.au/gisweb/GISModule/GISTheory.htm
Chapter 2: The Nature of Geographic Information
http://bgis.sanbi.org/GIS-primer/page_09.htm
|
Week 5
|
| Data classification |
Chapter 6, GTKArcGIS |
Weeks 6-7 |
| Homework Exercise #2 |
See Assignments in Blackboard for details; online
at least two
weeks in advance |
Oct. 8, by 11 p.m.
|
Mid-Term Exam (take-home)
|
Online Oct. 9; due Oct. 18
by 5:00 p.m.. Covers all material up to this point. |
Oct. 9-18
|
Attend SWAAG at
NSU (Optional)
|
Southwest
Divison of the Association of American Geographers, annual meeting;
bonus point opportunity; see Assignments in Blackboard for
details; online
at least two
weeks in advance |
Oct. 14-16
|
| FALL
BREAK |
NO
CLASSES |
Oct.
21-24 |
Managing &
Querying Spatial Data
|
Chapters 8 & 9, GTKArcGIS
|
Weeks 8-9
|
| Presenting Spatial Data |
Chapters 18 & 19, GTKArcGIS |
Week 10
|
Geodatabases
|
Chapter 14, GTKArcGIS
|
Week 11
|
| Homework Exercise #3 |
See Assignments in
Blackboard for
details; online
at least two weeks in advance |
Nov.
12, by 11 p.m.
|
Creating Spatial Features
|
Chapters 15 & 16, GTKArcGIS
|
Week 12
|
Analyzing
Spatial Relationships |
Chapters 10 & 12, GTKArcGIS |
Week 13 |
THANKSGIVING
BREAK
|
NO
CLASSES
|
Nov.
24-28
|
| Geocoding Addresses |
Chapter 17, GTKArcGIS |
Week 14 |
Introduction to Raster Data
and its Analysis |
Chapter 5 (pages 117-127), GTKArcGIS |
Week 15 |
| Homework Exercise #4 |
See Assignments in Blackboard for details; online
at least two
weeks in advance |
Dec.3, by 5
p.m.
|
Final Exam
(in-class)
|
Covers all material
since the mid-term exam |
Dec. 9
11:00-12:50
|
* Readings in the Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop
textbook are denoted as GTKArcGIS.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE
ACTIVITIES: (Attendance/Punctuality)
<>Class attendance and participation are essential to your
success
in
this course. If you miss a class, borrow a classmate's notes and then
ask the instructors for clarification if necessary. Considerable
time outside of class will be needed to complete the homework
exercises. The SH 232 lab is currently available only 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
M-F when no other classes are scheduled there (we hope to have it open
for three hours on a couple of evenings per week later in the
semester); NET
212 is almost always available. You must be able to find time
to complete the
ArcGIS ArcView exercises. You will also need to use the WWW for some
readings
and exercises; you may access the Web in the NET or in any of the
general access computer labs on campus or from home if you have a
computer, modem, and an ISP account.
STUDENT EVALUATION:
Evaluation Instruments: There will be a
take-home mid-term exam, an in-class final exam, four GIS homework
exercises, and a self introduction. There will also be a
number of (non-graded) tutorial exercises to help prepare for the
homework assignments and exams. The course does
not involve "programming" in the traditional sense. Students will
have to determine the series of commands necessary to
execute ArcGIS ArcView functionality.
Grades: There will be a self
introduction (10 points), a take-home, mid-term exam (100 points), an
in-class, final exam (100 points), and four, graded, homework exercises
(50 points each). The homework exercises will be assigned at least two
weeks in advance of their due dates. After the exercises are graded and
returned, students may (but it's not required) revise them to earn up
to half of the points
that were missed initially; these revisions will be due by the next
class period after the graded exercises are returned. The two
exams will be "scaled or
curved" based on the highest score in the class (but never based on a
score lower than 85). For example, if you scored 72 on an exam and the
highest score was 90, then 72/90 = 80 would be the number of points you
would earn on that exam. There will be no curve on the exercises,
e-mail
assignment, or make-up exams. There
are 415 total points.
Grading Scale: 90-100% = A,
80-89.99%
= B, 70-79.99% = C, 60-69.99% = D, 0-59.99% = F.
ACADEMIC
MISCONDUCT:
Academic
misconduct includes cheating (using unauthorized
materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise),
plagiarism,
falsification of records, unauthorized possession of examinations,
intimidation, and any and all other actions that may improperly affect
the
evaluation of a student’s academic performance or achievement, or
assisting
others in any such act or attempts to engage in such acts. Academic
misconduct
in any form is inimical to the purposes and functions of the University
and
therefore is unacceptable and prohibited.
Any faculty
member,
administrator or staff member may identify an act of academic
misconduct and
should report that act to the department head/college dean, Vice
President for
Academic Affairs or administrative supervisor.
Students violating the standards of academic honesty are subject to
disciplinary action including reduction of a grade(s) in a specific
course,
assignment, paper, or project; a formal or informal reprimand at the
professorial, dean, or academic vice president level; expulsion from
the class
in which the violation occurred; expulsion from a program; or expulsion
from
the university.
ADA COMPLIANCE:
If
any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs
special
accommodations of any nature whatsoever, the instructor will work with
you and
the University's Office of Student Affairs to provide reasonable
accommodations
to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform in this class. Please advise the instructor of such
disability and the desired accommodations at the first class attended.
INCLEMENT
WEATHER / DISASTER POLICY:
The following are basic
premises for the inclement weather policy at Northeastern:
1.
Safety of
students and employees is the number one priority when implementing the
inclement weather policy.
2.
Classes are
expected to be held if at all possible.
3.
It is the student’s and faculty’s
responsibility to
receive the information when weather is questionable.
4.
Neither students nor faculty are expected
to risk life
or limb.
5.
Faculty are encouraged to be flexible
regarding
absences related to severe weather.
6.
If any one of Northeastern’s campuses is
closed, it is
the responsibility of the University to disseminate information
pertaining to
such closing as early as possible.
7.
Faculty members are obligated to hold
classes if the
university is not closed, unless the faculty member is unable to get to
the
campus.
Policy Statements:
1.
The specific person(s) responsible for
making the
decision concerning the closing of each of the three campuses are: (Tahlequah-President and Provost/Vice
President for Academic Affairs; Broken Arrow – Campus
Dean in conjunction with the President and Provost/Vice
President
for Academic Affairs; Muskogee – Campus
Dean in conjunction with the President and Provost/Vice President for
Academic
Affairs). The President will notify the
Vice President for University Relations who in conjunction with his
staff, will
notify the public through the news media and the campus community
through
email, NSU homepage, NSU telephone message and switchboard message and
other
means when available. The Provost/Vice
President of Academic Affairs will notify faculty.
2.
During times of inclement weather,
decisions concerning
day classes will be made by 5:00 a.m. in order for the media to be
notified and
for the students to receive the announcement before they leave home. Decisions concerning evening/night classes
will be made by 1:00 p.m. if at all possible or feasible.
3.
The following media will be notified
regarding closing
of the campus:
Radio
Stations:
KRMG
740 AM
Tulsa
KTLQ
1350 AM
Tahlequah
KEOK
102 FM
Tahlequah
KMMY
(Y97)
9700 FM
Muskogee
KVOO
1170 AM
Tulsa
KBEZ
92.9 FM
Tulsa
KMYZ
104.5 FM
Tulsa
KHTS
106.9 FM
Tulsa
Television
Stations:
KJRH
Channel 2
Tulsa
KOTV
Channel 6
Tulsa
KTUL
Channel 8
Tulsa
Faculty
members need to include this information (stations and call numbers) in
all
their course syllabi so that students will have a record of where they
can
obtain information.
4.
The message
sent
to the news media should indicate whether the entire campus is closed
or if
classes are not being held. Unless the
administrative offices are specifically mentioned as being closed,
always
assume they are open. See Staff Handbook
regarding leave for such occasions.
5.
Essential services will remain open with
a skeleton
crew:
a.
University Housing/Residence Halls
b.
Physical Plant
c.
Campus Police
d.
University Center
6.
The Physical
Plan will clear sidewalks and parking lots based upon the “Accessible
Route”
plan. This plan takes into consideration
location of ADA entrances to buildings.
7.
Classes are expected to be held if at all
possible;
however, occasionally a faculty member may not be able to get to class
due to
unique weather conditions in the area in which he/she lives. If the University is open, but a faculty
member feels it is impossible to travel to campus, he/she must notify
the dean
and request personal leave. See Faculty
Handbook, 6.12.
8.
Faculty are encouraged to be flexible
regarding student
absences due to inclement weather. Consideration
should be given to faculty developing make up
material for
distribution in case of faculty or student absences from individual
classes.
Teach
Act
In accordance
with the
TEACH Act of 2002, you are advised that
instructional material included in this course may be subject to
copyright
protection. As such, you must not share, duplicate, transmit, or store
the
material of this course beyond the purpose and time frame explicitly
stated in
the syllabus of your course. If you are not certain whether a
particular piece
of material is covered by copyright protection, you should contact your
instructor and obtain her/his written clarification. Failing to observe
copyright protection is a violation of law and the student code of
conduct.
Accessibility
(Textbooks)
Information on Barnes
and Noble College Voluntary
Product Accessibility Template
Release of
Confidential Information
University policies
regarding family educational and privacy
rights are governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA).
Copies of the act, policies, and regulations are maintained in the
Office of
Admissions and Records, NSU libraries, and the Office of the
Provost/Vice
President for Academic Affairs. Requests for release of student
data to
outside sources, other students, or other employees who do not have
access to
such information must have written approval from the Registrar.
Revised August 15,
2010.