GIS – Geographic Information System

COURSE OVERVIEW

A geographic information system is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data. The acronym GIS is sometimes used to mean geographical information science or geospatial information studies; these latter terms refer to the academic discipline or career of working with geographic information systems. In the simplest terms, GIS is the merging of cartography, statistical analysis, and database technology.

COURSE OUTLINE

This course provides an introduction to digital mapping and spatial analysis using geographic information systems (GIS). Students will learn how to create their own maps, and how to use GIS software to analyze geographic problems and learn spatial analysis techniques that can be applied to a wide variety of subject areas, both within geography and in other disciplines. The course is designed to accommodate students from a variety of research backgrounds and with no previous GIS experience. The goal is to provide students with a theoretical understanding of spatial data and analysis concepts, and to introduce the practical tools needed to create and manage spatial data, perform spatial analysis, and communicate results including (but not limited to) the form of a well- designed map.

PREREQUISITE

None.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Lands and resources personnel.