Chabot College
Fall 2001
Replaced Fall 2010
Course Outline for Geography 20
INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS)
Catalog Description:
20 – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
3 units
Computer-based information technology tools and techniques that analyze spatial relationships
between locations and attributes of physical, cultural, and economic features. Visualization of
geographic relationships to support decision-making through interactive linkages of maps, databases,
images, and charts. Introduction to GIS theory, principles, concepts, applications, and operations.
Field trips may be required. (Strongly recommended: previous PC experience). 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
define GIS and describe its subsystems and components;
compare and contrast GIS with traditional mapping;
describe or list some typical GIS applications;
demonstrate basic computer literacy and skills for GIS;
explain map feature concepts;
apply fundamental cartographic concepts;
explain or illustrate GIS data types and data models and their map structures;
find, retrieve, download, and input various data types from a variety of sources;
create metadata files and evaluate data quality, including sources of error;
manage, query, analyze, and create spatial data using desktop GIS software;
describe some of the data analysis functions that enhance visualization and decision-making
capabilities of GIS;
12. apply problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to the completion of several tutorial-based
exercises, instructor assigned real-world mini-projects, and/or student-selected course projects;
13. design and produce cartographic and graphical presentations that effectively communicate GIS
project information.
Course Content:
1. What is GIS?
a. Definition(s)
b. History
c. Advantages over traditional mapping
d. Introduction to GIS subsystems
1) data input function
2) data storage and retrieval function
3) data manipulation and analysis functions
4) data output function
e. Overview of GIS components
1) hardware
2) software
3) data
4) people
5) methods
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Course Outline for Geography 20, Page 2
Fall 2001
2. GIS applications overview
a. Desktop GIS
b. GIS as a multi-disciplinary learning tool
c. GIS for spatial analysis
3. Basic computer literacy and skills for GIS
a. Introduction to a GIS interface
1) graphical user interface
2) online help system
b. Fundamental word processor, spreadsheet, and database skills
c. Introduction to file management and working directories
4. Map feature concepts
a. Points, lines, polygons
b. Absolute and relative location
c. Attributes
d. Attribute symbols and codes
e. Coordinate systems (location reference systems)
f. Spatial distributions and relationships
5. Fundamental cartographic concepts
a. Scale
1) definition
2) types
3) affect on point, line, polygon features and symbols
b. Map properties
1) shape
2) area
3) distance
4) direction
5) proximity
c. Map distortion
1) relation to size of area mapped
2) relation to projection of Earth to a plane
d. Projections, ellipsoids, and datums
6. Overview of GIS data types and data models and their map structures
a. GIS data types
1) spatial data
2) attribute (tabular) data
3) image data
b. Spatial data models and their map structures
1) vector
2) raster
3) image
c. Relationship of the “Paper Map World” to the “GIS Map World”
1) representation of points, lines, areas on a paper map
2) representation of points, lines, polygons on a GIS map
3) GIS raster and vector storage of points, lines, polygons
d. Overview of attribute data models
1) tabular
2) hierarchical
3) network
4) relational
5) object-oriented
7. Introduction to accessing and creating data
a. Sources
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Course Outline for Geography 20, Page 3
Fall 2001
1) hard-copy maps
2) CAD drawings
3) aerial photographs
4) remotely-sensed satellite imagery
5) point data samples from surveys and GPS
6) existing digital files and the Internet
b. Data examples
1) demographic
2) transportation
3) land records
4) natural resources
5) terrain
6) other
c. Data quality
1) metadata
2) precision, accuracy, and error
d. Downloading and input techniques
1) digitizing
2) scanning
3) data compression and decompression
4) data conversion (source format to system-compatible format)
5) data projection
6) registration and conflation
8. Managing, querying, analyzing, and creating spatial data
a. Thematic data (theme) concept
1) vertical organization of features and their attributes
2) spatial data source formats for themes
3) image and tabular data source formats for themes
b. Managing thematic data
1) adding themes to a data view
a) features based on a spatial data source
b) images based on aerial photographs or satellite images
c) x,y coordinates from a table
2) accessing a theme attribute table
c. Referencing thematic data to the real-world
1) review of the fundamental map projection concept
a) real-world (globe) locations measured in spherical latitude/longitude coordinates
b) corresponding map locations measured in planar x,y coordinates
c) distortion of map properties due to conversions of locations from spherical to planar
coordinates
2) understanding when a map projection is required
a) making measurements
b) comparing map features
c) aligning images and features
3) setting properties of a data view
a) definitions of unprojected and projected data
b) working with unprojected and projected data
c) setting distance units
d) changing the scale
4) measuring distance and area
d. Classifying, displaying, and symbolizing thematic data
1) accessing the theme’s legend
2) legend types
a) single symbol
b) unique value
c) graduated color
d) graduated symbol
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Fall 2001
e) dot density
f) chart symbol
3) classifying data for symbolization
a) natural breaks
b) quantile
c) equal interval
d) equal area
e) standard deviation
4) manipulating classes
a) adding and deleting classes
b) editing values and labels
5) modifying legend elements
6) changing symbols through palettes
7) scaling symbols
e. Managing thematic data display
1) selecting feature subsets
2) setting scale thresholds for display of features
3) labeling theme features
4) creating linkages to images and documents
f. Querying features in a data display
1) accessing information about features
2) selecting features based on attributes
g. Managing tabular data
1) adding tables from external sources
2) creating a new table
3) editing tables
a) field definitions
(1) numeric
(2) string
(3) Boolean
(4) data
b) adding records
c) deleting fields and records
d) editing cell values
e) calculating new values
4) creating a summary table for attributes tables
h. Querying records in a table
1) selecting records based on attributes
2) modifying the selected set
a) adding records
b) refining the selection
c) creating a new selected set
3) displaying statistics for a field
4) creating a summary table
i. Joining and linking relationships between tables
1) reasons for associating tables
2) relational database basic concepts
a) destination and source tables
b) common field
3) table record relationships
a) one-to-one
b) many-to-one
c) one-to-many
4) joining and linking
a) operations
b) results
j. Analyzing spatial relationships between two themes
1) theme-on-theme selection concept:
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a) selector theme
b) target theme(s)
2) types of relationships
a) proximity
b) adjacency
c) containment
d) intersection
k. Analyzing spatial relationships by spatially joining tables
1) spatial join concept
2) kinds of spatial relationships to compare locations
a) containment
b) proximity
3) join attributes based on containment
4) join attributes based on proximity
l. Creating and editing coordinate files
1) functions of coordinate files
a) stores feature geometry (shape and location)
b) stores indexes of feature geometry
c) stores attribute information
2) creating new coordinate files
a) converting an existing theme to a coordinate file
b) converting selected feature(s) to a coordinate file
c) adding new features
d) snapping features with a tolerance distance
e) add attributes
3) editing coordinate files
a) reshaping a feature by moving, adding, or deleting vertices
b) splitting line or polygon features and update attributes
c) merging features and updating attributes
d) optional operations (combine, intersect, subtract)
m. Address geocoding
1) concept: linking addresses to geographic locations
2) required input data
a) reference street theme with attributes
(1) street name
(2) street type
(3) address range
(4) direction
(5) ZIP codes
b) address table
3) 3-step geocoding process
a) making the reference theme matchable
(1) set geocoding theme properties
(2) creating a geocoding index file
b) batch-matching addresses in table to reference theme
(1) creating output geocoded point theme
(2) interpreting match scores
c) re-matching addresses not batch-matched
(1) interactive re-match
(2) geocoding editor
4) testing: locate a single address
9. Overview of other data analysis functions that enhance visualization and decision-making capabilities
of GIS
a. Buffering and neighborhood functions
b. Surface analysis
c. Network analysis
d. Image analysis
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e. 3D analysis
f. Business analysis
g. Tracking analysis
10. Cartographic and graphical presentation of GIS information
a. Cartographic layouts
1) concepts
a) interface for creating presentation-quality maps
b) collections of documents, images, graphics, and text
2) design factors
a) purpose of map
b) audience
c) map elements
(1) map body
(2) legend
(3) scale bar
(4) north arrow
(5) title
(6) neatline
3) creating a map layout
a) page layout: size, orientation, margins, grid
b) defining, creating, and scaling frames
4) adding and modifying graphics
5) layout templates
a) using standard templates
b) creating custom templates
6) layout print options
b. Charts
1) creating a chart
a) specifying elements to be graphed
b) choosing a chart format
(1) area
(2) bar
(3) column
(4) line
(5) pie
(6) x,y scatterplot
2) changing chart elements
3) querying and editing charts
a) extracting information from the table
b) editing/selecting records in the table to change chart content
c) adding and deleting data markers
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Lectures and learning modules (on a need-to-know basis)
Demonstrations
Interactive Web Sessions
Hands-on computer experience with desktop GIS software and tutorials
Active learning
Field trips (some instructors may have field trips to government and commercial sites so students can
experience “GIS at work”)
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments
a. Read Part 1 "Getting to Know Desktop GIS" in Getting to Know ArcView GIS. The six chapters in
Part 1 provide, through illustrated examples, an overview of desktop GIS: what it is, what it does,
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Course Outline for Geography 20, Page 7
Fall 2001
how it works, and how it is used to ask and answer questions about where things are and the
spatial relationships between them. Part 1 also introduces you to what you need to know about
data and how GIS is used to effectively communicate spatial information. Reading Part 1 will
provide context for learning how to use ArcView GIS through completion of Part II tutorial-based
exercises.
1) You should supplement your Part 1 reading by viewing the following two parts of the Getting
to Know ArcView GIS CD-ROM: "Desktop GIS Primer" and "ArcView GIS Showcase".
2) Also, access The GIS Primer: An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (by D. J.
Buckley) on the web. Read the first six chapters:
http://www.innovativegis.com/education/primer/primer.html
3) Upon completion of the above, you should be prepared to complete several activities of which
the following are representative:
4) Write your own definition of GIS and compare it to definitions presented inthe above materials
and those you may find on the Internet. What terms are common across the definitions?
Include a summary description of GIS subsystems and components.
5) Describe or list some typical GIS applications. Choose one or two to compare and contrast
GIS with traditional mapping. For the applications selected, consider the "static" nature of
traditional mapping and the "dynamic" nature of GIS.
b. Through active learning and assistance from the instructor, find, retrieve, download, and input
various data types from a variety of sources. For example:
1) Access the on-line USGS digital terrain or line files and unzip the files.
2) Access ESRI's ArcData website and download the Tiger demographic files
3) Access and download data conversion programs on the web
4) Access tabular data and convert it to Excel format
c.
Using Part 2 of Getting to Know ArcView GIS and the "ArcView Tutorial" section of the CD-ROM,
complete all of the tutorial-based exercises. These exercises will provide hands-on experience
with the ArcView interface, how map features and their attributes are linked, and how to manage,
query, analyze, and create spatial data. You will also learn how to communicate GIS project
information by designing and executing a chart and map layout. Opportunities will be provided to
transfer your newly learned skills to real-world mini-projects and/or a course project. These
activities require you to follow a sequence of problem-solving and critical-thinking steps. For
example:
1)
Add themes to a view, by:
a) creating a personal directory
b) creating a project and a view
c)
adding feature themes to a view
d) renaming the view
e) adding an image theme and a CAD theme to a view
f)
saving and closing the project
g) adding an event theme to a view
2)
Set view properties, by:
a) opening an existing project
b) checking the scale and map units
c)
measuring distances on an unprojected view
d) applying a projection to the view
e) changing the projection
You might be asked, for example, to consider how the projection type affected the
measured distance or shape.
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d.
As part of a project, you might be asked to:
1) use GIS to compute the extremes, the mean, and the standard deviation for all the attributes
in the data set
2) compute the length of a line and the area of a polygon in a vector GIS theme and in a raster
GIS theme and consider why they might be expected to give different results
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Performance-based evaluations will be structured around criterion-referenced, competencybased learning modules. Each module will include: goals/objectives; required background
reading/related media; procedures; resource information; and the following evaluation methods:
1) Written (or oral) feedback on assigned background reading/media
Examples: see "a" under Typical Assignments
2) Demonstration of procedural skills to instructor
Example: see "b" under Typical Assignment
3) Maintenance of an electronic log or journal. The following kinds of information will be stored
on a zip disk for instructor review:
a) metadata
b) sequenced operational procedures in sufficient detail to ensure repeatability for future
applications
c)
other instructor-designated components
4) Completion of module-based exercise(s) and/or mini-projects
5) “Final” Project
An instructor may elect to have students complete a “final” course project. This project
should be evaluated on the student’s ability to demonstrate basic levels of awareness and
competency for a specified number of course concepts and operations.
b. Frequency
The frequency of evaluation will be based upon:
1) occassional assignments based upon background reading/media
2) the number of units in ArcView part 2 (approximately 20)
3) the number of criterion-referenced, competency-based learning modules (to be developed)
4) one “final” project (instructor’s option)
Textbook(s) (Typical):
1. The GIS Primer: An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, Buckley, David J., Innovative
GIS Solutions, Inc., 1997
2. Getting Started with Geographic Information Systems, Clarke, Keith C., second edition, Prentice Hall,
1999
3. Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems, DeMers, Michael N., second edition, John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., 1999
4. Getting to Know ArcView GIS, Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), version 3.1, ESRI
Press, 1998
5. An Introduction to Geographical Information Systems, Heywood, Ian and Sarah Cornelius and Steve
Carver, Addison Wesley Longman, 1998
Special Student Materials:
1. Zip Disk
da: D:/Curriculum/Fall 00/Geog20.doc
Revised 1-19-01