Course Competencies
1. Students will understand the
theoretical underpinnings of
GIScience as a discipline in
support of geographic analysis.
Lecture Learning Objectives
Introduction to Course
Lab
No Lab
1. Define Geographic Information Science (GIS)
1. Introduction to GIS
a) Explain how GIS is used in our day to day lives.
1 week lab
b) Explain how GIS answers questions of geography (location,
Part 1 GIS Applications
patterns, trends, conditions and implications) thereby providing 1. Explore GIS applications posted on the internet
examples of GIS analysis
2. Discuss data integrity and ethical implications for GIS
2. Students will have practical
c) List and describe the components of a GIS (Hardware,
map
working knowledge of one GIS
software, data, processes, people)
software package, ESRI’s
d) Explain the difference between Geographic Information
Part 2 GIS software
ArcGIS, using a variety of
Science and Geographic Information Systems.
i.
Demonstrate basic use of GIS software ArcGIS by
datasets in multiple contexts
completing the Introduction to ArcGIS on-line tutorial
for geographic analysis (natural
from ESRI:
hazards, social geography issues
a) display map features
of housing affordability,
b) add data to your map
environmental impact
c) manipulate data tables
assessments).
d) create a map (layout)
e) save your map and associated data files
3. Students will understand the 2. Understand how the Real World (lakes, people, cities,
2. Spatial Data:
ethical implications of
streets, ethnicity, houses, watersheds, shipping routes) is
2 week lab
GIScience analysis inherent in
Converted into Digital Geographic Data to be used for
issues of data quality, validity,
geographic analysis.
Part 1 Learn more about how data is stored and
reliability and biases in GIS
managed in ArcGIS software
processing and display.
a) Define Spatial Data
i.
Define Spatial Features or Entities (points, lines,
Part 2 Working with Spatial Data:
4. Students will be able to
polygons)
Coordinate systems, projections, scale, raster, vector
critically assess products that
ii.
Define Geographic Coordinate Systems
- Download data for City of Vancouver: compare
result from GIS analysis.
- describe latitude and longitude and how these
metadata, geographic datums, geographic coordinate
coordinates are represented in the GIS
systems, map projections
6. Students will learn how to
- describe UTM coordinates and how these
- discussion of spatial accuracy? Scale?
work in teams to explore with
coordinates are represented in the GIS
GIS real world geographic
iii.
Define geographic datums
analysis.
- describe geoids, ellipsoids, spheroids
- contrast WGS1984 vs NAD83 (NAD27)
7. Students will develop an eiv.
Describe map scale; large scale data and small scale
portfolio which serves as a
datasets
repository for structured
- understand the implications of scale with respect
reflection on their learning and
to how spatial data in stored and used for
can be repurposed for a job
search or graduate school
application.
v.
vi.
geographic analysis
Define map projections and Projected Coordinate
Systems
- explain how to construct geometric map
projections: azimuthal, conical and cylindrical
- compare and contrast map projections with
respect to distortion
- define common map projections used in BC
Define spatial data accuracy, precision and error
- understand implications of spatial data accuracy
and precision with respect to geographic analysis
b) Describe Spatial Data Models
 Explain how geographic features (roads, rivers, lakes, cities)
are represented in a GIS
- Define entities: point, line and area
 Define vector data
- explain representation and resolution of points, lines
and areas
- define topology and describe its foundation to GIS
analysis
- list uses of vector data for GIS applications
 Define raster data
- explain representation and resolution of grids and pixels
of raster data
- list uses of raster data for GIS applications
 Compare and contrast raster and vector data in terms of
representation, resolution and analysis
c) Describe Spatial Data Input
 List and explain methods for entering spatial data
(coordinates) into the GIS: digitizing, scanning, Global
Positioning Systems (GPS), conversion software, survey
instruments
 Data formats: shapefiles, geodatabases, grids, GeoTIFF… etc.

d) Define tabular data
 Explain and give examples of nominal, ordinal, interval and
ratio; quantitative and qualitative data
Part 3 Mt St Helen’s: Spatial Data Models Raster and
Vector Data
- look at Mt St Helens, use Landsat satellite raster data to
describe before and after volcanic eruption
- measure differences in lake before and after, raster and
vector area
- contrast and compare raster and vector data sets wrt
scale, resolution, application, accuracy
(2 week)
Lab 3: Planning for a Tsunami
Spatial Analysis, Tables, Editing
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/sea-level-rise-is-



Define and compare tables, databases and Relational
DataBase Management Systems (RDBMS)
Explain relationships between spatial and tabular data
Explain how relates and joins of tables made possible by
RDBMSs
accelerating-1.3070635
Part 1: Prepare Data for Geographic Analysis
1. create Geodatabases as a Geographic Analysis
workspace
2. review spatial data characteristics (datums,
coordinate systems, projections)
Part 2: Perform Basic Geographic Analysis to determine
areas for possible Tsunami
1. perform buffer proximity analysis
2. reclassify raster layers
3. convert raster to vector data files
4. modify attributes tables by adding fields and
calculating new values
5. combine vector data layers with polygon overlay
tool intersect
Part 3: Performing Geographic Analysis to Extract
Vancouver Data affected by possible Tsunami
1. combine vector data layers with polygon overlay
tool intersect
2. perform proximity analysis select by location
3. extract data sets with polygon overly tool clip
Part 4 Calculate statistics (araes, length) of Vancouver
landuse and roads affecting by potential tsunami
1. create summary tables by area of landuse
2. create lists of facilities affected
3. create summary tables of road infrastructure
affected
Part 5: Add layer of potential signage points
1. Learn how to create a new feature class,
explaining the different types (point, multipoint,
etc…)
2. Introduce basic editing of features and tables
(change values on individual table cells,
modification/creation/deletion of features)
3. Introducing to concept of snapping parameters
for more accurate positioning of new features
3. Geographic Analysis I: with Census Data: Classify and
Visualize Census Tabular data for Housing Affordability
a) Define Census Data: spatial geography and tabular tables
b) Define and explain 3 methods of data classification: natural
breaks, equal interval, and standard deviation
c) Describe methods used to symbolize quantitative and
qualitative data using colour dimensions of hue, value and
chroma
d) Understand Basic Map Visualization: Define map elements
(scale, border, orientation, graticule, legend, title) and
understand their application in producing a map
Lab 4: Housing Affordability
Working with Census Data:
joins, classification, normalization, visualization
(2 weeks)
Part 1 Developing a working knowledge of Canadian
Census Data
1.
2.
3.
4.
Downloading Spatial and Tabular Census Data
Join tabular data to spatial layers
Visualizing housing data
Terms of Canadian Census Data collection
Part 2: Understanding Quantitative Data Classification
1. Creating map to illustrate the difference
between 4 methods of classification:
a) natural breaks,
b) equal interval,
c) standard deviation and
d) manual breaks
Part 3: Working with Ratios to compare datasets
1. Normalizing Data to determine housing
affordability
Part 4: Creating Maps of GIS Analysis results
http://www.demographia.com/dhi.pdf
4. Geographic Analysis II: for Environment Impact Assessment
a) Demonstrate how to calculate areas of polygons and lengths
of lines in a GIS (review, done in lab2)
b) Perform queries of spatial databases - review, done in lab 4
c) Neighbour Analysis:
 Buffer: Demonstrate how to buffer spatial data; for example,
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britishcolumbia/vancouver-s-housing-2nd-least-affordable-inworld-1.2505524
5. EIA example for geographic analysis
(2 weeks)
- resort development Squamish – proposed ski hill
- map algebra, polygon overlay, geographic analysis
- download data (DataBC, Hectares BC, City of Vancouver,
Geogratis)
how to buffer rivers to delineate riparian management
zones
 Select by Location (review, lab3)
d) Describe and illustrate how to combine spatial layers of data
for environmental impact assessment analysis
 Understand Boolean logic; demonstrate with VENN
diagrams
 Be able to explain how new map layers are created through
map algebra
 Compare and contrast the difference between union,
intersect and erase
e) Understand how 3D surfaces are utilized in GIS analysis
- build geodatabase
- conduct analysis
- present results
f) Geographic Analysis Case Studies
g) Geographic Analysis Processes: Using a diagram (flow chart)
illustrate the geographic analysis procedures, and flow of data,
in a GIS application
5. GIS Visualization
6. Understand implications of using a GIS
(2 lectures 25, 30)
a) Identify sources of error and demonstrate how error can be
mitigated
b) Discuss ethical implications of using GIS: data privacy and
confidentiality, minimizing error, best practices for data
representation; VGI
Course Summary
(1 lecture D2)
6. Final Project
(3 weeks)