WEST VALLEY COLLEGE
Course Outline
Department:
WV Park Management
Date: 09/24/2008
Course Number and Title: PKMGT 016A - INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND GLOBL POSITIIONING SYSTEMS
Length of course in weeks:
Units:
Total Class Hours/Week:
Lecture Hours/Week:
Lab Hours/Week:
By Arrangement/Week:
18
3
3
3
0
Grade Type: Grade/Credit/No Credit
Catalog Description:
This course will examine the theory behind Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global
Positioning Systems (GPS) and their application to spatial data. This course is designed to take an
interdisciplinary approach to GIS and demonstrate its capability for analysis and decision-making in
diverse industries and academic disciplines. Students will use ArcView GIS software and Pathfinder
Office software to find solutions and develop methods to solve problems using spatial data. Students
will collect data with Trimble GPS units and convert that data for use with ArcView GIS software.
Schedule Description:
This course will examine the theory behind Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global
Positioning Systems (GPS) and their application to spatial data. This course is designed to take an
interdisciplinary approach to GIS and demonstrate its capability for analysis and decision-making in
diverse industries and academic disciplines. Students will use ArcView GIS software and Pathfinder
Office software to find solutions and develop methods to solve problems using spatial data. Students
will collect data with Trimble GPS units and convert that data for use with ArcView GIS software.
Prerequisite(s):
Prerequisite NONE
Course Outcomes/Objectives:
List the major objectives in terms of the observable knowledge and/or skills to be attained as a result
of completing this course.
Limit these to the maximum number of critical objectives that can be effectively monitored and
assessed. Formulate at least some of them in terms of student accomplishments concrete and specific
enough that it can be determined to what extent they have, in fact, been achieved.
Student learning Outcomes
1. Outcome:Create a map in ArcView GIS Software with data transferred from Pathfinder
Office Software.
Assessment:Project
Upon completion of this course the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Discuss and demonstrate the concepts and theory behind the use of GIS and GPS.
Develop methods to solve problems unique to diverse disciplines.
Create ArcView shapefiles/maps for spatial analysis purposes.
Create a map in ArcView GIS Software with data transferred from Pathfinder Office
Software.
Collect data in the field utilizing Trimble Navigation GPS Units.
Import text, data base files, grid, and vector files into ArcView and convert them into
shapefiles.
Run assigned queries on GIS coverages to display the desired text and graphic output.
Demonstrate the ability to select a question to study, collect data regarding that information,
and produce a result or hypothesis regarding that information.
Define a problem related to their discipline of study (e.g. social, geopolitical, environmental,
etc.) and develop a methodology to study, analyze and develop solution(s).
Assessment:
Students in this course will be graded, at minimum, in at least one of the following four categories.
Please check where appropriate; however, a degree-applicable course must have a minimum of one
response in category 1, 2, or 3. If category 1 is not checked, the department must explain why
substantial writing assignments are an inappropriate basis for at least part of the grade.


1. Writing Assignments
o written assignments
o other (specify)
 Projects
2. Problem Solving Demonstrations
o exams
o quizzes
o
o


homework problems
field work
3. Skill Demonstrations
o class performance(s)
o performance (exam)
o field work
o other (specify)
 .Projects-Computer Lab
4. Examinations
o multiple choice, true/false
o completion
o other (specify)

Repeatability: 1 time(s).
Course Content:
The outline should be complete enough to assist an instructor teaching the course for the first time.
A listing of major topics covered and the amount of time devoted to each is required.
Lecture Content:
1. Description of Course ContentA. Fundamental Concepts in Geographic 20.00 %
Information Science1. Definition of GIS2. Theory behind Geographic
Information Systems3. Understand the Process of developing a scientific
methodology for analyzing spatial data as it relates to a specific
question.4. Scale, resolution, map projection5. Coordinate Systems6.
Applications of GIS
2. Geo-spatial Data1. Vector and raster systems 1.1 Representing fields:
20.00 %
raster, TIN, Quadtrees, polygons 1.2 Uncertainty propagation 1.3 Georeferencing
3. Designing and Implementing GIS1. Database design2. Fundamentals of 15.00 %
Data Storing3. Geospatial data resources
4. Spatial Analysis1. Quantitative & statistical methods2. Formulating
20.00 %
geographic questions and scientific methods3. GIS as a modeling tool
5. Global Positioning Systems1. Theory and Concepts of Global Positioning 25.00 %
Systems2. Type of Equipment used.3. Methods for field application of
equipment4. Processing of field data5. Transfer of data through Pathfinder
Office Software to ArcView GIS6. GPS Navigation7. Position
Averaging8. Data Collection
Critical Thinking Tasks/Assignments:
Critical thinking can be characterized by the ability to do such things as analyze, explain, deduce,
solve problems, synthesize, and understand.
1. Analyze data collected from GPS unit, then execute differential correction and transfer data
to ArcView GIS and create a map representation of that data.
College Level Required Reading, Writing, and other Outside-of-Class Assignments:
Over an 18 week presentation of the course, three hours per week are required for each unit of
credit. Two hours of independent work done out of class are required for each hour of lecture.
Outside of the regular class time the students in this class will be doing the following outside of
class:
1. Study: 1.00 additional hour(s)
2. Problem solving activity or exercise: 1.00 additional hour(s)
3. Required reading: 1.00 additional hour(s)
Textbooks:
A. Introduction to ArcView GIS GPS: A Guide to the Next Utility. 2006.