OpenCourseWare – Spring 2008
Florida State University Department of Geography
GIS 4043/GIS 5101/GEO 4905/GEO 5908
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
(GIS), or Geographic Information Processes and
Systems
Syllabus
Lab Syllabus
Lecture 1 – Welcome to Intro GIS!
Lecture 2 – The World as a Base
Lecture 3 – GIS Source: RS/GPS
Lecture 4 – GIS Sources: Boundaries
Lecture 5 – Layers: Points
Lecture 6 – Layers: Lines
Lecture 7 – Layers: Polygons
Lecture 8 - Applications, Software, and Hardware
Midterm Exam
Lecture 9 – Social Science Applications
Lecture 10 – Environmental Science Applications
Lecture 11 – Metadata, Documentation, Quality Control
Lecture 12 – Time, Space, and Uncertainty in GIS
Final Exam
Syllabus:
GIS 4043/GIS 5101/GEO 4905/GEO 5908
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or
Geographic Information Processes and Systems
Spring 2008, Class meets on Wednesdays 2:00-4:30, in Bellamy 208, and lab meets on
Thursdays 2:00-3:15 or Fridays 12:00-1:15 in Bellamy 035
Class Webpage: http://www.fsugis.org, and http://campus.fsu.edu
Professor: Lisa Jordan
Lab Instructors: Heather Gamper, Michael Nesius, Libin Zhou
Contact Information for Lisa Jordan:
Office Hours: Wednesday 9:00-10:00, Thursday 1:00-2:00, and by appointment
Office: Bellamy 311
Email: ljordan@fsu.edu, phone – (850) 644-8386
Contact Information for Heather Gamper:
Office Hours: Tuesday 1:00-2:00
Office: Bellamy 240
Email: hag05c@fsu.edu
Contact Information for Michael Nesius:
Office Hours: Wednesday 1:00-2:00
Office: Bellamy 201
Email: mjn03d@fsu.edu
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to GIS. We will explore some of the software, analysis
techniques, and uses of geographically-minded information.
Required Readings (GIS 4043/GEO 4905):
All required readings will be posted on the website and through Blackboard.
Handbook on Geographic Information Systems and Digital Mapping, United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs Statistics Division:
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/publication/SeriesF/SeriesF_79E.pdf
Another source that may be useful to consult is the NCGIA Core Curriculum in
GIScience.
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Grading
GIS 4043 (3 credit hours):
GIS 5101 (3 credit hours):
Assignments
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
50%
25%
25%
GIS 4905 (1 credit hour)
Labs
100%
Assignments
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Paper – 20/Presentation – 5
25%
25%
25%
25%
GIS 5908 (1 credit hour)
Labs
100%
Assignments
In this course, you will be asked to complete 10 assignments, which are given weekly.
The tools available for GIS analysis are rapidly improving, and what this course is
primarily designed to help you do is to learn how to learn, by searching the web, and
sharing the information you find and the techniques you are discovering with the class.
GIS 5101 – Graduate Course in GIS - Paper and Presentation Requirements
Paper Requirements:
Your paper assignment is to decide on a topic of your choice that uses GIS and to
incorporate lessons from the class, the readings, and assignments into your project.
Your paper should not be less than 10 pages, double-spaced, but around 10 pages is just
fine. Your paper should not be more than 20 pages, double-spaced (including
bibliography and appendices).
The main criterion for your paper is that you address how GIS can help inform the areas
of research that interest you.
Other criteria:
 The sources for your paper should include the textbooks for the course, in
addition to peer-reviewed articles; at least 10 sources are expected.
 The bibliography should follow a formal, author-date citation format
 In-text citations should be used throughout your paper
 The focus of your research should be clearly presented, supporting evidence for
your arguments should be carefully considered
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Presentation Requirements:
Both your paper and presentation should be suitable to give at a professional conference.
I would like to help you pursue attendance at a professional meeting or publication of
your writing in a journal.
Your presentation should be clear, interesting, and informative. You should be able to
use evidence collected in your paper to make an argument.
Your presentation should be approximately 5 minutes long. You may use Power Point,
the dry erase board, the internet, DVDs, and/or handouts (that I can print for you) to help
present your material. I am also happy to solicit other forms of presentation – musical,
poetic, artistic, and so forth, if you prefer to present your information in these formats.
Timeline for Papers and Presentations:
Each preparatory component serves as 2 points toward your paper grade:
By January 16th – contact me about a decision for your paper/presentation topic (email,
written note, talking with me before/after class or in office hours) (2 points)
By February 6th – provide at lease five sources, outside of the textbooks, for your paper
(2 points)
By February 27th – submit an abstract and outline for the paper that you propose to write
(2 points)
By March 19th – provide 1-2 images (pictures), maps, charts, tables, data sources,
sound/movie clips, or testimonies that you will use in your paper or presentation. (2
points)
By March 26th - provide another 1-2 images (pictures), maps, charts, tables, data sources,
sound/movie clips, or testimonies that you will use in your paper or presentation. (2
points)
By April 2th – provide a draft of your bibliography (2 points)
April 16th – presentations will be given in class (10 percent of your grade, graded on 100
point scale)
April 24th – final paper is due (20 percent of your grade, 88 points/100)
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Date
Jan. 9
Class Topics
Multimedia Literacy and Introduction to GIS
Welcome to the class! In this exciting area of study, we need to feel comfortable and aware of the
information technology available to us.
Today we talk about GIS, play with blackboard, then we learn how to make and upload webpages
that we can use throughout the course.
Jan. 16
World as a Base
Though GIS are quite versatile, most GIS use the Earth as a common frame of reference. In this
class we study the ways in which data linked to the earth’s surface are represented.
For today, read pages 121-144, 195-197, Annex I on GIS, Annex II on Map Projections, and Annex
VII on Useful URLs, in the Handbook.
Assignment #1: Design and Post a Website for this class (due this week).
Jan. 23
GIS Source: RS/GPS
Much of the work put into a map or spatial analysis begins in collecting information. This class
discusses the construction and use of spatial databases from satellites and aerial photography.
For today, read pages 50-63, in the Handbook, and “A brief history of remote sensing applications,
with emphasis on Landsat” by Stanley Morain.
Assignment #2: Examining the Earth with NASA Worldwind (due this week).
Jan. 30
GIS Source: Boundaries
In this class we explore in more detail a quintessential GIS data type – vector data. We consider the
ways in which boundaries are constructed.
For today, read pages 27-30, in the Handbook.
Assignment #3: Describe a GPS Generated Layer in Google Earth or Geocommons, or create your
own (due this week)
Feb. 6
Layers: Points
There are many options for displaying information. This class explores some of the choices
available to you, while considering the advantages and disadvantages of each.
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For today, read pages 153-166, in the Handbook.
Assignment #4: Compare Raster and Vector Census Data in Google Earth (due this week).
Feb. 13
Layers: Lines
This class delves into the nitty-gritty of georeferencing and geocoding – how do we attach
information to ‘locations’ on the earth’s surface?
For today, read pages 183-193, in the Handbook.
Assignment #5: Catalogue 50 Places (due this week).
Feb. 20
Layers: Polygons
In this class, we being considering the ways we can put data together to answer questions we might
have. The polygon, as a specific type of vector data, is considered
For today, read pages 167-181, in the Handbook.
Scott Weisman will come to demonstrate the applications of GIS for the county.
Assignment #6: Neighborhood Polygons (due this week).
Feb. 27
Applications, Software and Hardware
This class introduces software and hardware considerations in managing a GIS project.
For today, read pages 102-106, in the Handbook.
Review for Midterm Exam
Mar. 5
Midterm Exam
Mar. 12
Spring Break
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Mar. 19
Applications: Social
Here we consider applications of information in a GIS – social applications include census-taking
and evaluation, health, crime, political districting, archeological, and sociological investigation.
For today, read “Chapter 5: Applications in the Social Sciences,” in Social Science Applications of
Remote Sensing.
Guest Speaker: Michael Berzinis
Assignment #7: Layer Raster or Vector Sources with Point Sources in Google Earth or NASA
Worldwind (due this week).
Mar. 26
Applications: Environmental
We return to class to explore even more ways that GIS software can help us answer questions about
the underlying nature of our data, particularly for environmental applications.
For today, read about the research applications that the USGS is engaged in: the Geographic
Analysis and Monitoring Program.
Note that there is available OpenCourseWare on this topic.
Assignment #8: Generate a Hot Spots Map (due this week).
Apr. 2
Metadata, Documentation, and Quality Control, and GIS Partnerships
In a system where we must rely on each other for the quality of our information, it is imperative that
we begin to carefully document what we know about our data.
High quality and successful GIS and GIScience relies on partnership and accountability of other
users and distributors of software and data. In this class, we consider the importance of the
community of GIS users, which you are now formally a part of!
For today, read the FGDC Metadata Standards.
Assignment #9: Create Metadata for an Online Information Source (due this week).
Apr. 9
Time and Space, and Uncertainty in Geographic Information
Our data are never perfect, but how reliable are they? This class explores ways of studying and
representing uncertainty in our results. This class also invites us to consider the possibilities
available in spatial and temporal modeling for surveillance.
For today, read “Uncertainty Propagation in GIS” from the NCGIA Core Curriculum in GIScience.
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Assignment #10: Future of GIS Project (due this week).
Apr. 16
Graduate Student Presentations
Apr. 24
Final Exam, 12:30-2:30
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INTRODUCTION TO GIS (LAB)
GIS 4905/5908
Spring 2008
This course is supported on Blackboard.
Labs will consist of a brief tutorial and a lab assignment. There will be 12 lab
assignments for a total of 100 points.
Labs are due at the beginning of class one week after they are assigned, unless
otherwise noted. A 20% per day late penalty will be applied to labs turned in late,
unless you make prior arrangements or provide documentation of an emergency
or other event.
Copying files, maps, or answers to questions from another student or source will
be construed as plagiarism. If this occurs, appropriate action will be taken, with a
minimum penalty of no credit for that assignment.
All assignments must be typed and submitted in HARDCOPY or through
blackboard’s digital dropbox - unless otherwise specified in the lab assignment.
Hand written assignments WILL NOT be accepted
Lab Schedule
Week
Jan 10 (R) 11 (F)
Jan 17, 18
Jan 24, 25
Jan 31 Feb 1
Feb 7, 8
Feb 14, 15
Feb 21, 22
Feb 28, 29
March 6, 7
March 13, 14
March 20,21
March 27, 28
April 2
April 9
Topic
Introduction to ArcGIS
Finding Spatial Data for Display
Raster Data and Spatial Analysis
Effective Selection Queries
Geocoding
Network Analysis
Data Capture and Editing
Model Builder
No Lab ; exam week
No Lab; spring break
Social Application
Environmental Application
Metadata Lab
Independent Lab/ArcIMS
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LAB POLICIES
All labs for GEO4905 will be carried out in Room 035 of Bellamy Building. You
may not always finish the assignments during the class period. The lab will be
open during the week so that you may finish your assignments. However,
students are expected to observe some rules when using the computers in the
Lab.
LAB RULES
1. No food or drink in the lab.
2. Lab computers and printers are for GIS work only. Your other class work is to be done
in other labs. DO NOT print assignments from other classes.
3. DO NOT install software without permission from your instructor or the lab manager.
4. DO NOT save your work on the local machines. Use your Z:\ drive. If you use the
local machine or temp directory, others can access your work and it may not be there
later.
5. DO NOT waste color prints. Use the black and white printer whenever possible.
6. Please use Print Preview before printing anything. This will ensure that you do not
print endless copies of map drafts and answers.
7. Maintain silence in the lab (especially turn off cell phones).
8. Clean up after yourself. Lab attendants will throw out things that are left behind.
9. DO NOT remove equipment that belongs in the lab. You will be criminally prosecuted
if you are caught.
10. DO NOT download MP3 or movie files. Most of these websites are compromised by
viruses.
11. Always log-off the computers when you are done, but DO NOT shut them down.
12. No instant messaging is allowed.
13. Any violation of these rules can result in the loss of privileges to use this facility. If
you are unsure about a rule or rules, ask your instructor or a lab employee.
Problem Report Procedures:
If you are having problems with the lab resources, please report the problem by
sending an email to Shawn Lewers, the lab administrator (slewers@fsu.edu) or
his assistant Mike Sims (email ID: fms03c@fsu.edu).
Nothing will be done to solve the problem if you just turn the computer off
and move to another one. Be sure to include the following information in your
email:
why you are seeking help In addition, you may want to visit FSU's Academic
Computing and Networking Services (ACNS) website. This website will provide
you with handy information including manuals, lists, tutorials, how-tos and help
sheets that cover various aspects of computing at Florida State.
Hours of Operation:
The latest lab hours are posted on the door of BEL035 at the start of each
semester. Only registered students for a GIS class are allowed access to the
computer lab facilities. THE LAB IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR GENERAL USE
DURING RESERVED SESSIONS. Please see the schedule sheet on the door.
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ACADEMIC HONOR POLICY:
The Florida State University Academic Honor Policy outlines the University’s expectations for the
integrity of students’ academic work, the procedures for resolving alleged violations of those
expectations, and the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty members throughout the
process. Students are responsible for reading the Academic Honor Policy and for living up to
their pledge to “. . . be honest and truthful and . . . [to] strive for personal and institutional integrity
at Florida State University.” (Florida State University Academic Honor Policy, found at
http://dof.fsu.edu/honorpolicy.htm.)
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT:
Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should:
(1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; and
(2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. This
should be done during the first week of class.
This syllabus and other class materials are available in alternative format upon request. For more
information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact the:
Student Disability Resource Center
97 Woodward Avenue, South
108 Student Services Building
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4167
(850) 644-9566 (voice)
(850) 644-8504 (TDD)
sdrc@admin.fsu.edu
http://www.disabilitycenter.fsu.edu/
“Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading)
statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance
notice.”
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Lecture 1
January 9, 2008
Outline:
 Pass Out Syllabus
 Introductions – me, Heather, Michael, Libin
 Roll
 Discussion of Syllabus and Course Content
 Computer-Aided Lecture, Multitasking, Note-taking, and the Human
Component in Technological Research and Education
 Geography, Information Systems, Geographic Information Systems:
definitions of GIS, why we study it, and how we use it
 The internet, multimedia literacy, and how these topics are relevant to a
class in GIS
 Some background about the internet and webpage construction
 Webpage Creation and Posting!!
 Plug, Play, Click, Learn
 Assignment 1: Create and Upload a Website for the Course
Material:
Welcome to GIS! This is a very exciting time to become involved in this
interesting and dynamic field.
Literacy in GIS, Begins with a Good Foundation in Computer Literacy: the more
confident and comfortable you become with using computers, the more confident
you will be at engaging computer applications.
A couple suggestions for facilitating computer literacy:
 If you don’t already, use your computer every day
 Regularly try new programs
 Browse for free software
 Read articles and blogs related to technological advances (New Scientist)
 Use ‘OpenCourseWare’ in some key word searches
 Don’t be afraid of breaking your computer! (If you are, use a school
computer! )
 Everyone starts somewhere, so don’t be afraid of making mistakes
Making your life easier:
Computers are for making your life easier and more productive, but there are a
few things that you can do to facilitate your computer use, both generally, and for
this class:
 Develop File Management Skills! (Know where your files are when you
save them; choose file names that make them easy to identify; and learn
about file extensions and what they mean).
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



Purchase and use external memory devises (use a thumb drive or flash
drive to transport your files, and to back up files).
Use your email account to regularly transfer files, of any type! One useful
skill need to do this is to become informed about how to compress and decompress files, with a variety of software.
Learn the advantages and limitations of whatever hardware you are using
– PC or Mac – processing speeds and available memory, as well as the
available software for the machine that you are using.
If you ever have a question – ask me, ask your neighbor, and ask the
teaching assistants.
Computer-aided lecture:
The lecture notes and materials for this course will be available online. I
encourage you to engage this material, practice reading online (as opposed to
printing out material, whenever possible), and to take notes electronically. There
are a number of electrical outlets in the classroom, for example, so you can bring
your laptop. If/when you bring your computer, use it to be engaged in the class
material – look up related information on the web (Bellamy has wireless now!).
Study and download GIS software and material from a wide variety of sources.
Geography, Information Systems, Geographic Information Systems: definitions of
GIS, why we study it, and how we use it –
Geography is “earth-writing,” and an information system is the infrastructure for
storing, managing and analyzing data. Geographic Information Systems are
computer and satellite-aided systems that store, manage, and analyze data,
using the coordinate’s related to the Earth’s surface as reference system. For
many types of information, this is a tremendously handy and intuitive technique
for bringing together multiple types of information in a single system.
What are examples of GIS?
Desk-top GIS (this course), Google Earth, NASA WorldWind, Map Quest, supercomputer GIS, GPS and navigational devices, others?
The internet, multimedia literacy, and how these topics are relevant to a class in
GIS –
As you may have noticed: the internet is a big thing! The internet has also done
wonders for the world of GIS, by making geographic information much more
accessible to a very wide audience. It also facilitates data sharing among GISusers as well as data collection. To get started, each of you will make a website,
to facilitate information sharing, based on what you do in class.
There are a number of ways to make a website, here are two ways:
 Make a webpage on Google: pages.google.com
 Make a webpage on Blackboard:
o In Word, or Notepad, or any word editing program, make a
document, and save it as index.html (it needs to be exactly this).
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o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Go to our course Blackboard site
Click on the link on the left hand slide labeled “content collection”
Click the icon to create a new folder
Name the folder website (it needs to be exactly this), then submit.
In the folder list page, click on the right-hand side to modify the
website folder.
In the top right menu, select public, and click the GO button.
Now, click on the folder named “website” and click to add an item
Add the index.html file here
Now you have a website, that is available at
http://website.fsu.edu/your_fsu_user_name
There are also many ways to make a podcast, here is how to do it in blackboard:
o Go to our course Blackboard site
o Click on the link on the left hand slide labeled “content collection”
o Click the icon to create a new folder
o Name the folder podcast (it needs to be exactly this), then submit.
o In the folder list page, click on the right-hand side to modify the
podcast folder.
o In the top right menu, select public, and click the GO button.
o Now, click on the folder named “podcast” and click to add an item
o Add an .mp3 file here
o Now you have a podcast, that is available at
http:/podcast.fsu.edu/your_fsu_user_name
So, I want you to learn new stuff to do with your computer everyday, and I want
you to show me the things that you learn.
Assignment #1: Design and Post a Website for this Class
In designing and posting your website, you will need at least three things:
- A title on your website page
- Your name
- At least one hyper-link to another location
See the above discussion on some suggestions for creating a webpage.
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Lecture 2
January 16, 2008
The World as a Base
Outline:
 Questions, recap of how to use course notes, blackboard, assignment
submission
 Review of website submitted
 Discussion of Handbook readings for today –
-The interdisciplinary nature of GIS
-Reviewing common types and sources of geographic information
 Types of geographic reference systems: datum and projections
Material:
In looking at the “Foundations of GIS” figure in the readings, there is a critical
part of the process that is missing: the public sector. The public sector really
helped develop initial GIS software, satellite (and space) services, and,
importantly, critical earth surveillance that would not have been feasible by the
private sector or academy. The use of GIS in the management of critical
infrastructure, transportation infrastructures, and for public service more broadly,
is visibly increasing.
In terms of the types of data actually stored in a GIS, it is again useful to return to
the analogy of linking tables and charts, as you are familiar with in Excel, to a
spatial framework or base.
That base is the Earth.
Again, the idea of layering of geographic information is critical. This is how GIS
really come into amazing usefulness, as multiple sets of information, from a
variety of sources, can be visualized, and analyzed simultaneously. Many, many
hours are spent brining these layers into existence, and these layers constitute
what is called a spatial data infrastructure (or, more often, you hear it discussed
as the NSDI – National Spatial Data Infrastructure).
Two types of data models map onto our representation of Earth – raster (grid)
data and vector (point, line, polygon) data.
Vector data are typically stored as spaghetti or topological data structures.
Further, vector data allow for attribute tables to be associated with them.
Either vector or raster data models can represent a variety of data: from discrete
to continuous.
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GIS software have many capabilities, which we will investigate more closely
throughout the course. These include:
Data input and management
-line tracing, coordinate and data input
-editing
-building topology
-georeferencing and reference change
-raster-vector conversion
-attribute data management
-reclassification, aggregation
-subset creation, cookie-cutting
Display
-cartographic functions
-combined display of image and vector data
-link to statistical charting
-3-D display of images
Query
-spatial database query
-summarizing attributes
Spatial Data Transformations
-interpolation
Distance Operations
-simple distance computations
-buffer
-finding the nearest feature
-Thiessen polygons
Combination of Data Layers
-point in line or polygon operations
-polygon overlay
This is not an exhaustive list of capabilities, but these are many of the capabilities
of GIS software.
Again, all of these operations are performed using the Earth as a reference
system. You may be familiar with Cartesian coordinate system, from introductory
map classes. There are actually a variety of coordinate systems, many of the
having to do with coordinate systems to describe the Earth. A spherical
coordinate system, such as latitude and longitude, needs to be transformed in
order to be viewed on a flat surface.
Common projections include: conical, cylindrical, and azimuthal. Aspects may be
normal, transverse, or oblique.
Geodetic datum refer to the geometric coordinates, common datum include
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) and WGS (World Geodetic System).
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Radical Cartography website illustrates the large variety of projection types:
http://www.radicalcartography.net
A quick point about cartographic scales, ranging from large (1:5000) to small
(1:1,000,000), is that they are the inverse of our intuition about space. They are
easily changed in a GIS (zooming in and out); however paper maps, from which
many GIS layers are derived from are static in cartographic scale.
Manually digitizing geographic data has changed a bit, even since the writing of
this text. To see a real digitizer, you can check out the one in the GIS Lab – 320.
Assignment #2: Examining the Earth with NASA Worldwind
1. Download NASA Worldwind
2. Choose two layers that you can visualize in Worldwind, and write a brief
description of the differences, and conduct some investigation into how
those layers were created (i.e. how were data for those layers collected).
3. In what ways can NASA Worldwind be used as a useful tool? Give at
least two examples.
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Lecture 3
January 23, 2008
Announcements:
 GIS Work study schedules are now in place for the GIS Labs – BEL 035
and BEL 320A.
 Virtual Campus is an option for additional GIS self-paced study.
 About assignments: What to do if things don’t work!!
 AIM Account
 Great examples from the websites –
 Questions about previous material/assignments?
 Comment about the Text: Census Manual
 ArcUser Magazine
Outline:
Material:
The first week was an introduction to GIS, followed by a discussion of using the
earth as a reference system. This week, and the following three weeks before
the midterm exam are dedicated to discussion the sources of spatial data for
adding to the reference system. After the midterm, we will then focus on ways to
analyze the information one it is “layered” into the GIS. Today’s focus is on
sources derived from “above” (from heaven  ): GPS, Aerial Photography, and
Remote Sensing. In class I will introduce these terms, then provide examples of
how such geographic information is collected and used.
First, let’s start with GPS. Many of you are probably familiar with GPS – what are
your experiences? Do any of you have GPS devises? How do you use them?
So, let’s see how they work:
GPS devices operate in conjunction with a constellation of satellites, that send
out signals, that can be received by a GPS device on earth. Distance between
the device and the satellite is calculated how? By measuring the time it take to
emit the signal and for the signal to be received (if you can image that your
device is calculated the difference between two time stamps). The intersection of
four spheres produces a single point, identifying your location on earth. Ideally
three satellites, and one earth, lead to a calculation of present location. As the
text describes though, it is also possible to determine location with only two
satellites as reference. Reference points may also be improved by transmitters
on the Earth’s surface, as a way to improve accuracy of the GPS measurement.
Excitingly, GPS equipment has improved significantly since the publication of the
text. All modern cell phones are equipped with GPS. More and more electronic
applications are also using GPS devices. Further, GPS devices are more
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accurate than they were five years ago. Accuracy of newer devises is within 15
meters, more expensive devises have 2 meter accuracy.
Many GPS devices can record or save location information that can be uploaded
to a GIS – ArcGIS or GoogleEarth, or tracked in real time.
Next, we consider aerial photography. Aerial photography involves images
captured from planes, which may be captured on actual film or digitally. Each
aerial photograph contains some distortions, which need to be corrected before
using in a GIS environment. DOQs are available and already corrected, for
import into a GIS. You can obtain DOQs from the Labins website. You can also
observe some of the images of DOQs on GoogleEarth (although there is no
source documentation).
Stereopairs of aerial photography have long been an important source for
identifying elevation and changes in terrain.
The last source we will discuss is remote sensing, particular optical sources.
These are described in detail in the Handbook and the readings for today.
Remote sensors detect radiation from the Earth’s surface, and produce
information which can then be interpreted, and corrected for display in a GIS.
Sensors often used for GIS applications involve information collected in the
visible spectrum, or infrared spectrum. The resolution at which the sensor is able
to record information has a tremendous impact on the potential applications.
For each type of GIS source data, we discuss examples and applications.
Assignment #3: Describe a GPS Generated Layer
1. Identify a GIS layer that was created by a GPS device.
2. Describe the layer and save/upload a screenshot or image of what you
found.
If you have the ambition and know-how, try creating your own GPS layer and
uploading it to GoogleEarth, for example.
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Lecture 4
January 30, 2008
Outline:
 Colloquium on Friday
 Discuss Homework
 Discuss Boundaries
Material:
We have talked about how we reference data and how spatial data can be
obtained from GPS, Remote Sensing, and Aerial Photography. Today we talk
about a fundamentally different source of geographic information: boundaries.
Boundaries are fundamentally geographic: they are “earth-writing.”
Boundaries are also fundamentally social constructs. Though they are
sometimes visible from aerial photography and remote sensing, in most cases,
they are not. Boundaries are the invisible lines that we draw that divide territory.
Boundaries may be political, administrative, or depictive of ownership.
Boundaries may be partitions used for research, natural resource extraction, or
service coverage. Boundaries may be a product of brute power, political
consensus, bureaucratically guided, or means to display contestation.
Boundaries may be geometric, or they may be rugged, along with the terrain.
They may be defined by the terrain explicity, moving along with earth.
Boundaries may be the result of sophisticated analysis and decision making, and
they may be simply or crudely generated. Boundaries are almost always a
mechanism for asserting power.
Assignment #4: Compare Raster and Vector Census Data Sources in
Google Earth
1. Choose an area on the Earth that you want to look at.
2. Download the Census area and characteristic that you want to look at,
either from:
a. GE-Census: http://gecensus.stanford.edu/gcensus/index.html
b. Zonums: http://www.zonums.com/gecensus.html
These will be in vector format, defined by census boundaries.
3. Download the same area from the Census Grids website, select to save
the file as a GEOTIFF:
http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/usgrid/
4. Next, you will need to convert the geotiff to a file that GE can read:
http://gecensus.stanford.edu/gcensus-gt/
5. Save the two views in Google Earth as images and upload them in the
Assignments Link.
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6. Comment briefly on the differences between the two data models and
anything else that you found interesting.
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Lecture 5
February 6, 2008
-Questions/Concerns
-Some more GPS Examples (Halloween GPS – think of the possibilities!)
-Ways to represent points in a GIS
-Point Pattern Analysis: Quadrat Analysis, an example of MAUP, and Thiessen
Polygons
Material:
Points may represent very different entities that depend on the scale of analysis,
for example
Scales of 10 Website:
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/
Assignment #5: Catalogue 50 Places
Catalog 50 Places in Google Earth, explore the .kml file and upload it to
Blackboard for me to look at.
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Lecture 6
February 13, 2008
Guest Speaker: Gary Watry – An Introduction to Open Source GIS
BREAK
Website
Google Earth Examples
GIS Terminology
Relational Databases and Indexing
Geocoding and Georeferencing
Distance Metrics
Next week – Polygon operations, review for the midterm
Assignment #6: Neighborhood Polygon Project
Define your neighborhood on Google Earth using the ‘draw shape’ feature, and
describe features that are important to you in that neighborhood (home,
neighbors, landmarks, parks, schools, libraries, etc.).
Extra Credit: How does your neighborhood map differ from a family member or
friend? (That’s right, have them map their neighborhood too!)
AND/OR, map more than one neighborhood that you have lived in a compare
them.
Save the .kml file and upload it to Blackboard; also, write your comments into
Blackboard.
Alternate assignment: Without submitting a Google Earth file, download census
data for a neighborhood that you are familiar with from Google Earth Census
(http://gecensus.stanford.edu). With text only, describe the differences between
how census block, block groups, or tracts, differ from how you would define the
neighborhood. Comment on why such differences exist.
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Lecture 7
February 20, 2008
-Guest Speaker: Scott Weisman
BREAK
-Questions
-Website
-Examples from Homework
-Database Management; Unique Identifiers; Polygon Operations
-Concerns Regarding Classification: “Live” Example
Material:
Classification Types –
Equal Interval, Quantiles, Standard Deviations, and Natural Breaks
Example with data.
Assignment #7: Layer Raster or Vector Sources with Point Sources (due
March 19)
Using raster or vector data from your earlier assignments, and using your Google
Earth points (or other data and points if you wish to or need to change), create a
map with two layers. Links to geographic information, particularly shapefiles, are
widely available on the web and through links on the course website:
http://www.fsugis.org. You can convert your Google Earth points to shape files
with kml2shp software from www.zonums.com. To do the overlay, you may use
Google Earth, NASA World Wind, any open source software, such as Q-GIS, or
you may use ArcGIS. Regardless of how you create your map, save it as an
image file and upload it to Blackboard, under Assignments. Also, write three or
four sentences to describe the map you created and why you chose to create it.
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Lecture 8
February 27, 2008
-Questions/Comments on Assignments
-Discuss Readings
-Discuss Database Management
BREAK
-Review for the Midterm Exam
Material:
Types of internet approaches:
Server-side, Client-side, and Hybrid Approaches to Internet Mapping
Discuss Relational data model, a bit
-Review for Midterm Exam
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Midterm Exam Study Guide
Who uses GIS? Where do geographic data come from? Why do people use GIS?
How is a GIS a reference system? In other words, how is information stored and
rendered comparable?
What are some of the capabilities of GIS? What types of functions can you perform in a
GIS?
What are the two geographic data models that we use in a GIS? How are these models
different? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? When would you use
one or the other?
What is a geographic projection?
What are the sources for primary GIS data collection?
What is a GPS?
What is remote sensing? What are examples of remotely sensed geographic data?
Why are boundaries important? What is their significance?
What is the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem?
What are common abstractions of geographic information?
How can points be used or analyzed in a GIS?
What are some of the software choices you have when conducting GIS analysis?
What are some of the ways to measure distance in a GIS?
What are some of the types of classification that are used for choropleth mapping? How
does classification affect pattern recognition?
How might numerical types (continuous versus discrete) be displayed in a GIS?
How does local government use GIS everyday?
How is GIS delivered over the internet? What are the advantages and disadvantages of
the different methods?
What is a relational database?
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Midterm Exam
GIS 4043/5101: Geographic Information Systems and Processes – Midterm Exam
2 points each.
Short Answer
1-3. List three ways that ___________________ (insert favorite public or private entity
here) uses GIS.
1.
2.
3.
4-6. List three measures of distance in a GIS.
1.
2.
3.
7. Given the above measures of distance, which measure would you be most likely to
consider in calculating distances within Tallahassee?
Matching
GIS Source Data (all answers used just once)
8.
_____ An example of original data obtained from
a satellite.
A. Aerial Photography
9. _____ Original data collected from a variety of
volunteer surveyors with GPS devises.
B. Landsat TM
10. _____ A correction applied to photographic
imagery to account for differences in terrain.
C. OpenStreetMaps
11. _____ Data collection that typically avoids
problems associated with cloud cover, and poor
resolution, but is quite costly.
D. Ortho-rectification
12. _____ Process of assigning latitude and
longitude coordinates to address files.
E. Geocoding
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Type of Internet GIS (answers may be used more than once)
13. _____ GoogleEarth
A. Server-Side
14. _____ Target Store Locator
15. _____ NASA WorldWind
B. Client-Side
16. _____ Tallahassee Leon County
GIS Website
17. _____ TerraViewer from the Social
Economic Data Analysis website
C. Hybrid
Fill in the Blank
18. A geographic ________________________ is used to render a three dimensional
object, such as the earth, visible on a flat surface, such as paper.
19-27. Identify four critical GIS layers that could be used to improve public safety of
Iraqi citizens. Also, where would each of the layers come from (data source), or
how might they be collected or obtained.
Data Source:
1.
3.
2.
4.
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28. If you are looking for free GIS software, where the code used in programming is also
public, you need to consider _______________________________ GIS.
29-31. When joining two tables in a relational database, which field serves as the
primary key (each table will have a primary key) and which field is the foreign key? –
circle and label them.
Multiple Choice
32. One of the simplest and most important of GIS functions is visualization of
information, which of the following describes the process where two layers are labeled
and displayed?
a. Point Pattern Analysis
b. Cluster Analysis
c. Overlay
d. Voronoi Diagram
33. One of the more unseen, but powerful metaphors for GIS is the idea that GIS enables
monitoring of
a. Processes, such as the components of watershed health, enabled through
automation of complex functions
b. Human genetics and genetically-determined behavior, through social network
visualizations and analysis
c. Migratory birds, across a variety of habitats, where conditions vary over space
and time
d. Spring Break travel patterns among college students
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34. A constellation of satellites send time-stamp information to receivers allowing for a
distance calculation between receiver and satellites to be calculated, thereby generating
an accurate measure of location. This is made possible by what are known as
a. LIDAR Images
b. Telescopes
c. GPS
d. USGS DOQQs
35. Remote sensing of the Earth’s surface by satellites suffers from the following
disadvantage:
a. Data are difficult to update once acquired
b. Cloud cover interrupts good imaging
c. Imagery are typically of poor resolution
d. Satellites sensors can only capture the radiation spectrum visible to humans
True/False
36. The Modifiable Areal Unit Problem involves a 1) scale effect: where difference in
the scale of analysis may change the end results, and 2) the zoning effect: where changes
in the bounds that are identified for analysis may affect the end results.
True
False
37. Flood Zones (identified as area within a zone and area ouside of a zone) is a discrete,
binary variable.
True
False
38. Maps of linguistic identities (English, Spanish, French, etc.), or cultural identities
(Christian, Muslim, etc.), often consider language or culture as a continuous, ratio
variables.
True
False
39. Boundaries, or contours, of risk associated with earthquakes (such as high risk,
moderate risk, low risk) are described as a discrete, ordinal variable.
True
False
40. Campaign affiliation (Republican, Democratic, or Independent) is characterized as a
discrete, nominal variable.
True
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Calculation
41-46. Decide whether to accept or reject the null hypothesis, that there is no evidence of
spatial clustering, based on the following information:
47-48. What are the equal interval break points for the following distribution, if you are
using four breaks?
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Draw
48-50. Create three ways to display information about dolphins in a geographic
information system (think about different ways that information about a dolphin might be
collected or stored):
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Lecture 9
March 19, 2008
Today we have guest speaker Michael Berzinis, to discuss some of the social
applications of GIS. With time left, we will go over the answers to the exam, and
perhaps talk further about the social applications of GIS.
Other Social Applications include:
- Siting and Location Analysis
- Demographic Analysis
- Health Research
- Urban and Regional Planning and Design
- Crime Analysis
- Advanced Methods in Spatial Analysis
- Atlas TI - http://www.atlasti.com/ - linking maps to narrative, photos, movies
- Anthropology/Archeology
- Studying Space-Time Phenomena
- Patterns in Trade and Industry
Assignment #8: Hot Spot Maps (due March 26)
In this assignment, I would like you to create a hotspot map of your choosing,
using a server-side GIS.
Here are some possible sources that you might consider examining:
I recommend a neat form to do advanced analysis, server-side, with the
Micromaps at http://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/ .
Other interesting sources include: http://www.socialexplorer.com, or
http://nationalatlas.com/. If you come across anything else that is excellent,
please feel free to use it.
Next, I would like you to begin to hypothesize why the hotspots that you see
exist, and write just a bit about it.
Finally, I would like you to comment on the capabilities as well as the limitations
of the server-side software that you are using.
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Lecture 10
March 26, 2008
Today we discuss some of the environmental applications of GIS, along with
guest speakers Heather and Mike. We will also go over examples from the
overlay homework example, and talk about the pros and cons of using
MapWindow for environmental applications. We’ll also discuss ongoing USGS
projects that relate to environmental applications of GIS, so be sure to scan
through the project list at: http://gam.usgs.gov/jspapps/gam/all_projects.jsp.
Assignment #9: Create Meta-Data for an Online Information Source (due
April 2)
Next week is all about metadata. In preparation for next week, read through the
FGDC guidelines for metadata (link here: FGDC Metadata Standards), and consider
the availability or lack of availability of metadata. For this assignment, you may
take data that you have created before, or another online data source that does
not appear to have metadata, and create documentation for it. As you are doing
this, think about why metadata is important, or not important, and how
information management might be done with or without metadata.
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Lecture 11
April 2, 2008
-Master’s Degree Promotions (Demography, GIS, Others…)
There are a number of applied master’s programs in the College of Social
Sciences that you might consider in your future work. Some of the students in
the class are a part of these programs and can help answer questions you might
have about what it takes to get a Master’s Degree and some of the
advantages/disadvantages of taking on further course work.
-Metadata: Why not to do it
Omar sent me a power point presentation of how not to do metadata that he
acquired from a California state GIS website. It makes a number of good points
and offers a starting place for considering metadata.
-Metadata: What it is?
The FGDC offers a number of guidelines for developing metadata, further ArcGIS
and other GIS software offers tools and templates for generating metadata.
Mainly, metadata is data about data. We want to know where the data come
from, how they have been constructed or changed, the accuracy of the data, the
geographic extent, the scale at which the data should be used, etc.
-What you can do to contribute to it?
You can contribute to metadata by creating your own, as you have for this
assignment. At the very least, you can consider how you might supplement the
information you create so that other users know where it comes from, and any
nuances in the data that you are aware of.
-The “I” in GIS
Information is a grey area that geographers rarely venture to discuss – we have a
lot of debate about the G (geography!) and the S (systems or science!). There
are a number of theories and metaphors of information that we can draw from.
http://mediatedcultures.net/mediatedculture.htm
-Changing, real-time move of GIS
The .wms applications for GIS, suggest a real-time, updated dynamic set of
information. If the data are not static in time, then the documentation of the
information becomes a little more difficult, and potentially more difficult to
reconstruct.
-Where do you stand: order or chaos? Something in between?
Malcolm submitted his metadata for a Google Earth Wikipedia source. But who
really is the source? Who is accountable when the information is incorrect? How
should metadata treat this information?
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-Copyrights and liability – as with the Wikipedia example, there is a point about
accountability, or perhaps liability, which might need to be addressed with
geographic information.
Assignment #10: Future of GIS Project (due April 9)
For next week, design a new metaphor for the future of GIS (with a text
description, models, or design software), and submit it through blackboard. For
example, the model we have described in class is one with layers, also one of a
process. How should future GIS designs look?
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Lecture 12
April 9, 2008
-
Uncertainty in a GIS
Time in a GIS and the Future of GIS
Review for Final Exam
Wrap Up
SUSAI
Uncertainty in GIS can arise from propagation of errors and can be dealt with in a
variety of ways. We look at a model of the propagation of errors, and we
examine how maps submitted as hotspot maps illustrate some ways in which
information about error can be conveyed.
Time is the next frontier of research in GIS. In class we look at models and
metaphors that you have designed that describe the future of GIS. We also look
at some examples of forward-looking software techniques.
Review for the Final Exam is outlined on the next page. The exam will be the
same format as before, and consist of 50 questions, 2 points each, and asked in
a variety of formats.
Though this course, I hope you feel that you have become more familiar with the
language and ideas of geographic information systems, and how they are used.
I hope you take this literacy with you, and keep that spatial perspective in mind
as you confront new and exciting areas of inquiry!!
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Questions for Final Exam
1. What are some of the forestry applications for GIS that Mike Berzinis spoke
about?
2. What are some of the social applications of GIS, as discussed in the Social
Sciences and Remote Sensing readings?
3. What are some of the ways that population data are stored and analyzed in a
GIS?
4. How are Mike and Heather using GIS in their research?
5. Why is geographic location important in testing Heather’s hypothesis about
forest fragmentation?
6. How can choropleth maps be used to convey hotspots? What are some
examples?
7. What are some of the pros and cons of open source GIS software that
students discussed in class, when using open source software for homework
assignments?
8. What types of projects are the USGS engaged in, and how is GIS being used
in these projects?
9. What is metadata?
10. What is the FGDC? Why are they interested in creating a metadata
standard?
11. How is GIS changing? What is the future of GIS?
13. What is the propagation of error?
12. What is uncertainty in a GIS? What types of uncertainty are there?
13. What are some ways in which uncertainty can be illustrated in static or
dynamic maps?
14. How do you envision using GIS in your future work and research?
15. What did you learn from the grad student presentations?
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