Spring 2015
Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science
4400 University Drive, MS 6C3, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: 703-993-1210, Fax: 703-993-9299
Email: ggs@gmu.edu Web: ggs.gmu.edu
GGS 685
Capstone Course in Geoinformatics
Spring 2015
1. General Information
Professor:
Dr. Anthony Stefanidis
GMU Fairfax Campus
Exploratory Hall, Room 2402
Tel: (703) 993-9237
Email: astefani@gmu.edu
Office Hours: By appointment
Class Meeting:
Exploratory Hall, Room 2310
Schedule:
Wednesdays 7:20pm to 10:00pm.
Course website:
http://ggs685.pbworks.com/
Credits:
3
Prerequisites:
12 credits in the geospatial intelligence certificate program or
permission of program coordinator.
2. Course Objectives
The capstone project aims to provide students an opportunity to integrate and apply core
knowledge and skill components in Geoinformatics that were acquired during the program in a
complex real-world project driven setting. The problems we will address in this course will be
related to the general theme of Geo-Intelligence, and will therefore include extensive use of
various geospatial data sources and analysis tools. In this environment students will be required
to define possible scenarios, identify key challenges, explore possible solutions and deliver an
effective solution. Given its nature, a capstone project often goes beyond a single discipline and
require the application of varied disciplines to the solution of a single large-scale problem. In
addition, a capstone project may require analysis at different scales, from local to regional or
national. In light of this, the particular goals of the course are to:
Spring 2015
A. Allow students to implement and demonstrate their core skill set in Geoinformatics.
B. Develop integrative multi-disciplinary problem solving skills.
C. Promote critical thinking, including the ability to critically examine existing works and
established methods, and develop innovative approaches.
D. Enhance and develop rigorous writing and presentation skills.
E. Enhance students’ ability to work and manage a project collaboratively.
3. Course schedule
The course (3 hours per week) will be taught as a semester-long class project, combining
lectures, topic/problem oriented discussion, and directed reading assignments with
corresponding class discussion.
4. Textbooks
No textbook is required. Handouts distributed in the class will contain all essential material.
Additional readings (selected readings from research journals, technical reports, and other
sources) will be distributed via the course website.
5. Course outline (tentative)
We follow a problem-driven approach, and proceed in steps by identifying issues, solutions and
their integrative analysis.
6. Attendance
You are required to attend all class meetings. Your active participation in the class is essential to
the success of this course. Attendance may be verified during each session.
7. Grades
The grade will reflect the student performance in the classroom and the assignments. At the end
of the term all the marks will be totaled as a weighted average according to the following
weights:
Intermediate assignments
Class participation
Final report and presentation
30%
30%
40%
Final grades at the end of the course will be assigned using a combination of absolute
achievements and relative standing in the class.
8. Exams
This course does not include a midterm or a final exam.
9. Assignments:
The course will include a number of intermediate assignments that build on knowledge acquired
in the certificate program so far and lead towards a final report and presentation. The time
allocated for every assignment will be announced in class.
Spring 2015
All assignments are mandatory. You will be working in groups, but each person within a group is
expected and required to contribute equally towards that group’s workload. Assignment work is
typically delivered through a presentation and discussion.
10. Tentative Schedule:
In the schedule below we mark the dates where project segments are assigned to the students.
Meetings in-between these assignments are as needed and dedicated to the discussion of
assignment issues. Each assignment requires a presentation and report.
Date
Topic
1/21
1/21
Introduction and overview
Assignment #1
Group A: Test case: Washington DC
Background Data Collection and Initial
Assessment – Identification of threats and
targets
Group B: Test case: ISIL/ISIS and Open Source
Data
Background Data Collection focusing on
physical and human geography of the ISIL
Caliphate territory
Assignment #2
Group A: Test case: Washington DC
Threat ranking and identification of threat
hotspots.
Group B: Test case: ISIS/ISIL and Open Source
Data
Spatial Analysis of twitter traffic related to ISIL.
Identification of spatial hotspots and top key
words. Identification of local keywords.
Assignment #3
Group A: Test case: Washington DC
Devising a response plan to a simulated event:
assignment first responders, routing to health
facilities, secondary target identification.
Group B: Test case: ISIS/ISIL and Open Source
Data
Spatial Analysis of twitter traffic related to ISIL.
Identification of spatially distributed networks.
Quantification and visualization of these
connections.
*** Spring Break ***
Assignment #4
Group A: Test case: Washington DC
Data delivery systems in support of first
response. Review of standard practices,
conceptual design of a data package for delivery
to first responders.
Group B: Test case: ISIS/ISIL and Open Source
Data
Link to real events. Comparing social media
traffic to ISIL-related events as they were
communicated in the news. U
Location-based services and privacy
Assignment #5
Group A: Test case: Washington DC
2/4
2/25
3/11
3/18
3/25
4/8
Assignment
Release
Due
1/21
2/4
2/4
2/25
2/25
3/18
3/18
4/8
4/1
4/22-29
Spring 2015
4/22
4/29
On-site development.
Group B: Test case: ISIS/ISIL and Open Source
Data
Link to flickr and instagram. Multimedia event
communications in social media.
Final project presentations – DC Group
Final project presentations – ISIL Group
11. Course website:
The course has a pbworks website: http://ggs685.pbworks.com/ . This website will provide you
a single portal through which you may obtain lecture notes, retrieve assignment data and,
review links to additional materials, and receive special announcements. You are required to
visit the course website regularly to download course materials and get important updates.
Please notify the instructor if you encounter any problems accessing this website.
12. Students with special needs:
If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me
and contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 993-2474. All academic accommodations
must be arranged through the ODS - http://ods.gmu. Please do not hesitate to contact me
regarding your special needs if you encounter any problems.
13. Academic integrity:
George Mason University is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and
honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty
and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to
familiarize themselves with the provisions of the GMU honor code (online at
academicintegrity.gmu.edu).
14. General guidelines for assignment preparation and submission
a. Grades of assignments will be based on:
 Academic merit of your answers.
 Conciseness and completeness of your answers. Please write to the point and
explicitly address the topic. Avoid using unnecessary graphics (figures, tables,
graphs etc.) unless they serve a specific purpose. Make sure to use captions and to
refer to (or explain) the graphics you include in your written answer.
 Organization and presentation. Remember that your assignment report is a
reflection of your thinking and learning process. Please organize your report in a
logical fashion so that your answers could be easily identified.
b. Your assignment is a professional document, and should therefore be formatted and
constructed accordingly. All assignments are to be typed. Hand-written assignments will not
be accepted.
15. Other useful campus resources:
a. The writing center: A114 Robinson Hall; (703) 993-1200; http://writingcenter.gmu.edu
b. The University libraries “ask a librarian”; http://library.gmu.edu/mudge/IM/IMRef.html
c. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): (703) 993-2380; http://caps.gmu.edu