GIS for Health and Planning– Fall 2014
Section(s): 10:832:420:01/10:762:420:01
Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Location: Records Hall Lab
Times: Thursdays 6:10 – 9:00
Course website on Sakai: https://sakai.rutgers.edu
Faculty & Office Hours
Instructor
Mirabel Chen
mirabel.chen@rutgers.edu
Civic Square Building R264
Mondays: 2-4pm
Tuesdays: 5-6pm
Teaching Assistant
Aileen Daney
aileen.daney@gmail.com
Civic Square Building R264
Wednesdays: 4-6pm
About the Course1
Learning Objectives
Things happen in places. There is always a spatial dimension involved in our everyday activities.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are systems and a science that helps us to organize, manage,
analyze, and present the spatial dimension of the information on maps. It is an essential tool for
planners and policy makers who have special interests in places and who need this kind of knowledge
for decision making.
The purpose of this course is to teach students the foundations of GIS and how it is applied in planning
as well as public health issues and other related disciplines. The learning objectives are to:
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1
Understand the concepts and principles of GIS, including layers, topology, scale, generalization,
and projections;
Select and create appropriate thematic maps for data with different levels of measurement;
Create attractive, readable and useful maps through good cartographic practice;
Understand basic concepts of several different models of GIS data and how to create and
integrate non-spatial attribute data into maps;
Learn and apply basic geoprocessing tools (buffer, intersection, union, spatial join) to address
planning or public health questions;
Provide basic training on ESRI ArcGIS Desktop software and other mapping products.
Syllabus is credited to Lyna Wiggins. It is revised by Mirabel Chen in August 2014 for 420:GIS for Health and
Planning
GIS for Heath and Planning–2014 Fall
Thursdays: 6:10-9:00
Instructor: Mirabel Chen
Course Format
Laboratory exercises and problem sets are integral parts of the course, and help illuminate the
principles and teach the skills that are useful in the planning job market. To make learning more
pertinent to student interests, the lab exercises use real data from local communities in New Jersey.
Our lecture topics are divided into three major themes. The first is Data Display, where we introduce
subjects such as data models, projections, map types, and cartography, and discuss many of the other
GIS components that influence how spatial data are displayed on maps. Next, we move on to Data
Collection, where you will learn about the sources of spatial data, and ways of managing spatial
datasets. The last theme is Data Analysis, where we will explore the tools and techniques available in
Esri ArcGIS software to create and edit spatial data, and process and analyze the information.
The course combines lectures, discussion of readings, and hands-on exercises in the computer lab. You
will learn how to use the software mainly via the problem sets on your own time. Your final course
grade will be based on your performance in three areas: the eight (8) problem sets assigned throughout
the course (45%), a midterm quiz (15%) in class, the final project (30%), and your overall participation
(10%). See below for details.
Course Schedule (Syllabus and course schedule are subject to change)
Week
Date
Lecture Topic
Intro to Geographic Information Systems (GIS),
definitions, components, brief history, and three
core GIS concepts
Basic mapping concepts, spatial representation, the
nature of geographic data, generalization, and scale
Intro to Esri, ArcGIS 10.2, and the ArcMap user
interface
Projections, coordinate systems, datums and
projection tools in ArcGIS
Thematic mapping, table joins, data classification,
exploration and interpretation
Basic Cartographic Principles
More Cartographic, data visualization
Midterm review, Geodata Discovery, applications
and workflows 1
1
Sep.
4
2
Sep.
11
3
Sep.
18
4
Sep.
25
5
6
Oct.
Oct.
2
9
7
Oct.
16
Oct.
23
Geodata Discovery, applications and workflows 2
Oct.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Dec.
TBD
30
6
13
20
25
4
ArcGIS Online, Google Fusion Tables
Intro to Spatial Analysis, Selections and Spatial Joins
Geoprocessing and Spatial Analysis
Address Geocoding
Raster analysis in GIS, Spatial Analyst Extension
Policy issues and Future Technology Directions
Final Projects or Final Examination
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Assignment
1
2
3
4
4
Mid Term Quiz
5
5
6
7
7
8(optional)
Page 2 of 6
GIS for Heath and Planning–2014 Fall
Thursdays: 6:10-9:00
Instructor: Mirabel Chen
Course Grading
Problem Sets ---------- 45%
Final Project ----------- 30%
Mid-term Quiz -------- 15%
Class Participation ---- 10%
(Scale: A=100-90, B+=90-85, B=85-80, C+=80-75, C=75-70, D=70-60, F=59-0)
1. Problem Sets – 45%
There will be 8 problem sets assigned throughout the semester: seven required and one optional. You
will learn how to use the ArcGIS software mainly via these problem sets and they are collectively worth
45 percent of your grade, so make sure to budget enough time to complete them to the best of your
ability. Each one will take several hours, so plan accordingly. The problem set will be posted on Sakai
(and the S: drive) by noon on Fridays. You will have a chance to ask questions during office hours and
the class meetings.
Late problem sets are accepted with a 10% deduction (1 point) per day. Exceptions will only be granted
with my permission ahead of the deadline. If you are seeking an extension, send me an email (and copy
to the TA) explaining why you need extra time. Late problem sets will not be accepted after the problem
set has been graded and returned to the rest of the class.
2. Mid-term Quiz – 15%
There will be one open book mid-term quiz (take home) that you will have a week to complete. The quiz
will cover the required weekly readings and some of the material covered in the lectures and problem
sets. The quiz will be administered through Sakai. You must complete the quiz on your own without the
help of others.
3. Final Project – 30%
The final project will require you to collect and prepare various GIS datasets for a topic of your choice
(e.g., recreation, health facility allocation, environment risk assessment, land use change). You will pick
a theme and the location (within New Jersey) that you are interested in studying, and produce maps and
conduct some spatial analyses. The purpose of the final project is to give you a chance to apply all of the
tools you learn in the class to an area of your interest. You should start collecting the datasets you will
need and creating some of the maps for the final project while completing the problem sets. Soon after
learning the tools each week, we will start incrementally preparing your final project through in-class,
hands-on exercises. You will submit a powerpoint of original maps and a brief memo (max. 1 page)
describing your work. During the presentation days, you will present your maps in front of the class and
we will critique them. More details about this project will be provided later in another document called
“Final Project Description.” You must complete the project on your own but you are encouraged to
discuss with instructors/TA and your classmates to develop your theme and analysis.
4. Participation – 10%
In order to encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas with the class, 10% of your course grade will
be determined by the quality and quantity of your participation in various course activities. You can earn
participation credit by answering questions, asking questions, or commenting in class; by seeking help
during office hours; or by posting discussions on Sakai. As a result, attendance will have an impact on
your grade; however we will not take attendance at each class meeting.
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GIS for Heath and Planning–2014 Fall
Thursdays: 6:10-9:00
Instructor: Mirabel Chen
Sakai and the Online Classroom
This course is designed to be paper-free, which means you should not ever print anything. We have an
online classroom, called “Sakai,” where you will be able to access course materials, submit problem sets,
ask questions, and post content anywhere you can connect to the Internet. The Sakai site is where you
will receive grades and feedback, and communicate with your classmates and the course staff. We will
go over each section of the Sakai site and its tools on the first day of class. To access Sakai, first go to
http://www.sakai.rutgers.edu and log on using your Rutgers NetID and password.
Academic Integrity
You are encouraged to work in groups on your problem sets. However, the written answers and maps
that you turn in must be your own work. The final project must also be your own work and have proper
citations. The Rutgers policies can be found at http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/academic-integrityat-rutgers.
Textbooks
Required readings can be downloaded on the Sakai site.
 J. Maantay & J. Ziegler. 2006. GIS for the Urban Environment.2
 Kristen S. Kurland and Wilpen L. Gorr. 2012 GIS Tutorial for Health: Fourth Edition
 P. Longley, M. Goodchild, D. Maguire, D. Rhind. 2011. Geographic Information Systems and Science.3
 C. Brewer, 2005. Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users.4
GIS Software and Data
You will receive a complimentary 1-year license for ArcGIS 10.3 as part of our university site license. You
will be able to use the license on your home computer. However, your home computer should be a
Windows-based machine and have sufficient RAM (at least 4GB) and disk space for this program. The lab
at Records Hall has version 10.0 which is about 2 years old. ArcGISIt is also available in some of the other
labs around campus, but not all. All Data for the class will be made available via Sakai or on a shared
cloud drive.
2. This is a very good introductory book of GIS for urban planning. The book is divided into 3 parts: (1) basic text (theory and concepts); (2) case studies; and (3)
laboratory exercises with ArcGIS.
3. An excellent reference book for your library, as it covers the theory and concepts in more detail and with broader coverage than the Maantay and Ziegler text.
Make sure that you purchase the Third Edition, as significant changes were made.
4. An excellent reference on basic cartography for GIS users.
Page 4 of 6
GIS for Heath and Planning–2014 Fall
Thursdays: 6:10-9:00
Instructor: Mirabel Chen
Detailed Course Schedule
Week 1
09/04
Intro to Geographic Information Systems (GIS), definitions, components, brief history,
and three core GIS concepts
Readings:
1) Maantay and Ziegler, 2006. GIS for the Urban Environment. ESRI Press: Redlands,
CA. Chapter 1.
2) Goodchild, 1992. “Geographical Information Science.” International Journal of
Geographical Information Systems, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 31-45.
3) Chrisman, 2006. “Founding the Laboratory for Computer Graphics,” Charting the
Unknown. ESRI Press: Redlands, CA.
4) Goodchild, 2007. “Citizens as Sensors: The World of Volunteered Geography.”
White paper for the Workshop on Volunteered Geographic Information, UCSB,
December 13-14, 2007.
5) National Research Council, 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S.
Geological Survey Concept of the National Map. National Academies Press.
Executive Summary and Chapter 1.
Week 2
09/11
Problem Set 1: due by Sep. 15 (Monday) at 11:55pm
Basic mapping concepts, spatial representation, the nature of geographic data,
generalization, and scale
Intro to Esri, ArcGIS 10.3, and the ArcMap user interface
Readings:
1) Longley et al., 2011. Geographic Information Systems and Science. John Wiley
and Sons. Chapter 3.
Week 3
09/18
Projections, coordinate systems, datums and projection tools in ArcGIS
Readings:
1) Longley et al., 2011. Geographic Information Systems and Science. John Wiley
and Sons. Chapter 5.
2) Maantay and Ziegler, 2006. GIS for the Urban Environment. ESRI Press: Redlands,
CA. Chapter 2.
Week 4
09/25
Problem Set 2: due by Sep.26 (Friday) at 11:55pm
Thematic mapping, table joins, data classification, exploration and interpretation
Readings:
1) Maantay and Ziegler, 2006. GIS for the Urban Environment. ESRI Press:
Redlands, CA, Chapters 3 and 4.
Week 5
10/02
Problem Set 3: due by Oct. 3 (Friday) at 11:55pm
Basic Cartographic Principles
Readings:
1) Brewer, 2008. “Designed Maps: A Sourcebook for GIS Users.” ESRI Press:
Redlands, CA. Chapter 1.
Page 5 of 6
GIS for Heath and Planning–2014 Fall
Thursdays: 6:10-9:00
Instructor: Mirabel Chen
Week 6
10/09
Week 7
10/16
2) Brewer, 2008. “Designed Maps: A Sourcebook for GIS Users.” ESRI Press:
Redlands, CA. Chapter 5.
*Problem Set 4: due by Oct. 17 (Friday) at 11:55pm
More Cartographic, data visualization
Review for Midterm, Geodata Discovery, applications and workflows 1
Readings:
1) MacDonald & Peters, 2011, “Urban Policy and the Census,” ESRI Press. Chapter
2.
Midterm Quiz
Week 8
10/23
Week 9
10/30
Week 10
11/06
Week 11
11/13
Geodata Discovery, applications and workflows 2
Readings:
1) Maantay and Ziegler, 2006. GIS for the Urban Environment. ESRI Press:
Redlands, CA, Chapter 6.
2) MacDonald & Peters, 2011, “Urban Policy and the Census,” ESRI Press. Chapter
2.
3) Maantay and Ziegler, 2006. GIS for the Urban Environment. ESRI Press:
Redlands, CA, Chapter 6.
*Problem Set 5: due by Nov. 07 (Friday) at 11:55pm
ArcGIS Online, Google Fusion Tables
Intro to Spatial Analysis, Selections and Spatial Joins
Problem Set 6: due by Nov. 14( Friday) at 11:55pm
Geoprocessing and Spatial Analysis
Readings:
1) Longley et al., 2011. “Geographic Information Systems and Science.” John Wiley
and Sons. Chapter 14.
2) FGDC, United States Thoroughfare, Landmark, and Postal Address Data
Standard, FGDC-STD-016-2011
Week 12
11/20
Week 13
11/25
Week 14
12/04
*Problem Set 7: due by Nov. 25 (Tuesday) at 11:55pm
Address geocoding
Raster analysis in GIS, Spatial Analyst Extension
Problem Set 8(Optional): due by Dec. 05 (Friday) at 11:55pm
Policy issues and trends in GIS
Readings:
Various optional readings provided on Sakai.
Week 14
Final Presentations
12/11-12
Location and time TBD. Each presentation shall be no more than 15 minutes
*problem set 4, problem set 5 and problem set 7 are two weeks assignments
Page 6 of 6