AGOG 496/AGOG 596/APLN 456/APLN 556 – Fall 2007
Geographic Information Systems
Instructor: Dr. M. Calef Phone: 591-8563
Office: AS 208 Email: mcalef@albany.edu
Office
Hours: Mo, We, Fr 1 to 2 pm and by
appointment
Class meeting time:
in AS-B13, 3 credit hours
Class website:
http://www.albany.edu/~mc969295/GIS.html
Text book: Kang-tsung Chang: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems,
Third Edition, McGraw Hill
Course
Description: This course offers a comprehensive coverage of introductory
GIS topics in both theory and practice. Each lecture is followed by practical
exercises teaching students how to use ESRI’s ArcGIS 9. Additionally, students
will complete several independent GIS projects. The class is intended for the GIS novice but it requires some computer
familiarity and the ability to transfer data from the classroom (jump drive).
Grading: 50% of the grade comes from weekly assignments that can consist of
answering written questions or submitting GIS assignments started in class, the
other 50% of the grade is based on the 3-5 individual GIS projects.
Schedule: We will be working through lectures and exercises at whatever pace is
appropriate; usually a lecture is followed by one or two labs. All assignments
are due a week after the chapter has been completed and will be announced in
class. We will cover the following topics and chapters in the book:
|
Topics Covered |
Chapter |
Due |
|
Introduction |
1 Lab |
17 Sep |
|
Coordinate Systems |
2 Lab |
19 Sep |
|
Georelational Vector Data Model |
3 Lab |
24 Sep |
|
Object-based vector data model |
4 Lab |
26 Sep |
|
Data input |
6 Lab |
3 Oct |
|
Geometric transformation |
7 Lab |
12 Oct |
|
Spatial data editing |
8 Lab |
26 Oct |
|
Attribute data input and management |
9 Lab |
31 Oct |
|
Data display and cartography |
10 Lab |
14 Nov |
|
Data exploration |
11 Lab |
30 Nov |
|
Vector data analysis |
12 Lab |
7 Dec |
|
Independent Projects |
Assigned |
Due |
|
21 Sep |
8 Oct |
|
|
8 Oct |
22 Oct |
|
|
3. NYS Counties Map |
26 Oct |
9 Nov |
|
9 Nov |
26 Nov |
|
|
5. Ski Area Map |
26 Nov |
7 Dec |
Attendance: It is absolutely critical that you attend each class since you will need to know which chapter to work on and how to do it. While I am happy to help you with exercises if you get stuck, I will not go over lectures with you one on one nor do I hand out my slides. There will be no make-up assignments or extensions unless you have an official excuse in writing.
