AGOG
597/APLN 557 – Fall 2009
Advanced Geographic Information Systems
Instructor: Dr.
M. Calef Phone: 591-8563
Office:
AS 208 Email: mcalef@albany.edu
Office
Hours: Tu/Th 11:45 am to 1:00 pm and by
appointment
Class
meeting time: Tuesday, 4:15-7:05 pm in
AS-B3, 3 credit hours
Class
website: http://www.albany.edu/~mc969295/GIS2.html
Text book
Kang-tsung Chang:
‘Introduction to Geographic Information Systems’ which comes with a data disc, 5th
Edition, McGraw Hill; ISBN-13: 978-0-352283-8 part of 978-0-07-729436-6. You can use older
editions, though occasionally the exercises differ slightly (it’s your
responsibility to figure out when though it’s usually obvious). If you plan on
ordering this book online, be careful who you order from; I had several
students who got charged for books they never received.
Course
Description
This course is geared towards instructing
students in the use of ArcGIS 9.3 with hands on exercises and weekly
assignments. We will mainly focus on raster data in both theory and practice
but we also learn about networks. In particular, class topics cover terrain
mapping, viewshed and watershed analysis, spatial
interpolation, geocoding, dynamic segmentation,
path/network analysis, and GIS modeling with ModelBuilder
and students will use several extensions such as Spatial Analyst, ArcScan, 3-D Analyst, and Geostatistical
Analyst. Usually each class starts with an approximately one hour lecture
providing basic theory followed by a lab based on the text book. Additionally,
students complete several independent GIS projects. The class is intended for someone
with some experience with ArcGIS vector data and map making. Students will need
a jump drive (I recommend at least 1 GB) for data transfer from the classroom for
assignments and access to a high quality printer (poorly printed maps result in
point deductions).
Grading
Roughly 50% of the grade is based on probably
8 book-based weekly assignments (10 pts each) that can consist of answering
written questions and completing GIS assignments started in class. The other ca.
50% of the grade is based on 5 individual GIS projects (20 pts each). All
assignments are due a week after they have been assigned. One point will be
deducted for every day an assignment is late – that means: do not wait until an
hour before class to finish your assignment because you are guaranteed to run
into problems! There are no written tests in this course as I am not testing
you on theory.
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 cannot go over lectures with you one on one nor
do I hand out my slides. Please be on time! If attendance or punctuality is a
problem, I will take random attendance checks. I cannot stress this point
enough that it is YOUR responsibility to keep up with the class; that includes
downloading the data you need (which I provide in class) especially if you do
not have the data CD that comes with the book. If you miss a class, make sure
you get your assignment to me on time and have someone else take notes for you.
I can only answer so many emails a day and it becomes incredibly overwhelming
when too many of you require personal tutoring.
Schedule
We will
roughly cover the following topics and chapters in the book in this sequence,
though I will adapt the pace and topics as appropriate:
|
Month |
Date |
Lecture
Topic |
Chapter |
|
Sep |
1 |
Introduction,
skills assessment test |
|
|
Sep |
8 |
Data model
& structure, projections |
2-5 |
|
Sep |
15 |
Map making;
Independent Project 1 |
9 |
|
Sep |
22 |
Data
Exploration and Raster Data Analysis |
10, 12 |
|
Sep |
29 |
Terrain
mapping and analysis |
13 |
|
Oct |
6 |
Independent
Project 2 |
|
|
Oct |
13 |
Viewsheds and watersheds |
14 |
|
Oct |
20 |
Spatial
interpolation |
15 |
|
Oct |
27 |
Independent
Project 3 |
|
|
Nov |
3 |
Geocoding and dynamic segmentation |
16 |
|
Nov |
10 |
Path
analysis and network applications |
17 |
|
Nov |
17 |
Independent
Project 4 |
|
|
Nov |
24 |
GIS models
and modeling |
18 |
|
Dec |
1 |
Independent
Project 5 |
|
The official final is scheduled
for Tuesday Dec 15, 5:45pm - 7:45pm, though I am not planning on holding one.