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Special Topics in Environmental Sciences (390-0-01)

Topic

GIS - Vector Focused

Instructors

Felice Gianluca Sperone

Meeting Info

Technological Institute F285: Mon 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a powerful analytical tool for spatial datasets with a very wide range of interdisciplinary applications. This is a first course for students with no or little knowledge in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial theory. We will apply GIS methods and tools by working with vector data types, that represent the real-world objects as point, lines and polygons. This class will be provided students with both theoretical and technical GIS skills through hands on learning and lab assignments, with a final real-world problem-solving mini project and a lot of fun.

Registration Requirements

Pre-registration - Major/minors in ENVR SCI, EARTH, EPC
Regular registration - 3 STEM+ courses

Learning Objectives

In this course, students will:
- Understand why GIS is a powerful tool and how it is applied in many fields
- Understand key spatial theories and concepts
- Understand how to apply their GIS software and theory knowledge to their field/degree
- Understand data types, data management, and data conversions

By the end of this quarter, students should be able to:

- Be able to navigate and use the software interface
- Develop and maintain a project Log for workflow documentation.
- Be able to critically evaluate, gather, maintain and query data sets produced by government agencies, industry, and academia
- Apply basic Vector GIS digital techniques to view, assess, and present spatial datasets (e.g. shapefiles) to produce visual and cartographic representations of data.
- Create high quality maps/figures to include in illustrated academic, scientific and professional high-quality reports or presentations.
- Exercise critical "spatial" thinking and creative problem-solving skills

Teaching Method

This class will be taught with combined lecture/activity sessions. Each class will include a theoretical knowledge base, an in-class GIS exercise, and a relevant homework assignment to build skills.

Class Materials (Required)

We will use the QGis open source software in this course.
The ideal personal laptop for this course is a PC Windows machine with Window 10 or 11 64x, 4 cores CPU (2 is the minimum), 32 GB of RAM (8GB is the minimum, and a 32 GB or more Hard Disk on a solid-state drive (SSD).

For those with laptop limitations, all students will have access the NUIT Virtual lab that provides remote connection to a virtual machine over the internet.

NOTE: It is not possible to install GIS directly on a MAC, although there are installations of QGIS for Linux. If your Mac has a quad-core Intel processor or M-series (Apple Silicon) processor, 256 GB storage and 8 GB RAM or more, you can either run GIS Pro natively on a Windows partition (Boot Camp) or run GIS Pro in a virtual environment, and in this case a Parallels Desktop version 15 or later and Windows x64 installed as the guest operating system are required.

We will also use:
• Google Earth Pro (free open-source software to download).
• Microsoft Excel or any spreadsheet software program like Google Sheets, to perform basic tabulations and univariate analyses

NOTE: If a personal laptop capable of downloading the software is a limitation, please first see if you can secure a "loaner laptop" from the Northwestern Library. You may also reach out to Dr. Beddows to discuss what may be other options if the library does not have a unit for you.

Class Materials (Suggested)

Suggested Textbook: GIS Fundamentals: A First Text on Geographic Information Systems", Edition: 7th, Author: BOLSTAD ISBN: 9780971764750

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Pre-requisite: Students must have completed at least three units of Math, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics, Environmental Sciences, Earth & Planetary Sciences, or Biological Sciences.

Associated Classes

LAB - Technological Institute F285: Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM