Geog 258: Maps and GIS
Winter 2006
Time: MWF 8:30-9:20 am
Location: MGH 241
Instructor: Julie Hwang (303A Smith, shwang5@u.washington.edu, office hour: WF 9:30-10:20 am or by appointment)
T.A.: Joe Hannah (417 Smith, jhannah@u.washington.edu, office
hour: MT
Link to lab section webpage: http://gis.depaul.edu/shwang/teaching/geog258/labs
Course Overview
This course explores how people represent the world with maps and geographic information systems (GIS). It trains students in map use for particular problems. It helps map readers better determine quality, usefulness, and representation of information. This course serves as the introduction to further GIS courses.
Learning objectives
Skills
· Use maps
· Use GIS software (introductory level)
· Carry out data manipulations (projections, thematic mapping)
· Produce a report that describes a geographic information source that would be useful for a particular purpose
Text
Required text:
Ø
Map Use:
Other recommended readings:
GIS
Ø Longley et al, 2005, Geographic Information System and Science
Ø Bolstad, 2005, GIS fundamentals
Ø Demers, 2002, Fundamentals of GIS
Ø Chrisman, 2002, Exploring Geographic Information Systems
Cartography
Ø Robinson et al, 1995, Element of cartography
Ø Dent, 1999, Cartography: thematic map design
Ø Monmonier, 1996, How to lie with maps
Tentative Schedule
Week |
Date |
Topic |
|
Lab |
1 |
1/4 1/6 |
Course overview |
Syllabus p.2-18 |
|
2 |
1/9 1/11 1/13 |
Cartographic abstraction (new images added on 1/13/06) |
LN* LN Ch2 |
Lab1: Cartographic web resources |
3 |
1/16 1/18 1/20 |
Martin Luther King day (no class) |
Ch9 Ch9 |
Lab2: Map types |
4 |
1/23 1/25 1/27 |
Remote sensing: ppt |
Ch9 Ch8 Ch16 |
Lab3: Images |
5 |
1/30 1/31 6pm (Tue) 2/1 (Wed) |
Ch1 Ch3 |
Lab4: Contour maps |
|
6 |
2/6 2/8 2/10 |
Midterm exam Grid coordinate systems | exercise (doc) |
Ch4 Ch6 |
Lab5: Projections |
7 |
2/13 2/15 2/17 |
GIS: introduction (ppt) |
Ch7 Ch14 |
Lab6: Intro to thematic maps |
8 |
2/20
2/24 |
Presidents Day (no class) |
LN |
Lab7: Intro to GIS |
9 |
2/27 3/1 3/3 |
GIS review questions (doc) |
LN Ch10 |
Help on report |
10 |
3/6 3/8 3/10 |
LN Ch25 |
Report due |
|
Exam |
3/14 (Tue) |
Final exam |
|
|
*LN means Lecture Notes to be posted in the course website
** Reschedule or guest lecture
Schedule is subject to change
Grading
Components |
Points |
Due date |
Midterm exam |
50 |
February 6 (Mon) in the class |
Final exam |
50 |
March 14 (Tue) in the class |
Report assignment |
40 |
March 10 (Fri) in the class |
Lab assignments |
40 |
The following week of each lab session |
Participation/enthusiasm & Pop quiz |
20 |
n/a |
The total sum of points you gained divided by 50 becomes
your final grade. → please refer to conversion table
Exam
Midterm covers the first half and final exam covers the second half. Exams will be taken in the class (closed book).
Report Assignment
Please see new Report Assignment here.
You will have to put yourself in the place of a person who uses
geographic information professionally. Select one from the list below (or
develop one on your own):
Once you have made your selection:
Then write a SHORT (2-3 page) report and be prepared to give a short
synopsis (3-4 minutes) in the lab sections of the last week.
Lab Assignments
You will participate in your lab session, where TA will assist the completion of your lab assignments. We have 7 lab assignments in total. Most of them involve software use (ArcGIS) in the very introductory level. Topics are listed in the schedule below.
Please see the separate Lab Section Syllabus, links to lab assignments, and the lab guidelines at http://gis.depaul.edu/shwang/teaching/geog258/labs.
Participation & enthusiasm
Students who show their enthusiasm or actively participate in discussion on the class will be greatly rewarded. Do some readings before the class and be ready to wonder about any mysterious points. Asking the relevant questions would be a great way to contribute to our discourse on maps and GIS.
Topic covered
Course topic includes, but is not limited to the followings:
· What is a map?
· How do maps represent surroundings?
· What are common sources of maps?
· How are maps used for addressing particular problems?
· What can GIS do?
· How is GIS used in real-world applications?