Geog 360: Principles of Cartography

Geog 360: Principles of Cartography

Spring 2006

Instructors

· Julie Hwang, Instructor, shwang5@u.washington.edu, office hour: Fri 10:30a-12:30p @ Smith 303A, URL: http://faculty.washington.edu/shwang5/

· Ian Duncan, TA (AA, AB), rid@u.washington.edu, office hour: Wed 1:30-3:30p @ Smith 401

· Anneliese Steuben, TA (AD, AE), asteuben@u.washington.edu, office hour: Mon 10:30a-12:30p @ Smith 401

Meetings

· Lecture: MWF 9:30-10:20 AM, SMI 205

· Lab Section AA: MW 10:30-11:20 AM. SMI 401

· Lab Section AB: MW 11:30-12:20 AM, SMI 401

· Lab Section AD: TTh 9:30-10:20 AM, SMI 401

· Lab Section AE: TTh 10:30-11:20 AM, SMI 401

Course website

http://gis.depaul.edu/shwang/teaching/geog360/

Course Description

Cartography can be defined as the art, science, and technology of making and/or using maps to represent locational relationships among phenomena. This course is designed to provide an introduction to the concepts, terminology, software, and hardware involved in computer-aided mapping as a component of geographic information systems (GIS). Lectures emphasize basic concepts for understanding the process of geographic information representation and use. Methods and techniques learned in this course are applicable to GIS. In addition, this course adopts a sustainability theme through which we understand information development and use. Sustainability is one of the major themes in geographic studies world-wide as well as within the Geography Department at the University of Washington.

Lab sections emphasize hands-on experience with geographic data retrieval and manipulation for creating and using maps. Seven lab assignments are required for this course. The last of the seven assignments is a final project of students’ choice, taking into consideration the time and data constraints established by the instructors. Although no computer programming is required for this course, previous computer experience with Windows 2000 or Windows XP is helpful. We will be using the ArcGIS mapping software package on Pentium PC computers. Students have access to ArcGIS mapping software and hardware in the Geography Department's Computer Labs in Smith 401, 411, and 415.

Class discussions emphasize the link between the materials presented in lecture that week and the application of these concepts in lab assignments. In-class five-minute essays associated with those discussions will help reinforce your understanding of the concepts as they apply to the practice of map making and use.

Readings

Required text:

· [S] Slocum et al, 2005, Thematic Cartography & Geographic Visualization, 2^nd Edition, Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0130351237, available at the University Bookstore, one copy is available under the 2-hour Odegaard Library Reserve

· [E] Reserve readings are accessible through electronic reserve at http://www.lib.washington.edu/services/course/

Optional text:

· [D] Dent, 1999, Cartography: Thematic Map Design, 5^th Edition, WCB/McGraw-Hill, ISBN: 0697384950

· [R] Ormsby et al, 2001, Getting to Know ArcGIS, ESRI Press, ISBN: 1879102897 (for your own pursuits in GIS)

· [C] Clarke, 1999, Getting Started with Geographic Information Systems, Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0139238891

Tentative schedules

Date

Topic (lecture outline in doc file)

Lecture note

Reading

Lab

3/27

3/29

3/31

Course overview

Fundamentals of thematic mapping

Geographic concepts for sustainability

Spatial data coordinates and map projections corrected

Syllabus

S1,4

S7,8

Lab1: Introduction to ArcGIS

4/3

4/5

4/7

Dot (density) map

Selecting an appropriate map projection

Sustainability mapping

ICD1: GIS map projections (re: lab2)

April 7

S17

Lab2: Dot density map

4/10

4/12

4/14

Data classification for choropleth maps

Fundamentals of map design – choropleth maps as an example

ICD2: Sustainability indicators and choropleth map design (re: lab3)

April 10

April 12

April 14

S13, S11

Lab3: Choropleth map

4/17

4/19

4/21

Proportional symbol map

Symbolization principles

ICD3: Challenges in map symbolization (re: lab4)

April 17

April 19

April 21

S16

Lab4: Graduated symbol map

4/24

4/26

4/28

Color use and misuse in mapping

Typography

Symbolization challenges in map design

April 24

April 26

April 28

S10

S11.3, D14

E:MacEachren

E:Nyerges

Prepare exam

5/1

5/3

5/5

Flow map

Midterm review in class

Midterm exam

May 1

D12

Lab5: Flow map

5/8

5/10

5/12

ICD4: Traffic flows in central Puget Sound region (re: lab5)

Spatial reference systems & spatial object types

Guest lecture: spatial file types, troubleshooting for file conversion

May 10

C2, E: SDTS

Lab5 continued

5/15

5/17

5/19

Isarithmic map

Digital Elevation Model (DEM)

ICD5: Representing elevation and watershed sustainability (re: lab6)

May 15

May 17

S14, S15

Lab6: Representing surface

Lab7: Final project

5/22

5/24

5/26

Geospatial data search for final projects

Critical thinking strategies for final projects

Geographic Visualization

Bring your questions from Lab7a for in-class discussion

May 22

May 24

E:Slater

S20, 21, 24

Project support

~~5/29~~

5/31

6/2

No class (Memorial day)

GIS data, GIS software, and GIS for sustainability mapping

ICD6: Reflecting on indicators as representations of sustainability

Final exam review in class | answers in class (short version)

Full version of answers to review questions

May 31

Optional final project presentations (voluntary, extra credit)

6/7

Final exam

· In the reading column, S# indicates chapter # of Slocum book, D# indicates chapter # of Dent book, E: * refers to electronic readings with author name *, and LN indicates lecture note.

· In the topic column, ICD indicates In-class discussion and five-minute essays.

· Class schedules are subject to change as the class progresses – students are expected to check the course website for the update on a regular basis

Grading

Components	Pts	Due date
ICD1: GIS map projections ICD2: Sustainability indicators and choropleth map design ICD3: Challenges in map design ICD4: Traffic flows in central Puget Sound region ICD5: Representing elevation and watershed ICD6: Indicators as representations of sustainability	10 10 10 10 10 10	4/10 or 4/11 stapled with Lab2 4/17 or 4/18 stapled with Lab3 4/24 or 4/25 stapled with Lab4 5/15 or 5/16 stapled with Lab5 5/22 or 5/23 stapled with Lab6 5/31 in lecture
Midterm exam	70	5/5 (Mon) 9:30 – 10:20 AM
Final exam	70	6/7 (Wed) 8:30 – 10:20 AM
Lab1: introduction to ArcGIS Lab2: dot density map Lab3: choropleth map Lab4: proportional symbol map Lab5: flow map Lab6: representing surface Lab7a: progress report of final project Lab7b: final report of final project	15 25 25 25 25 35 10 40	4/3 or 4/4 in your lab section 4/10 or 4/11 in your lab section 4/17 or 4/18 in your lab section 4/24 or 4/25 in your lab section 5/15 or 5/16 in your lab section 5/22 or 5/23 in your lab section 5/26 in lecture 6/7 bring project hardcopy to final exam
Total	400

· Conversion between percentage point and grading points is based on the conversion table which can be viewed at http://gis.depaul.edu/shwang/teaching/geog360/Grade_Scale.htm

· Midterm covers the first half and final exam covers the second half (non-comprehensive)

· No make-up exam will be made unless reasonable justification is provided

· 20% of the given points for each component will be deducted for each late assignment per day.

· Important Links for Labs

· Project 1:

· Answer Sheet template: http://gis.depaul.edu/shwang/teaching/geog360a/project/ProjectOneAnswerSheet.htm

· Project 2:

· Answer Sheet template: http://gis.depaul.edu/shwang/teaching/geog360a/project/Project_Two_Answer_Sheet.htm

· Project 3:

· Answer Sheet template: http://gis.depaul.edu/shwang/teaching/geog360a/project/worksheet3b.doc

· Project 4:

· Essay Guidelines: http://gis.depaul.edu/shwang/teaching/geog360a/Essay%20Guidelines.htm