Course Objectives Texts Course Requirements Grad Students Social Justice Plagiarism
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Geographic Information Science |
Course Web Site: http://www.geo.wvu.edu/~elmes/geog350/index.htm |
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Dr. Gregory Elmes E-mail: mailto: Greg ElmesDr. Elmes’ Home Page: http://www.geo.wvu.edu/~elmes |
Geog 350 CRN: Lecture 81265 Lab 02 Tues 81266 Lab 03 Wed 81267 Geog 550 CRN Lecture 83992 Geog 550 Lab 02 87106 Lab 03 87107 |
Lecture: Tuesday / Thursday 11:30 - 12:45
Lab: Tuesday/Wednesday 4:00 - 6:00 pm. 419 Brooks Hall |
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Office: 349 Brooks Hall Phone: (304) 293-4685 |
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Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays - 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Appointments for meetings at other times should be made during class sessions or by email |
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Graduate Teaching Assistants: Jennifer Titanski / George Roedl |
GTA Office: 344 & 350 Brooks Hall Office Hours: T/Th 1:00-2:00 |
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Geography 350 / 550: Geographic Information Science (GISc) provides instruction in the theory, concepts and applications of geographic information. As the science behind the technology of Geographic information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Location-Based Services (LBS), GISc is a multidisciplinary field drawing on, among others, computer science, cartography, geodesy, photogrammetry, spatial statistics, cognitive psychology and of course, geography. This course is a prerequisite to further studies in GIScience in the WVU Geography Program.
In GEOG 350 / 550, you will learn skills and concepts related to the computer-based handling of spatial data and geographic information. By the end of the course you should have gained a working knowledge of the following:
A major emphasis will be on the development of your ability to think and reason critically about geographic information. Employers hire people who are able learners and problem solvers, not those who just know how to use a GIS software package. If you want a career or study further in GIS, you will need some programming and application development skills and the ability to think spatially. In the laboratory sessions, students will use ESRI’s ARCGIS® to examine a variety of typical GIS concepts and problems, demonstrating the use of spatial databases, geographic analysis functions, the versatility (and limitations) of GIS, and the power of cartographic analysis.
The material has been developed and updated continually from the core curriculum of the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA) and the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS). These revisions reflect the rapid pace of change in the world of information technology and progress in the principals and concepts underlying GIScience.
Please note:
Due to the variety and complexity of available software, it is NOT the intention of this course to train students to be experts in a GIS software package; however, you will have hands-on experience with a major system used commercially: ESRI ARCGIS version 9.2. A copy of ARCINFO, valid for one-year, is also available to WVU students. On completion of this course, it is possible to develop further software skills using ESRI’s Virtual Campus. Please see Dr. Elmes for details.
Grading in GEOG 350 will be on the basis of two examinations, four quizzes, and the completion of laboratory exercises. A total of 500 points will be awarded; 150 points for the final exam (30%), 100 points for the midterm exam (20%), 100 points for quizzes (20%), and 150 points for laboratory assignments (30%). See below for grading in GEOG 550.
Grading Scale:
A 90% 450-500 points
B 80% 400-449 points
C 70% 350-399 points
D 60% 300-349 points
F fewer than 300 points
Attendance and Grading Policy:
Class attendance is MANDATORY. Attendance will be taken daily. You are permitted 3 unexcused absences; thereafter each class missed will reduce your final grade by 1.0%
At WVU class attendance contributes significantly to academic success. Students who attend classes regularly tend to earn higher grades and have higher passing rates in courses
See WVU attendance policy: http://www.wvu.edu/~acadaff/acad/policies/attendance.htm
All lab exercises must be handed to the Graduate Teaching Assistant by the stated deadline with no exceptions. Unexcused late assignments will be given ZERO points. Exam grading appeals in writing will be accepted on the day the exam is returned.
Consistent with the WVU guidelines, students absent from regularly scheduled examinations because of authorized University activities will have the opportunity to take them at an alternate time. No makeup exams will be given except by prior arrangement with the instructor. Make-up exams for absences for any other reasons will be at the discretion of the instructor. An incomplete grade will be issued only under the strict guidelines of university regulations.
GEOG 550: Graduate Student Section
Grad students will attend all lectures and complete all labs. Graduate students will be required to complete additional lab exercises and to prepare a short paper (8 – 10 pages) describing the role of GIS in their graduate thesis project or relating the application of GIS to their research interests. The topic of the project will be chosen in consultation with Dr. Elmes. These lab assignments will be assessed as an additional 50 points.
TEXTS AND RESOURCES
Required:
Paul Bolstad, 2008, GIS Fundamentals, 3rd Edition, ISBN: 978-0-9717647-2-9
Available from Atlas Books $40 http://www.atlasbooks.com/atlasbooks/index.html
Wilpen Gorr, K. Kurland, 2005, GIS Tutorial: Workbook for ArcView 9.2, ESRI Press: Redlands, CA
Highly Recommended:
Paul A. Longley, Michael F. Goodchild, David J. Maguire, David W. Rhind, 2005, Geographic Information Systems and Science, 2nd ed., John Wiley and sons: NY
Keith Clarke Intro to GIS @ http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/clarke
Other useful materials are on E-reserve in Wise Reserve Library (elmes/554):
Burrough, Peter and McDonnell, Rachael, 1998, Principles of Geographic Information Systems, 1st Ed., Clarendon Press, Oxford
Keith, C. Clarke, 1995, Analytical and Computer Cartography, Chapter 5 Data Storage and Representation pp. 67-82.
Michael Zeiler, 1999, Modeling Our World: The ESRI Guide to Geodatabase Design, ESRI Press
Chapter 1: Object Modeling and Geodatabases pp. 2-21. Chapter 4: The structure of geographic data, pp. 62-73
Other materials will be made available during the semester for graduate students.
Social Justice Statement
WVU is committed to social justice. This class will adhere rigorously to that commitment and foster a nurturing learning environment based upon communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. Our University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, color, or national origin. Any suggestions as to how to further such a positive and open environment in this class are welcomed and appreciated. If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order t participate in this class, please advise me and make appropriate arrangement with Disability Services (293-6700).
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a serious academic offense. West Virginia University regards plagiarism as academic dishonesty. Consequences of plagiarism include failing an assignment, receiving a lower course grade, and even failing a course. Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's words, sentences, or ideas and passing them off as your own without giving credit by citing the original source.
You might be plagiarizing if you:
· Submit someone else's work as your own.
· Buy a paper from a papermill, website or other source.
· Copy sentences, phrases, paragraphs, or ideas from someone else's work, published or unpublished, without giving the original author credit.
· Replace select words from a passage without giving the original author credit. ·
· Copy any type of multimedia (graphics, audio, video, internet streams), computer programs, music compositions, graphs, or charts from someone else's work without giving the original author credit.
· Piece together phrases, ideas, and sentences from a variety of sources to write an essay.
· Build on someone else's idea or phrase to write your paper without giving the original author credit.
· Submit your own paper in more than one course.
Read WVU's Policy on Academic Dishonesty. http://studentlife.wvu.edu/studentconductcode.html