Year:12/13
Department:Lancaster Environment Centre
Level:Part II (yr 3)
Learning Hours:150
Credit Points:15
Weight:0.5
Course Convenor:Miss G Davies
Status:Live
Assessment Rules
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CMod description
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This module covers both the principles of GIS and GIScience and practical experience in the use of GIS using ArcGIS, a leading windows-based package.
Lecture topics address theoretical issues, such as the problems of representing real world phenomena in GIS databases, and also considers emerging trends within the discipline such as the growth of location-based services. Lectures also explore the use of GI in government, commercial and academic sectors and related employment opportunities.
Lectures are complimented by a series of practical sessions in ArcGIS. Initial exercises are concerned with creating and manipulating spatial databases using the core functionality of the software. Subsequent exercises demonstrate more sophisticated forms of spatial analysis using a range of extension products including spatial analyst, network analyst and ArcScene (3D viewer).
Two of the practical sessions are dedicated to individual project work during which students are encouraged to develop a topic of their own choice in a study area of their own choice. A project handbook containing information on project design and implementation is issued midway through the module.
Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
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On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Understand how data may be captured, stored, manipulated and retrieved from with a GIS and be familiar with simple and advanced forms of spatial analysis.
2. Developed practical skills in the use of GIS through the design and implementation of a GIS project.
3. Been made aware of the latest developments in GIS and GIScience, and emerging issues.
4. Gain an insight into careers in GIS.
Curriculum Design: Select Bibliography
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Longley, P.A, Goodchild, M.F, Maguire, D.J and Rhind, D.W., 2005, Geographic Information Systems and Science (2nd Edition), John Wiley and Sons, Chichester.
Clarke, K.C., 2003, Getting Started with Geographic Information Systems (4th Edition), Prentice Hall, New Jersey.
Heywood, I, Cornelius, S and Carver, S., 2006, An Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (3rd Edition). Pearson Prentice Hall.
Dodge, M., McDerby, M., Turner, M., 2008. Geographic Visualisation. Wiley (London).
