Lecture Concepts (in approximate order). 3 hours per week.

• What is GIS and how is it used?
• Trends in GIS
• History of GIS
• Measurement Scales
• Data representation in GIS
  • Raster
  • Vector
  • Attributes
  • Time
  • Topology
  • And the advantages/disadvantages/uses of each. Includes general functionality - ie:
  • Display
  • Reclassify and measure
  • Local neighborhood operations
  • Extended neighborhood operations
  • Buffering
  • Overlay (including Boolean operations)
• Data quality: Accuracy, precision, consistency, and completeness over space, time, and theme. All relative to the database specifications.
• Metadata
• Data capture and data capture errors
• Data types
• Digital terrain models (contour lines, TINs, and DEMs): Definition, creation, and use. Detailed description of slope angle calculations within a GIS.
• Modelling - erosion modeling as an example.
• Projections, datums, and the geoid.
• GIS in society.

Lab Outline (2 hours per week)

For the most part, we will be working through the Getting to Know ArcGIS text. However, there will be a couple of raster and other labs included.

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