H. John Heinz III College
Geographic Information System (GIS) Course

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on the above links for GIS instructional videos or GIS PowerPoint Slides.


Instructor:

    Kristen Kurland

    206B, College of Fine Arts, 2102A Hamburg Hall

    412-268-4512

    412-371-6171 fax

    e-mail : kurland@andrew.cmu.edu

 

Course WEB Site:

 

            This course uses a Blackboard WEB site.  Assignments, readings, correspondence, etc will be posted here. 

            Be sure to check this site regularly for updates.

 

            URL to Course:        http://www.cmu.edu/blackboard

 

Description:

            Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are computerized systems designed for the storage, retrieval and analysis of geographically referenced data. GIS uses advanced       analytical tools to explore at a scientific level the spatial relationships, patterns, and processes of cultural, biological, demographic, economic, geographic, and physical     phenomena.

 

            This course covers underlying geographic concepts (world coordinate system and projections, vector map topology, tiled and layered maps), map design and outputs,     geodatabases, importing spatial and attribute data, digitizing, geocoding, spatial data processing, and advanced spatial analysis. Other topics such as raster integration,   Internet enabled GIS, 3D analysis, network, and advanced spatial analysis will also be addressed. The technical focus of the course includes computer lab tutorials and case        studies using the leading desktop GIS software, ArcGIS, from Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) 

 

            Application areas covered in this course include city and regional planning, community planning and economic and development, education, election, and environmental             studies, housing and property evaluation, transit and transportation issues, land use, historic studies, crime analysis and policing, emergency management, public works          utilities, census population and demographic studies, health, and business uses including marketing, advertising, and site selection.

 

            By the end of the course, students will have sufficient background to identify spatial characteristics of diverse application areas enabling them to integrate spatial thinking and       GIS analysis into their academic research and careers.