GEOG 395: Advanced Geographic Information Systems

Advanced GIS

Professor: Dr. Geiger

Course Description:

Use ArcGIS software. Integrate GIS technology with implementation of complex projects. Understand advanced conceptual, organizational and technological GIS capabilities. Prerequisite: Geographic Information Systems (GEOG 295).

Course Content:

  • Course Objectives:

    • Students will demonstrate the ability to use the course GIS software at a higher level (than in the prerequisite introductory GIS course), using more advanced features, and including a greater variety and complexity of data. Assessed in exercises, assignments and the major project.
    • Students will integrate geographic information from alternative sources, such as aerial and satellite images, geo-coding, historical sources, and GPS-enabled fieldwork. Assessed in exercises, assignments and the major project.
    • Students will demonstrate the ability to assess accuracy, precision, organization and other characteristics of geographical data. Assessed in exercises, assignments, exams and the major project.
    • Students will create working HTML code and scripts which generate functioning Web pages, building up to interactive GIS-based pages. Assessed in exercises, assignments and the major project.
    • Students will create a Web-based and GIS-based project which solves a practical purpose while allowing for long-term data maintenance. Assessed in the major project.

  • Session Topics:

      SECTION 1: REVIEW AND BASICS
      Review of GIS principles, with
      emphasis on translation between
      different software systems.

    • Review ArcGIS Basics
    • Layer Sources and File Formats
    • Coordinates, Transformations,
      National Grid
    • Geo-coding and GPS Use
    • Representation & Input of
      Geographic Information
    • The ArcGIS attribute table
    • ArcGIS Data Storage & Manipulation
    • Data Units and Levels of Measurement
    • ArcGIS Geodatabase Concepts & Design
    • Geodatabase elements, terminology,
      file format
    • Organizational geodatabases, ArcSDE
    • Topology
    • Raster, Surfaces and 3-D
    • Metadata Structure and Contents
    • Introduce HTML
    • Examine and Work with Basic Webpages
    • HTML Tables and Webpage Structure
    • HTML Images and Links
    • HTML and CSS
    • Beginning JavaScript: Variables

      • SECTION 2: TRANSFORMATIONS
      and OPERATIONS
      The use of GIS to store and
      manipulate information, answer
      questions, perform analyses
      and solve problems.

    • Attribute and Feature Operations
    • Vector overlay operations and
      consequences
    • Distance operations: Buffers, setbacks,
      polygons around pts.
    • Comprehensive Operations
    • Suitability Analysis
    • ArcGIS Model Builder
    • Spatial Statistics and reporting
    • Programming Logic
    • Decisions: If…Else
    • Loops
    • JavaScript Objects

      • SECTION 3: SCRIPTING and
      ORGANIZATION
      Using ArcGIS Objects via
      JavaScript adds much functional
      power and control within GIS Web
      applications.

    • Python programming environment
    • GUI & other program components
      as Objects
    • Object-Oriented Programming
    • Windows objects vs. ArcObjects
    • Using ArcObjects
    • VBA, Python & JavaScript
    • The ArcGIS JavaScript API
    • ArcGIS Server
    • ArcGIS JavaScript Programming
      Commands and Strategies
    • ArcGIS JavaScript Program Analysis
      and Program Debugging
    • Customizing ArcGIS Web Applications
    • Course Projects & Conclusions