Course Description

Course Summary

Maps and GIS are the primary tools of geography. In the last twenty-plus years geographers have transitioned from primarily using paper maps to an enormous focus on digital map resources. GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems, which represents the software, hardware and data collection associated with digital mapping. In this course, commonly available maps such as Google Maps and the topographic maps published by the US Geological Survey, a federal government agency, will help demonstrate the capabilities and limitations of maps, especially digital maps. The characteristics of the Earth as represented on maps are also integral to this understanding. We will also study the different types of maps and their varying features and purposes. Finally, beyond learning to understand and to use maps, you will learn to use the GIS software at a basic level to make maps.

The general goal for this course is to have students construct a wide variety of maps using GIS technology in order to develop that deeper understanding of map-making requirements and the software capabilities. Course topics include: Types of maps; Latitude-longitude and other location systems; Computer representations of maps; GIS data options; Map compilation; Coordinate systems and map projections; Map scale and direction; Cartographic basics; Elevation, contours and terrain representations; Thematic maps (seven general types) and their data requirements and data sources; Landscape (natural and human) interpretation from topographic maps.

GEOG 281 Maps and GIS is an important prerequisite for the Geography Department's 29x, 38x and 39x GIS courses. Students completing this course will be better prepared for those courses. The Geography Department has received requests from other departments for an introduction to GIS technology that gives a strong introduction to its capabilities. By covering the creation of all basic map types using GIS software, this course could serve those departments looking for a less analytical introduction to GIS. Students who complete this course and desire that greater analytical approach can then take the sequence of courses starting with GEOG 295 GIS I: Vector Analysis and GEOG 296 GIS II: Raster Analysis.

Catalog Description

Thorough examination of maps as tools for representing Earth dimensions, depicting landscapes and displaying data. Use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping software to make a variety of effective maps.

Learning Objectives

Students successfully completing this course will:

Use commonly available topographic maps for such basic map skills as determining locations and direction, making distance and area measurements, and interpreting symbols. These applied skills will be assessed via assignments and exam questions.
Presented with any map, identify the type of map it is and the nature of the information that went into its construction. This knowledge will be assessed via exam questions.
Presented with any map, infer its limitations from scale, projection and symbolization characteristics. These analysis skills will be assessed via exam questions.
Use large-scale topographic maps to interpret the general physiographic and settlement history of any place or area in North America. This understanding will be assessed via assignments and exam questions.
Explain strategies for the use of GIS data and software to create a map. This understanding will be assessed via assignments and exam questions.
Given spatial data, identify the correct type of thematic map to display the information. This applied geographic skill will be assessed via assignments and exam questions.
Given spatial data, use GIS software to construct topographic and thematic maps to display the information. This applied geographic skill will be assessed via assignments.
Assigned a specific purpose and type of map, identify appropriate spatial data and use GIS software to construct the map. This applied geographic skill will be assessed via assignments.

How to Use this Course Text

Text Organization

Every webpage of this course text (except this one and the last Bibliography page) is a Unit, and each unit is divided into several Topics. The topics also have subheadings. A complete listing of all units, topics and subheadings is below.

Within each unit, the text will include many images, a small portion of which will serve as links to larger versions of the same image. Two others will link to other types of resources:

A link to a webpage:
A link to a video:

The other content item you will encounter are source citations, in parentheses, which link to the Bibliography. Currently, the link only takes you to the Bibliography page, but when fully operational the link will take you to the precise entry in the Bibliography.

This version of the text is a significant change from previous versions, primarily because I have changed the title and content of the course. Previously taught for many years (decades, in fact) as Map Interpretation and Analysis, the course always served as a prerequisite for the Geography Department's GIS courses. It evolved over time to providing a brief introduction to GIS, until our GIS curriculum expanded significantly in the last couple of years. It made much more sense to incorporate greater content related to digital mapping and a stronger introduction to GIS, so that students taking this course would experience the basics of creating all the types of maps being described and see the implementation of many of the specific Earth and map details in GIS software.

All Millersville University Geography Department GIS courses feature the use of ArcGIS software. ArcGIS is introduced in this Maps and GIS course using Esri's ArcMap. The software is available for all registered MU students, either for installation on their own PCs with an Esri Student License, or via a version of ArcMap running on a virtual desktop.

Navigating this Course Text

Each page will feature two navigational aids: page navigation in the upper-right-hand portion of the page, and navigation to any unit in the text along the left-hand edge of the page.

Page Navigation

Each page is divided into several Topics, which are listed in the page navigation box. Click on any of those links to move up or down the page. As you start to scroll down from the top of the page, another link will appear permitting you to return to the top of the page.

The bottom link in the page navigation box will open the Unit navigation links from the left side of the Window. This is not intended to be your primary way to access the Units list, but is available in case you are not using a mouse-controlled device.

Unit Navigation

When viewed on a computer, especially one with a larger monitor, moving your mouse toward the left-hand edge should automatically open the list of text units. Opening the list will cover that portion of the current page. Click on any unit to replace the current unit with the new one (click with your mouse scroll-wheel to open the new unit in a new tab).

The Home link at the top of the list returns you to this text Home page.

When accessed using a computer with mouse, simply moving the mouse-controlled cursor to the right back into the text window will close the unit list. If you are not using such a device, the bottom link in the unit list will Close the list.

Detailed Table of Contents

Topics on this Page