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Maps, Data, and Society

Analytical Thinking

Course Description

Introduction to spatial thinking and the tools, data, and uses of Geographic Information Science in contemporary society. Examines how geospatial data are created, visualized, managed, and analyzed; the qualities of a good map; and ethical issues surrounding GIScience. Emphasis on interdisciplinary nature of GIScience and the role spatial analysis plays throughout society. Involves computer examples and exercises that emphasize real-world problem solving.

Athena Title

Maps Data and Society

Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in GEOG 2011E

Semester Course Offered

Offered fall and spring

Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

Student Learning Outcomes

  • By the end of the course, students will demonstrate an understanding of basic concepts and theories in GIScience, particularly focused on geographic information system (GIS) concepts of spatial data display, management, retrieval, and analysis.
  • By the end of the course, students will be able to articulate the societal and environmental benefits of geospatial technologies and analysis, as well as assess concerns for privacy and proper use of the technology.
  • By the end of the course, students will demonstrate an awareness of scale, coordinate systems, geometric accuracy, and thematic content relative to images, maps, and locational point data that are input to GIS databases
  • By the end of the course, students will develop spatial thinking skills including: 1) understanding the spatially explicit aspects of spatial data; 2) representing spatial data using maps and geovisualizations; and 3) spatial reasoning such as proximity, shortest distance, and area covered to solve problems.
  • By the end of the course, students will demonstrate a greater cognizance of the importance of spatial data and geospatial tools such as GIS, GPS, and remote sensing in our daily lives and their crucial role in monitoring environmental change, assessing human impacts, and influencing policy decision-making.

Topical Outline

  • 1. Introduction to Cartography & GIScience a. History & Evolution
  • 2. Working with Spatial Data a. Data Quality and Management b. Geographic Information Systems, with emphasis on QGIS and ArcGIS Online
  • 3. Vector Data
  • 4. Raster Data
  • 5. Cartography & Cartographic Principles a. Map Types b. Symbology & Visualization c. Scale d. Projections
  • 6. Intro to Geospatial Analysis a. Workflow & Process Diagrams b. Network Mapping & Mental Maps c. Spatial Operations
  • 7. Applications of GIS
  • 8. GIS Careers

General Education Core

CORE III: Quantitative Reasoning

Institutional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.


Syllabus

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