Course Description

This course develops students’ ability to use geospatial data, GIS, spatial analysis, and modeling to investigate ecological and natural resource management questions. Through hands-on projects and problem-based learning, students develop geospatial workflows, evaluate spatial patterns and processes, and apply geospatial technologies to real-world environmental challenges.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will complete the course project individually, will be expected to address a research question, and will be required to submit a written final paper in addition to the oral presentation. For exams and assignments, graduate students will be given additional questions.

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Athena Title

GIS Apps Nat Res and Ecology

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Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in FANR 5620 or FANR 7620

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Non-Traditional Format

This course will be taught 95% or more online. Recorded lectures with accompanying slides and practical computer exercises with accompanying video shorts demonstrating the steps involved will be posted each week for students to review while completing the exercises. Each lecture and computer exercise will have associated learning objectives and study questions that will be written up as brief write-ups with supporting maps, figures, and tables to help guide and demonstrate student learning. Discussion posts and zoom sessions will be used to facilitate student learning. Student learning will be assessed through 4 open-book applications of the material learned (exams). A final project to be determined in consultation with the instructor will be used to assess each student’s ability to apply the materials covered to a novel application. Students will be able to access the course software for free but must have access to a computer able to run the current version of ArcGIS Pro or QGIS. Requirements for each software are available on the internet.

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Prerequisite

FANR 3800 or GEOG 4370/6370-4370L/6370L or GEOG 4370E/6370E or LAND 4231/6231

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Semester Course Offered

Offered fall, spring and summer

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Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

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Student learning Outcomes

• Students will evaluate the strengths, limitations, and appropriate applications of geospatial datasets used in ecological and natural resource decision-making.
• Students will apply geospatial technologies and spatial analytical approaches to investigate, analyze, and interpret ecological and natural resource management problems.
• Students will design and communicate a reproducible geospatial workflow that uses spatial data and analytical methods to support evidence-based solutions to real-world conservation, ecological, or management challenges.

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Topical Outline

• Geographic information systems introduction, data models, file types, and common data themes
• Vector data analysis and modeling including overlays, proximity analysis and tabular analysis.
• Managing coordinate systems of diverse data for spatial analysis
• Raster data analysis using different methods (local, focal, zonal, global), single and multiple layer operations, map algebra) and raster modeling including home range estimating, species distribution modeling, watershed modeling, and integration of vector and raster data.

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Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes

Analytical Thinking

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

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Syllabus

Select Faculty / Instructor to download syllabus:   Cymerman, Jeffrey (66075)

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Public CV

Select a file to download:   Cymerman, Jeffrey

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