Course Description
Students are introduced to map-making and analysis of different spaces and places using computerized approaches, or geographic information science (GIS). Different modes of spatial data acquisition and analysis are explored, including remote sensing, crowd-sourcing, and quantitative analysis of spatial data. Emphasis is on data-driven reasoning and evaluation of spatial problems.
Athena Title
Our Digital Earth
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- By the end of the course students will be able to apply appropriate quantitative geospatial methods and computational techniques to organize, manipulate, and synthesize spatial data, using analytical thinking to resolve spatial problems.
- By the end of the course students will be able to evaluate the quality and provenance of spatial data from multiple sources and support analytical conclusions based on data integrity and reasoning.
- By the end of the course students will be able to grasp ethical and social impacts associated with creating, sharing, and deploying public geographic information on diverse communities and environments.
- By the end of the course students will be able to communicate the results of spatial analysis through visual maps using modern platforms and descriptive writing.
Topical Outline
- Our instructional methodology will be structured around essential geospatial technologies, with each module designed to build incremental understanding of the technologies that have made a Digital Earth possible. Modules consist of lectures, discussions, and hands-on exercises where students engage with software and publicly accessible repositories of spatial data. The final module will summarize what has been covered with a synthesis of technologies, presenting students with a holistic view of the system, and introducing them to pathways for more specialized courses in Geography.
- Modules:
• Module 1: Map Making Before and After Computers and Digitization
• Module 2: Data Collection and Discovery for Digital Mapping
• Module 3: Earth from Above: Sensors, Satellites, and the Images They Produce
• Module 4: Spatial Data Fusion and Trustworthiness
• Module 5: Artificial Intelligence: Impact and Concerns for Mapping and Spatial Analysis
• Module 6: Synthesis, Preservation, and Lifespan of Digital Earth Data
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
