Geographic Information Science
one-way Exclusions
One 1.5-hours lecture & one 2-hour lab per week
There is no textbook for this course. Instead, we will adapt tutorials and training modules developed by ESRI. To get a sense of these modules, you can find the tutorial gallery . The ESRI training site can be viewed . To view the training modules, a login with your Queen鈥檚 credentials is required. When logging in, make sure to select 鈥淵our ArcGIS Organization鈥檚 URL鈥 and provide the following URL: queensuniversity.maps.arcgis.com (you usually only need to type queensuniversity into the bar). You will then be brought to Queen鈥檚 Single Sign On (SSO) and you can proceed with your login.
Please note that course information listed in the Arts and Science Course Calendar supersedes any information listed on the Global Development Studies website.
For the most current course offerings, registered Queen鈥檚 students should consult .
Course Description
An introduction to the basic principles, techniques and applications of Geographic Information Science. Students will learn concepts of Global Positioning Systems (GPS), georeferencing, vector and raster based models and the nature of geospatial data.
This course is a core course for the Certificate in Geographic Information Science.
Course Overview
This course offers a general introduction to Geography Information Science (GIS). Students will use the industry-standard ESRI ArcGIS Pro software to work through the basic tasks a GIS operator must complete. Tutorials and training modules from ESRI will be applied to data supplied by the instructor. By the end of the course, students will be comfortable making their own 2D maps using a range of data types, such as tabular data from spreadsheets, satellite images, terrain models, and vector layers provided by government agencies.
Course Topics
- Creating and Editing Vectors (shapes)
- Georeferencing and Interpreting Rasters (images)
- Searching in Geo-Databases
- Creating Maps Using Layouts
- Mobile Data Collection Using Mobile Devices
- Reprojecting Data and Selecting Map Projections
- Performing Interpolation of Point Data Using Geostatistical Techniques
- Visualizing and Interpreting Terrain Data
Learning Outcomes
- Identify key concepts in Geographical Information Science.
- Visualize spatial data to create maps and identify patterns.
- Apply Geographic Information Systems to the interpretation and analysis of raster and vector data.
- Recognize the limitations of spatial data to describe geographic processes.
Assessments
Subject to Change
- Multiple Choice Tests (3): 15% each
- Labs (5): 10% each
- Attendance (Lectures and Labs): 5%