SYLLABUS
The focus of this course, unlike previous GIS courses
you might have had, is on using a variety of software, including but not
limited to GIS software, to implement a term-long real-world project.
The emphasis is on the geographic components, some of which
include (but are not limited to) the roles of:
scale
|
hierarchy
|
transformation
|
orientation
|
distance
|
geodesic
|
adjacency
|
connection
|
minimax
|
absolute/relative
|
centrality
|
density
|
partition
|
separation
|
diffusion
|
dimension
|
Thus, students will learn some of the theory behind
the analysis and will have a chance to put theory into practice.
Guest speakers from various municipalities will illustrate how GIS is in
use in various locales. Students may work individually or in small
groups. All students are to post work, as it is done, on the website
set up during the first week of class. That way, students receive
ongoing feedback on progress.
Requirements:
-
10% reserved for attendance (including arriving
on time) and participation in full length of classes and labs (two minute
synopsis of content to be handed in following each class and prior to lab)
-
10% for field trip to City of Ann Arbor Planning
Commission meeting and synopsis of content, as it relates to GIS usage,
posted on individual websites
-
15% for midterm presentation (4 hour time slot split
evenly among projects)
-
15% for final presentation (4 hour time slot split
evenly among projects)
-
50% for final project which must be presented as
a website by each individual student and due prior to the time of the final
presentation.
Course Materials Required:
Required: an active U of M e-mail account
Required: a website (to be built throughout the course)
Required: as many Zip disks or blank CDs as needed to hold files.
Required: willingness to expand IFS space if needed to hold files.
There will be a class website containing lecture
notes, links to source materials on the web, citations to printed matter
that might be useful, and strategies that might be of use in the lab.
Lab fee for course covers the cost of plotter
usage (paper and ink) for creating posters as well as any related mapping
expenses.
Lab:
Two-hour lab in which students work on projects
and have an opportunity to troubleshoot projects and learn new skills specific
to their own interests. Both Sandy and Ming-Hui will be available
in lab to help in the process. Lab is a good time to take advantage
of their expertise. |
Commentary:
-
WHEN IN DOUBT--ASK--OVER THE E-MAIL, THE PHONE,
IN OFFICE HOURS, IN CLASS, IN LAB--BUT, PLEASE, ASK!
-
Remember, the focus of this course is on implementation
and concepts. Concepts are necessary because they are what remain
constant (relatively) as technology changes. The focus of this course
is not on acquisition of software skills (which is why there is a prerequisite
and why you are told to ask when a problem arises--please do not waste
time spinning your wheels!).
-
This website is your "text" for the course; read
it on a weekly basis and follow all the links on it.
-
Feel free to suggest additions to the "text"--help
to make it yours.
-
Carry a blank zip disk with you at all times
-
Back up your files frequently and on more than one
medium (for example, on a zip disk and in your ifs space).
|