SGO1910 – Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Course content
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are computer systems designed to collect, manage, edit, analyze and present spatial information. This course introduces the basic concepts and methods in mapping, spatial analysis, and GIS. It enables the students to make use of GIS software to study social phenomena. It encourages students to think both spatially and critically.
The following concepts are covered:
? Introduction to cartography and GIS
? Map design and visualization
? Map projections and spatial representations
? GIS project design and implementation
? Collection and management of spatial data
? Spatial analysis and statistics
? Network analysis
? Qualitative GIS
? Uncertainty and how to deal with it
? Open-source data and software
The course is composed of lectures and seminars.
The lectures are structured into four parts:
1. Theory and background;
2. Different stages of GIS project development;
3. More advanced GIS functions; and
4. Limitations of GIS and problem solving.
A series of seminar exercises will enable the students to make practical use of GIS with hands-on experience, including spatial data collection in the field.?Throughout the course, students learn how to develop spatial research questions and how to conduct spatial analysis using QGIS. Students will also be introduced to spatial data management using R. A group project will integrate the concepts covered in the lectures with skills obtained through hands-on seminar assignments to explore a socio-spatial research question.