ENVR 261 - Geographic Information Systems

4 Credit(s)

This course provides a skill that is cross-disciplinary and applicable to the interpretation of any data that has a spatial relationship. Of particular interest are environmental data sets that are collected within a geographic context. The lecture portion of the class introduces the basic principles of using and interpreting data within a computerized Geographic Information System (GIS). Topics of spatial data analysis are introduced as a way to showcase the extended data analysis capabilities of a GIS. This course provides students with a broad framework upon which to access and assess geographic information for the purpose of better understanding spatial relationships. The lab component of the course integrates lecture material into a GIS assessment. An important component of the lab is the collection of digital data using global positioning system (GPS) equipment and uploading the data to the GIS system. Students are required to develop and demonstrate a working knowledge of the GPS/GIS techniques through an independent research project that they will present orally to the class. Lab students are required to submit a final written project report. Open to all students across disciplines.
3 hours laboratory. 3 hours lecture.
Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.