GIS 302

Skyline College Spring 2003


Instructor: Alan Forsberg.
Tel: 415-239-3104 ext. 5
Office hours: after class or by appointment.
e-mail: anf@uclink.berkeley.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course introduces and provides hands-on instruction in ESRI geographic information systems software. GIS 301 is recommended but is NOT a prerequisite. Advanced math or computing skills are not necessary to enroll in this course.

COURSE SCHEDULE (below) and this syllabus can be accessed at the following web address:

https://griots.tripod.com/sky/gis302sp03.html

COURSE OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of the course you should be able to:

TEXT

Reading assignments will be made from online sources, occasional handouts, and from the required textbook and CD GIS for Everyone 2nd ed. by David E Davis, ESRI Press 2000.

HOW THE COURSE IS ORGANIZED

Students in the computer lab will work through the book and CD GIS for Everyone and complete a quiz for each day of the course.

PREPARATION AND ASSIGNMENTS

You should complete the assigned reading by the due date. Check the schedule to see if there have been any revisions. Prepare for the class by taking notes and asking questions on topics that you do not understand.

QUIZZES / IN-CLASS EXERCISES

Students will work through the textbook and complete a quiz during each class meeting.

ATTENDANCE & CLASS PARTICIPATION

Attendance will be taken daily. Class participation means attending regularly, answering questions in class, asking appropriate questions, contributing to class. You may be dropped if you are absent more than twice without notifying the instructor. However, it is your responsibility if you decide to drop the class. Do not count on me to drop you before the last date for a "W".

FINAL MAP PORTFOLIO

Students are expected to save maps along with related metadata citations due on the last day of class.

COURSE EVALUATION


 In-class Quizzes/Exercises (150 points each)  600 points
Final map portfolio  300 points
 Participation 100 points
TOTAL POINTS 1000 points

GRADING

The total number of points that you accumulate during the semester will determine your final course grade. Final grades are based on the following percentages of total points:
 A = 900-1000 pts.  B = 800-899 pts.   C = 700-799 pts.  D = at least 600 pts.


COURSE SCHEDULE GIS 302
subject to change
(Last Updated March 27, 2003)

 Week  Date  Readings & Explorations from GIS for Everyone / Links
 1 2/27  Ch.1, & pp. 108-118, 165-166 - GIS for Everyone

Learn the basic functions of ArcExplorer Web.

Lecture - What is a GIS? What are raster and vector data types?
Exploring Historical San Francisco

Interactive web-based GIS systems:
U.S. National Atlas, ESRI ArcData Online, U.S. Census Bureau's TIGER Mapping Service - TMS Version 2.5, US-Mexico Demographic Data Viewer, SanDiego/Tijuana Interactive Atlas, Oakland Unified School District's map center, City of Oakland's online mapping site, City of Berkeley's parcel notification system, Window to My Environment, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), GeoTracker, Free GIS, Free GIS Stuff

 2 3/6 Ch.2  Understanding Digital Maps
Ch.3 Finding Answers with Digital Maps
& pp.133-138
Explorations 1, 2, 3

ESRI ArcData Online, GIS Glossaries, GIS Dictionary from ESRI, Filename Extensions

 3 3/13 Ch.3 Finding Answers with Digital Maps (cont'd)
Explorations 4, 5, 6

Collecting metatdata for your portfolio

 4 3/20 Ch.4 Telling Stories with Digital Maps
Explorations 7, 8, 9
 5  3/27 Ch.5 Building the Digital Map
Ch.6 Bringing the World into Your Digital Map - Your neighborhood
Explorations 10, 11, 12

LEARN HOW TO DO BOOLEAN SEARCHES
IN ONE MINUTE FLAT (For the query builder)

Arcview Quickstart Tutorials:
Ex. 2: Find the best location for a new showroom
Ex. 3: Find where your best customers are located

 6  4/3 Ch.6 Bringing the World into Your Digital Map cont'd
Ch.7 The Geography Network
Explorations 13, 14

Final map portfolio

FAQs about the portfolio

Desiging a project for Arcview 3.2
Project Proposals
Map Services - Feature (ArcIMS)
Other sources of GIS Data
Cartographic Design
How to: Port ArcView projects and data onto a CD-ROM
Analyzing layers in ArcExplorer
Assessing children's risk of exposure to lead.

GIS 302 make-up assignment

Alan's World