GPY 206

GPY 206.1

Computers and GIS in Geography

Fall Term 2002-2003

http://husky1.stmarys.ca/~rmccalla/gpy206/gpy206.html

Alternatively, you can reach the course by going to the Saint Mary's University,

Department of Geography, home page

http://www.stmarys.ca/academic/arts/geography/index.htm

and click on Current Course Material and then GPY 206.1

Lecture Time: T 5:30 - 7:20 pm, ME104 Laboratory Times: Lab A Th 5:30 - 7:20 pm, B200A

Lab B F 8:30 - 10:20 am, B200A

Instructor: Dr. Bob McCalla: robert.mccalla@stmarys.ca

Room B101

Telephone 420-5736

Course Objectives: This is an introductory level course for students to learn about the discipline of geography and how computers, especially as used in GIS, enhance the development of geographical thought and application. At the end of the course students will have some understanding of:

the internet (especially the world wide web) as a source of information and communication;
basic computer concepts;
basic geographical concepts;
data entry, data management;
maps and graphics using the computer;
GIS fundamentals and applications and
remote sensing and GPS.

The course serves as a prerequisite for students wishing to take GPY 386.1(.2) Geographical Information Systems.

Responsibilities: It is the responsibility of the student to come to class. Since there is no course textbook what is said in class is very important. It is mandatory to come to lab. Attendance will be taken in the lab periods. As much as possible I will post material in the form of course notes, lab exercises, and course projects on the course web-page. Students are responsible, where required, to hand in material for grading on time. I will only accept late material when it is accompanied by a documented excuse e.g. sickness or a personal tragedy. I will endeavour to return the material within one week of receiving it.

Grading Scheme: The course grade will be determined as follows:

Lab Assignments 35%

Mid Term Test (2 @ 10%) 20%

Final Project 20%

Final Test 20%

Attendance 5%

100%

Use of English: The following policy statement was passed by the Department of Geography on 27 November 1995: All Faculty members (full- and part-time) are expected to take account of written English in their marking.

Academic Integrity: Please read Academic Regulation 19 of Academic Calendar, 2002-2003 (p. 30) where cheating and plagiarism are discussed. I will not tolerate “academic dishonesty.” Such acts as plagiarism of the writing of others, cheating on exams, falsification and fabrication of data, and submitting the assignments or papers of others as your own will result in, in the first instance, a grade of zero for the work; if repeated, a grade of F for the course will be given.

GPY 206.1 Lecture and lab Schedule
Lectures			Labs
			Sept 5 Sept 6	A B	1^st Meeting
T	Sept 10	Geography, eh! Internet & SMU Network	Sept 12 Sept 13	A B	Internet & www
T	Sept 17	Location, projections & scale Grid Systems	Sept 19 Sept 20	B B	Projections & Scale
T	Sept 24	Grid Systems Computers: Bits & Bytes	Sept 26 Sept 27	A B	Intro to Excel (not for grading)
T	Oct 1	Number Systems Data and Measurement	Oct 3 Oct 4	A B	Correlation & Regression (lecture)
T	Oct 8	TEST 1	Oct 10 Oct 11	A B	Excel Exercise
T	Oct 15	Return test: term paper assign. Maps and their importance	Oct 17 Oct 18	A B	Intro to Adobe Illustrator (not for grading)
T	Oct 22	Map Design	Oct 24 Oct 25	A B	SMU Campus Map
T	Oct 29	GIS Intro: Vector vs. Raster ArcView Intro.	Oct 31 Nov 1	A B	SMU Campus Map
T	Nov 5	TEST 2	Nov 7 Nov 8	A B	Intro. To ArcView (not for grading)
T	Nov 12	Creating tables & geocoding Buffering & Querying	Nov 14 Nov 15	A B	Geocoding Exercise
T	Nov 19	ArcView Spatial Analyst ArcView Network Analyst	Nov 21 Nov 22	A B	Spatial Analysis Exercise
T	Nov 26	Remote Sensing	Nov 28 Nov 29	A B	Network Analysis Exercise
T	Dec 3	GPS THE END!