COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques to acquire, adjust, extend, modify, integrate, analyze, map, and manage digital spatial data (both rasters and vectors) across space and time, using the standard ArcMap interface and extensions (especially 3D Analyst and Spatial Analyst) and customized toolboxes in ESRI’s ArcGIS suite of software. This course builds on concepts introduced in the Thinking Spatially (GEOS 207) and Cartography (GEOS 210) courses and applies them to physical, biological, and social data within a GIS.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: GIS for Environmental Applications: A Practical Approach -This is a new (2016) GIS textbook that will supplement my personal lecture materials. Within each chapter are exercises that use ArcMap to reinforce concepts from lecture. You are EXPECTED to complete these exercises when assigned as they will provide a foundation for additional projects that will be assigned throughout the semester.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion, students will be able to (1) import point, line, and polygon vector data and raster data into a GIS, (2) identify different map projections and their appropriate uses, (3) digitize new spatial data, (4) edit and manipulate existing spatial data, (5) understand and utilize key terms and concepts, (6) identify the key strengths and limitations of GIS as it relates to environmental problems, (7) apply spatial thinking and solve spatial problems in a GIS, and (8) construct maps and display spatial data in a GIS based on cartographic principles.