Snapshot:
Fall Start Date: October 25, 2023
Instructor: Dennis Baldwin
Spring Start Date: March 27, 2024
Instructor: Dennis Baldwin
Fall 2024 Start Date: TBA
Instructor: TBA
Do I enroll in Introduction to GIS or Advanced GIS?
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are increasingly featured as an integrating technology for analyzing economic, social, and environmental data. This course will expose the learner to advanced techniques for collecting, curating, analyzing, and understanding spatial data and communicating technical findings to a broad range of audiences. Building on the content of the Introductory Course, Advanced GIS will prepare the student to independently conduct spatial analyses.
This course uses the most current version of ESRI’s ArcGIS Pro software.
Learning materials will include a mixture of readings, videos, slide-based presentations, and critical evaluation of real-world examples. Participants will gain practical skills in the application of ArcGIS to data analysis and problem-solving through the completion of lab assignments and participation in the course Discussion Forum.
By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
- Use best practices for creating, storing and managing data in a variety of geospatial and tabular formats
- Integrate public data resources from multiple repositories (e.g. The National Map, US Census Bureau, Vermont Center for Geographic Information) into a cohesive analytic framework
- Identify ethical questions surrounding data creation, analysis, and representation
- Apply advanced vector (e.g. network analyses, attribute conflation, queries) and raster (e.g. hydrology, interpolation, raster calculator) geoprocessing tools to analyze spatial data
- Automate geoprocessing workflows using Model Builder and the Python programming language
- Apply critical thinking skills to assess the suitability of available data (e.g. scale, resolution, accuracy, and currency) and/or geoprocessing approaches for addressing real-world issues
- Acquire the necessary skills to develop and execute a project requiring GIS as a management, analytical, and/or visualization tool
- Practice effective communication using the (technical) language of GIS, presentation-quality maps and web applications
