Snapshot:
Summer Start Date: May 31, 2023
Instructor: Dennis Baldwin
Fall Start Date: August 23, 2023
Instructor: Brian Voigt
Do I enroll in Introduction to GIS or Advanced GIS?
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based tool for managing, documenting, analyzing, and presenting data and information. GIS allows us to investigate the spatial (location, size, and shape), temporal and descriptive qualities (e.g. population, % coverage) of data across multiple disciplines and is increasingly used to tell complicated “stories” using printed and web-based materials.
This course uses the most current version of ESRI’s ArcGIS Pro software.
This course will introduce the student to the basic principles and techniques of GIS through a mixture of readings, videos, slide-based presentations, and real-world examples. Participants will gain practical skills in the application of GIS 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:
- Develop a practical understanding of GPS and ArcGIS concepts (e.g., data & file types, projections & coordinate systems, and spatial relationships) & geoprocessing techniques
- Perform spatial analysis using desktop and web-based ArcGIS software
- Practice effective communication using the (technical) language of ArcGIS, presentation-quality maps, and web applications
- Understand best practices for creating, storing, and managing data in a variety of geospatial and tabular formats
- Gain experience identifying and accessing publicly available data