Course overview
This course involves teaching sessions that may be attended by both Undergraduate and Postgraduate students. The course deals with concepts and theory of geographic information systems and their use for environmental mapping, spatial modelling and analysis. Topics covered include the relationship of GIS models to real world perception and map representation, vector and raster systems; spatial modelling; translation of problems into GIS procedures; attribute manipulation and recoding, operations including arithmetic and Boolean overlay, reclassification, proximity and neighbourhood analyses; input of data to GIS; database structures; interpolation of surfaces form point and vector data; applications and case studies. Practical work uses PC-based software to teach basic skills in GIS data entry, analysis and output, emphasising a problem-solving approach through environmental and agricultural GIS case studies.
Course learning outcomes
- Understand GIS concepts in an interdisciplinary setting
- Identify and source data for use in evidence-based decision making in environmental management;
- Apply ArcGIS for spatial data preparation, analysis and visualisation with in-depth skills of vector and raster processing
- Use airborne and space-borne imagery to characterise the biophysical environment at landscape and regional scales
- Demontrate proficiency in integrating GIS data analysis with simple statistical analysis
- Demonstrate ability to conduct a GIS research project in the area of environmental management.