Introduction to GIS
ERE 450/550
INSTRUCTION
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Dr. Eric J. Greenfield
Visiting Assistant Professor ERFEG
Office: 12c basement of Bray Hall
Office Hours: Wednesdays 8:30 to 11am
or by appointment
Research Forester with USFS
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Urban Forestry
Previous career in local government
and environmental policy
Research Interests
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Applications of geographic
information technology (GIT) to enhance understanding of integrated systems of
humans and nature and to develop strategies for community development, public
policy, and local governance
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Teaching Assistants
Kari Gunson kegunson@syr.edu
Michelle Bunny mhbunny@syr.edu
LECTURE AND LABS
ERE 450/550
Lecture Monday and Wednesday
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139 Baker 11:40am 12:35 pm
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Topics, Lab Discussion, Guest
Lectures
Help Sessions 149 Baker:
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Monday 6-8pm
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Tuesday 6-8pm
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Wednesday 12:453:35 pm
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Thursday 4-7pm
GENERAL COURSE
INFORMATION
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Two hours of lecture and three hours
of laboratory. Definition, development and general concepts of Geographic
Information Systems (GIS). Topics will include data acquisition and specification,
data processing, data manipulation, and analysis, information output, and
selecting and implementing GIS.
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(GRADS ONLY) Readings with written assessment will be
assigned from the current literature.
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This course will present you with a
broad array of concepts, theory, and methods that build a foundation of GIS
understanding that can be further developed by courses offered at ESF or by GIS
experience in the workplace or future study
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While this course is a good
first-step in GIS and will offer you the opportunity to try GIS applications
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THIS COURSE BY ITSELF WILL NOT TRAIN
YOU TO BE A GIS TECHNICIAN OR PROFESSIONAL!
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If you want to learn professional
GIS
FOR 357/557 with Dr. Herrington Offered
this Fall
Or ESRI online courses www.esri.com Also see
Herringtons website
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Other GIS that may meet requirements
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FOR 324, FOR 356/556 both offered in
the Spring
COURSE GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES
The goal of this course is to provide
you the opportunity to learn and master basic and fundamental GIS concepts
necessary for further GIS education or experiences.
By the end of the course, you should
be able to do the following:
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Comprehend and explain the concepts
related to GIS data characteristics and models, and the GIS process: defining
the purpose, building and managing the database, analyzing the data, and
producing the output.
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Perform simple GIS applications and
analysis.
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Evaluate the appropriate use of
simple GIS applications and analysis given certain conditions.
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Discuss implications of GIS
applications for research, problem solving, and decision support.
MEETING THOSE
OBJECTIVES
Lab Exercises
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5 to 6 of them
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Answer sheets, memos, maps, spatial
models
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Attendance not required, lab periods
are help sessions
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Equally weighted
Exams
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3 exams 10/18, 11/20, Final Period
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Basically the same exam three times,
keep the highest score
Lit Reviews (grads only)
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Brief summary of 3 articles related to
GIT
+ How it applies to your interests
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7 of them, one due every other week,
first one due 9/8
Final Project
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Service Learning Onondaga County
- TBA
Evaluation
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Undergrads - Labs and Exam up to 80
pts
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Grads Labs, Exam, and Lit Rev up to
80 pts
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Final Project 20 pts
Final Grading
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0-60 F, 60-70 D, 70-72.5 C-, 72.5-77.5
C, 77.5-80 C+,
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80-82.5 B-, 82.5-87.5 B, 87.5-90 B+,
90-92.5 A-, 92.5-100 A
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The instructor may increase up to ½
letter grade for exceptional performance
TEXTBOOK
Longley, Paul A., Michael F.
Goodchild, David J. Maguire, David W. Rhind. Geographic Information Systems
and Science, 2nd Ed. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 2005. (Copies available at Orange Bookstore)
STORAGE MEDIA
Memory Sticks or Flash Drives
Also back up media if needed
SUPPORT
If you experience academic or
personal difficulties that affect your studies or life, there are people and
resources who will help you. In
particular, the ESF Office of Student Life, 110 Bray Hall (470-6660) will
provide academic support, career guidance, personal counseling, or direct you
to the proper source of help.
CLASS ABSENCE
If you encounter a situation beyond
your control in which you will missing 3 or more days of classes, you should
contact the Office of Student Life and they will contact all your instructors
for you. Supportive documentation may be
required.
Accommodations for
Students with Disabilities
If you have an identified disability
and will need accommodations, you should first contact Mr. Slocum in the Office
of Student Life. He will discuss the ESF
process and work with you to access supportive services. If you have a learning disability, the
College will require you to provide supportive documentation and will develop
an approved accommodation sheet for you.
When provided to the instructor, this official accommodation sheet will
initiate discussion about the applicability to this course and lead to
appropriate arrangements. Accommodations
will not be provided retroactively.
Topics
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Semester organized by GIS Process:
Problem Definition
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Understanding data
Building Database
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Acquiring and managing data
Analyzing Data
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Simple to more complex
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Guest Lecturer Topics
Second half of the semester
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Big Issues of GIS covered along the
way