NIGB15035U Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

Volume 2021/2022
Education

BSc Programme in Natural Resources

Content

The student will learn the basic concepts being used when acquiring, storing, handling and visualisation of geographical information – with an emphasis on digital maps and digital techniques. The course will introduce the basic analytical capabilities of vector/feature- as well as raster-based GIS. Further, focus will be put on basic cartography and map-reading. In this way the student will obtain the needed theoretic as well as practical skills and competences required to work with maps – both in paper and digital form. The student will learn to use the achieved theoretic knowledge when evaluating the quality of available data and produced results. During the course, the students will, through the practical exercises, acquire the skills to conduct a geospatial statistical analysis project and to create 3D scenes. Moreover, the student will practice communication with other professionals within the geodata and GIS community. 

 

 

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

  • Have a solid understanding of the theory of:
    - Cartography (both in relation to paper and digital maps, respectively)
    - Map Comprehension and Map Communication
    And, be able to reflect upon those subject areas.
  • Be able to recognize and fully appreciate various:
    - Map Types (topographic, thematic, legal, historic, etc.)
    - Digital Data Types: the vector data model (2D: points, lines and polygons; 3D: point cloud, multi-patches, scenes) and the raster data model (images and thematic rasters)
  • Be proficient in all the steps of a GIS project:
    - Data Capture (GPS, digitizing and image georectification, LiDAR)
    - Geodatabase build-up and editing
    - Data Transformation and Analysis (incl. overlay, proximity, network and geospatial statistical analyses)
    - Map Layout and Digital Cartography (incl. web interface)
    - Assessment of Accuracy and Quality
  • Have a comprehensive knowledge about:
    - Geodata Resources (at the servers of the Institute and on the Internet)
    - Recent developments within the field of GIS
    - Internet-based GIS


Skills

  • Understand and appreciate the theoretic and methodological background of maps.
  • Discriminate between map types, and to justify the use of various thematic and topographic datasets for given purposes.
  • Search, identify and retrieve digital geographic data from various sources, incl. knowledge of key owners/distributors of national and local geospatial data.
  • Select data required for a given task, and to argue for the choices made.
  • Decide which type of geographical data (point, line, polygon, raster) to apply in a given context, to a given phenomenon.
  • Produce digital geospatial data ‘from scratch’ using analogue maps and aerial photos (incl. georectification, georeferencing and digitizing), or a GPS device.
  • Find and select methods of data analysis required for a given task, and to argue for the choices made.
  • Produce composite maps from multiple sets of digital map sources.
  • Using Internet-based GIS resources of geospatial data and tools.
     

Competences

  • To possess a comprehensive insight into maps in general and GIS in specific – from map reading to creating/collecting, storing, transforming, and presenting digital spatial data.
  • To apply maps and spatial analytical results to articles, theses, project reports, posters etc, produced after attending the course.
  • To plan, prepare and carry out project work together with colleagues.



 

See Absalon/Canvas for course literature.

Comprehensive knowledge of IT, including good practical skills in catalogue organization in Windows or similar, is recommended. Some basic understanding of math and statistics.
The course is constituted of lectures, exercises webinars and a statistical project work. Exercises will take place in the digital student computer lab.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 23
  • Preparation
  • 100
  • Practical exercises
  • 72
  • Excursions
  • 7
  • Guidance
  • 1
  • Exam
  • 3
  • Total
  • 206
Written
Oral
Individual
Collective

Written + Individual: Relates to the compulsory outputs from the practical exercises (e.g. map layouts), handed in by the student.
Written and/or Oral + Collective: Relates to the process and the outputs of the geospatial statistical project (incl. a Report).

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination, 3 hours under invigilation
The three hour digital examination consists of two parts:
1. Shorter, factual questions referring to the text of all exercises, lecture presentations and other obligatory course texts.
2. A practical computer exercise (using a GIS software) relating to the skills acquired during the course exercises.
The course has been selected for ITX exam
Exam registration requirements

Assignments have to be handed in and accepted. The digital test forms connected to the exercises (e.g. DIGIT tests, provided by the Absalon/Canvas) have to be completed.

Aid
Only certain aids allowed

All text material (including the text book, the hand-outs and notes relating to the lectures), in paper or digital format, may be used.
Pocket calculators may be used.

The University will make computers available to students taking on-site exams at ITX. Students are therefore not permitted to bring their own computers, tablets or mobile phones. The textbooks and/or notes that are permitted, according to the course description, must be in paper format or uploaded through Digital Exam.


 

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Two internal examiners/co-examiners.
Re-exam

The re-exam is a 3-hour written examination under invigilation. The three hour digital examination consists of two parts:

  1. Shorter, factual questions referring to the text of all exercises, lecture presentations and other obligatory course texts.
  2. One longer question referring more to the practical skills of handling a GIS project.

Requirements listed under the Exam registration requirements have to be met no later than three weeks before re-examination, in order to be eligable for re-examination.

Criteria for exam assesment

Please see the learning outcome.