NIGB15035U Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
BSc Programme in Natural Resources
The student will learn the basic concepts being used when acquiring, storing, handling and visualing 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 theoretical as well as practical skills and competences required to work with maps – both in paper and digital form. The students 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.
Knowledge:
- Understand the theory of:
- Cartography (both in relation to paper and digital maps)
- Map comprehension and map communication
- And reflect upon those subject areas.
- Recognise and fully understand:
- 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)
- Have comprehensive knowledge about:
- Geospatial data resources (on the servers of the institute and on the internet)
- Recent developments within the field of GIS
- Internet-based GIS
- Key owners/distributors of national and local geospatial data
Skills:
- Be proficient in all the steps of a GIS project:
- Data capture (GPS, digitising 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
- Understand and convey the theoretical and methodological background of maps.
- Discriminate between map types and justify the use of various thematic and topographic datasets for given purposes.
- Search, identify, and retrieve digital geographic data from various sources.
- Select data required for a given task and 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 digitising) or a GPS device.
- Find and select methods of data analysis required for a given task and argue for the choices made.
- Produce composite maps from multiple sets of digital map sources.
- Use internet-based GIS resources of geospatial data and tools.
Competences:
- Possess comprehensive insight into maps in general and GIS in specific – from map reading to creating/collecting, storing, transforming, and presenting digital spatial data.
- Apply maps and spatial analytical results to articles, theses, project reports, posters etc., produced after attending the course.
- Plan, prepare and carry out project work together with colleagues.
See Absalon/Canvas for course literature.
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 23
- Preparation
- 100
- Practical exercises
- 77
- Excursions
- 2
- Guidance
- 1
- Exam
- 3
- Total
- 206
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 project (incl. a Report).
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Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- On-site written exam, 3 hours under invigilation
- Type of assessment details
- 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.
The on-site written exam is an ITX exam.
See important information about ITX-exams at Study Information, menu point: Exams -> Exam types and rules -> Written on-site exams (ITX) - 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. Further, the project work has to be displayed as a public poster, or as a web-based StoryMap, and be accepted.
- Aid
- Only certain aids allowed
All text material (including the text book, the hand-outs and notes relating to the lectures and exercises), in paper or digital format, may be used.
Students are not permitted to bring their own computers, tablets, cell phones or other types of communication gear.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Two internal examiners/co-examiners
- Re-exam
Same as the ordinary exam.
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
See Learning outcome
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NIGB15035U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Bachelor
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 3
- Schedule
- C
- Course capacity
- 45
The number of places might be reduced if you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student.
Study board
- Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Patrik Karlsson Nyed (Pakn@ign.ku.dk)
Lecturers
Hans Skov-Petersen
Professor
Dept. of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management
University of Copenhagen
Tel: + 45 3533 1816
E-mail: hsp@ign.ku.dk
Thomas Balstrøm
Senior Advisor
Dept. of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management
University of Copenhagen
Tel: + 45 3533 5396
E-mail: tb@ign.ku.dk
Bjarne Fog
Senior Lecturer
Dept. of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management
University of Copenhagen
Tel: + 45 3532 2539
E-mail: bf@ign.ku.dk
Anton Stahl Olafson
Associate Professor
Dept. of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management
University of Copenhagen
Tel: + 45 3533 1808
E-mail: asol@ign.ku.dk
Christian Fertner
Associate Professor
Dept. of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management
University of Copenhagen
Tel: + 45 3533 1782
E-mail: chfe@ign.ku.dk
Andreas Westergaard-Nielsen
Associate Professor
Dept. of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management
University of Copenhagen
Tel: + 45 3532 2518
E-mail: awn@ign.ku.dk