INTRODUCTION TO CARTOGRAPHY & GIS introduces the basic concepts and techniques for the manipulation, analysis, and the graphic representation of spatial information. The course examines the processing, compilation and symbolization of spatial data and the application of related statistical techniques. Emphasis is placed on the technology of mapping, particularly the Internet, computer mapping, geographic information systems, and remote sensing. The course prepares students for further course work in geographic information science and technology.
RESOURCES:
COURSE CONDUCT:
Readings and course participation, designed to supplement such readings, form the core of the course. Students are held responsible for all referenced offline and online materials.
MATERIALS:
1) Robinson, Morrison, Muehrcke, Kimerling, Guptill. Elements of Cartography. Wiley. (There should be quite a few used copies available of this book in the bookstore.)
2) Book on JavaScript and Google Maps (copies to be distributed)
3) Calculator (with square root function) for scale calculations. Bring the calculator to the mid-term and final exams.
4) Storage device. A USB flash drive would work in both the cartography (DSC 292) and GIS (DSC 296) labs.
GRADING:
For undergraduates, final grades will be based on the exams (40%), the assignments (40%) and course participation (20%).
For graduate students, the final grade is based on the exams (30%), the assignments (30%), course participation (20%), and a final project (20%).
Course participation is based on answering questions in class from the readings, being prepared for the labs and helping other students when they encounter problems with the exercises.
Grading is carried through on the total points accumulated with 90%, 80%, 70% and 60% representing the cut-offs between letter grades.
EXAMS:
Two exams will be given, a mid-term and a final. Both exams will consist of short answer and essay questions, as shown in the sample exam links above. One of two of the questions from the sample exams will be included on the actual exams.
ASSIGNMENTS:
All assignments are to be submitted as web pages, normally one week after they are assigned. You will be shown how to submit assignments to a web folder and how to link all of these assignments from a single file called "index.html". The exercises that you submit will represent an online portfolio of your work.
FINAL PROJECT (graduate students only):
The final project will be a web page that deals with some aspect of cartography and GIS. The exact topic will be chosen in consultation with the professor.