Computer Programming For GIS

GISC 5317, Fall 2005

Lecture: Monday 7:00-9:45 PM, GR3.602

INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Fang Qiu
Phone: 972-883-4134
Email: ffqiu@utdallas.edu
Homepage: www.utdallas.edu/~ffqiu
Office: GR3.203
Office Hours: Monday, 6:00-7:00 pm

Teaching Assistant:
Jian Huang jian.huang@student.utdallas.edu
Office Hours: Monday 4:00 – 6:00 pm; Saturday 1:30 to 4:30 pm

COURSE GOALS:

General introduction to programming language, such Visual Basic, Python, etc, with GIS related
applications. Topics covered include fundamental data structures and algorithms, user-interface
design, component object model, batch mode processing and model building. Emphasizes rapid
GIS application development with hands-on experiences. Students are expected to design and
implement an independent final project.

To register for this class, students do not need to have known Visual Basic or Python before,
although experience with a programming language will help. However, it is strongly suggested
that students know how to use ArcGIS.

TEXT:

• Visual Basic 6 How to Program, Deitel et al., 1999, ISBN: 0134569555, Prentice
Hall (Required) – Labeled as VB below
• Online Books:
• Geoprocessing in ArcGIS – Labeled as GPR
• Writing Geoprocessing Scripts with ArcGIS – Labeled as SCP
• Other reference books (recommended)
• Learning Microsoft VBScript In a Weekend, Jerry Lee Ford, 2002, Premier Press.
(VBS)
• Learning Python, Mark Lutz & David Ascher, 2004, 2nd Edition, O’Reilly. (PYN)

GRADING:
 40% Laboratory Exercises
30% Midterm Project.
30% Final Project (Due Dec. 3)

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE:

1. Introduction to the Course and WebCT (VB1)
2. GIS Programming and Application Customization
3. Visual Basic and IDE: Dialog Box and Objects (VB 2,3)
4. Branching and Looping (VB4, 5)
5. Procedure, Function and Arrays (VB6,7)
6. Date Types, User Interface, Debugging, and COM (VB 8,10,11,12, 16, 17)
7. VBScript (VBS)
8. Python (PYN) and Midterm Project Due
9. Geoprocessing Frameworks (GPR 1-7)
10. Modeling Building and Toolbox Environment (GPR8-9, SCP 1-3)
11. Geoprocessor Object and Data properties (SCP 5)
12. Data List and Cursor (SCP 4, 6)
13. Toolbox arguments and Error Handling (SCP 4, 5)
14. Student Project Presentation and Due (Dec. 5)

COURSE WEBSITE AND LAB REQUIREMENTS:

• The slides of the class, labs and related information can be accessed from
webct.utdallas.edu. It is required that you use your Unix account login name and password
to get into the WebCT account. I will also give you quizzes, send you email, and post your
grades through the WebCT. On how to use WebCT, please look at my tutorial at
http://www.utdallas.edu/~ffqiu/00-WebCT.pdf