Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Fall 2014
Instructor:
Meeting Time:
Lab Times:
Office Hours:
E-mail:
peter.johnson@uwaterloo.ca
From Monday to Friday, I make every effort to answer emails within 24hrs. Email sent on
the weekend will normally be answered on the following Monday. Please note that I only
discuss grading issues during office hours.
Course Description:
A specialized introduction to fundamental concepts and emerging trends in Geomatics and Geographic
Information Science. Focus on methods and techniques of spatial data capture, management, and analysis.
Introduction to programming as applied to GIS.
Restriction: Honours Geomatics program only
Student Learning Outcomes:
1) To devise a comprehensive work plan implementing an appropriate analytic approach and methodology
to solve a given geospatial problem.
2) To create high quality primary geospatial data, directly related to a given geospatial problem.
3) To analyze geospatial data to create professional-level output that demonstrates an understanding of key
cartographic fundamentals.
4) Critically assess the use of geospatial tools and data as applied to answering a geospatial problem
Student Evaluation:
4 Assignments
Final portfolio
Quizzes (2 @ 15% each)
50%
20%
30%
Lecture Topic(s)
Lab Activities
1 Sept 12
No labs week
#1
Introduction to
ArcGIS tutorial
3 Sept 26
Assignment
#1: Map
Assessment
and Critique
10%
4 Oct 3rd
Raster Data
Collection
Activity
Research
Survey
Reading
Materials
TBA
Fall 2014
Assignment
#2:
Georeferencing
airphotos 12%
Quiz #1 (15%)
Error and Accuracy
- What is error? What is a meaningful degree of
error or uncertainty?
7 Oct 24
Data Visualization
- Creating basic maps
- Types of maps (choropleth, point, isoline)
- Data classification and symbolization
8 Oct 31
Spatial Analysis
- What is analysis and how is this different than
visualization?
- Buffer analysis and overlay
- Type of spatial analysis related to current
problem topic (clusters, point pattern, reclass)
9 Nov 7
Sharing Maps
- Web maps and the Geoweb
- Basic Javascript and webmaps
Extending GIS and Programming
- Model builder
- Basic scripting
10 Nov 14
11 Nov 21
Quiz #2 (15%)
Vector Data
Collection
Activity
Assignment
#3:
Georeferencing
vector data
12%
Semester Summary
- Next steps for Geomatics instruction
- Geomatics as a career
Final Portfolio
Due: 20%
* The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the schedule as necessary.
Deadlines
Assignments are due on the date specified at the top of the assignment handout. Late assignments will not be
accepted. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Note for Students with Disabilities: The AccessAbility office is located in Needles Hall, Room 1132,
(https://uwaterloo.ca/disability-services/) and collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate
accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you
require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with this office at the
beginning of each academic term.
Fall 2014