GIS A:Applied Spatial Analysis GEOG4111

  • Academic Session: 2023-24
  • School: School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes

Short Description

This course builds on the core course coverage of GIS to enhance your skills in analysing spatial data to solve geographical problems. As well as examining tools and process for spatial analysis, it develops skills in the use of ArcGIS, the leading commercial GIS.

Timetable

Normally, all classes are on one day of the week during the first ½ of Semester 2.

1 hours of lectures weekly for 5 weeks

3 hours of practical sessions each week.

Requirements of Entry

Students should have completed Level 2 Geography at minimum of grade D3 or have equivalent experience of GIS

Excluded Courses

Geographical Information Systems - GEOG4062

Co-requisites

Geographical Techniques (GEOG4015) and Research Skills (GEOG4025)/ Joint Research Skills (GEOG4019), or similar experience in GIS

Assessment

Practical assessment and report (40%)

Written exam - 60%

Main Assessment In: April/May

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable for Honours courses

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Course Aims

The aims of the course are:

■ To extend knowledge in the use of GIS for spatial analysis, including criteria based modelling, terrain analysis and network analysis;

■ To introduce and develop practical skills in using a commercial system - eg ArcGIS

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Explain the principles of GIS and its operation

■ Describe and compare raster and vector data models and assess their use in different situations

■ Explain the need for co-ordinate references systems in GIS

■ Describe the process of georeferencing

■ Explain a range of spatial analysis operations in GIS

■ Discuss how GIS can be used to inform and/or solve a range of geographical problems

■ Use one specific commercial GIS to carry out spatial analysis tasks

■ Design effective maps using GIS

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.