| | This course provides an in-depth introduction to the fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) including the history of automated mapping and GIS applications across disciplines. Of particular focus is the use of GIS in environmental science, government, history, political science, and business to evaluate and address environmental issues and to promote sustainability and human welfare. Specific topics covered include GIS terminology, raster and vector data structures, data sources and accuracy, methods of data acquisition, conversion and input, requirements for metadata, working with spatial data databases (map features and attribute tables), and spatial analysis (map overlays, buffers, networks). Course concepts will be reinforced in the laboratory with hands-on experience in the use of map scales, coordinate systems, data sources and accuracy, data structures, working with spatial data, map features and attributes, map overlays, manipulation of data base, creation of charts and graphs and presentation of data in map layouts. |