As John McLaughlin, Geographic Information Systems consultant to the United Nations put it, "[Y]ou are hard pressed to find a place that isn't getting into GIS in some way, that isn't at some stage in the process." The emergence of GIS technology in the last decade has had a profound impact in the way we analyze and process spatial data. Most GIS systems today afford dramatic opportunities and technologically sophisticated capabilities for the production of graphic data, manipulation of associated characteristics and analysis of spatially relevant phenomena.
The central goal of this class is to get students familiar with GIS applications and GIS software so that they may learn to apply GIS technology for processing and presenting spatial data. Thus, SOC 451: Geographic Information Systems is designed to introduce students to GIS using ESRI's ArcView software version 3.2. The course includes a set of assigned readings and a series of lab exercises both of which are assembled to facilitate the development of students' GIS expertise. Readings are primarily oriented toward understanding the location of GIS within the broader field of geographic information management technology. Lab exercises are entirely devoted to 'hands on' learning.
Equipment requirements:
Students need to have the following equipment in order to complete this class. If you do not have these programs, you need to purchase them. For further information please contact Extended University at California State University, Bakersfield.
Excel or any other spread sheet program capable of saving in tab delimited format
Student's course grade will be determined by their performance on a variety of course requirements including lab exercises and assignments; and position papers. The points for each of these requirements are indicated below as are the required text and readings. reading packets are available through extended studies.
Assigned Readings Bibliography (PASSWORD REQUIRED)
Point distribution for class requirements:
POSITION PAPERS: 60 @ 20 each
Total points: 100.
(Designed for a ten week schedule)
| Week | Readings | Assignment due |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | AM/FM/GIS and their markets
Social and institutional context |
Lab Exercise 1 |
| Week 2 | World of maps
Spatial perspectives A database perspective on GIS |
Lab Exercise 2 |
| Week 3 | Maps as numbers
Geocoding |
Lab Exercise 3 |
| Week 4 | Numerical game offers new vector-to-raster
conversion approach
Attribute data structures |
Position paper 1 |
| Week 5 | Using GIS information to understand
child pedestrian injury
Apartheid representations in a digital landscape The use of GIS to measure spatial patterns of ethnic firms in the Los Angeles garment district |
- |
| Week 6 | Site selection as a competitive
weapon
Defining localities for health planning Exploring the topography of mind: GIS, social space and archaeology |
Lab Exercise 4 |
| Week 7 | GlS data and tutorial to model
climatic change and environmental sensitivty
Spatial modeling of fish growth |
Position paper 2 |
| Week 8 | The future of GIS
Integration of GIS and remote sensing |
- |
| Week 9 | Evaluation and implementation
GIS and group decision making |
Lab assignment |
| Week 10 | GIS: A new profession
GIS - Is it a private matter Identifying unethical conduct in the use of GIS |
Position paper 3 |
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