Working with Geographic Information Systems (2 units)

Instructor: Dr. Vandana Kohli


How to contact the instructor: E-Mail "vkohli@csub.edu" Phone 661-664-2390 (you may leave a message at this number)


INTRODUCTION

Hello! Welcome to your first required class of the Geographic Information Systems certificate program's core classes. By enrolling in the GIS certificate program, you have taken a very important first step toward enhancing your research, data analysis and presentation skills. I encourage you to enjoy your courses and assure you that all of us involved in the GIS certificate program are committed to ensuring that you have a positive and fruitful learning experience.

The following schedule is based on a regular ten week course. I recommend that you try and complete this class within ten weeks. However, you may take more or less than ten weeks depending on the amount of time you can devote to this class. Remember, the important goal is to understand the procedures outlined in your text rather than the finish the class hurriedly.

If you need help along the way, do not hesitate to contact me, because, even though we do not meet in the traditional classroom, as a student, you are my first priority.

Good luck.


SYLLABUS


CLASS REQUIREMENTS

TEXT:

Getting to know ArcView GIS: The geographic information systems for everyone ESRI: Cambridge, USA.

COURSE GRADE:

Your course grade will be determined by your performance on three take home tests. You must take the test only after you have completed all requirements for that section. Tests are not cumulative and noone is allowed to re-take a test.

Total points = 100 percent

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:


READING AND TEST SCHEDULE


 
WEEK/

TEST

READINGS OR EXERCISES/

ASSIGNMENTS

WEEK 1 DESKTOP GIS: WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT DOES

THIS IS HOW IT WORKS

ASKING QUESTIONS GETTING ANSWERS

WEEK 2 MAKING INFORMATION PRESENTABLE

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DATA

USING DESKTOP GIS

END OF WEEK 2 COMPLETE " TAKE HOME TEST 1"
WEEK 3 INTRODUCING ARCVIEW GIS

GETTING DATA INTO ARCVIEW GIS

CLASSIFYING AND DISPLAYING THEMES

SYMBOLIZING THEMES

WEEK 4 MEASUIRNG DISTANCE AND AREA IN A VIEW

MANAGING SCALE

WEEK 5 SELECTING MAP FEATURES IN A VIEW

SELECTING RECORDS IN A TABLE

DISPLAYING AND EDITING TABLES

JOINING, LINKING, AND HOT LINKING

WEEK 6 FINDING THE FEATURES NEARBY

FINDING THE FEATURES WITHIN

END OF WEEK 6 COMPLETE "TAKE HOME TEST 2"
WEEK 7 FINDING FEATURES THAT INTERSECT OTHER FEATURES

SPATIALLY JOINING TABLES

WEEK 8 WORKING WITH CHARTS

CREATING MAP LAYOUTS

WEEK 9 CREATING SHAPEFILES

EDITING SHAPES IN A THEME

WEEK 10 CREATING THEMES FROM COORDINATE FILES

ADDRESS GEOCODING

END OF WEEK 10 COMPLETE "TAKE HOME TEST 3"