Syllabus
ASM 540: Geographic Information System Applications
Fall 2010; 3 credits
Class: Tuesday and Thursday 1:30-2:20, Room ABE 205 Lab: Monday or Wednesday 3:30-5:20, Room ABE 118
http://engineering.purdue.edu/~asm540 Instructors:
Office Email Tel. Office Hours
Dr. Jane Frankenberger
ABE 208A
[email protected] 41194 Tuesday-Thursday 2:20-3:30 (after class), or by appointment
Larry Theller ABE 209
[email protected] 45954 In lab – Monday and Wednesday 3:30-5:20
Course description
This course will cover fundamentals of GIS analysis applied to environmental, agricultural, and engineering-related problems. In this course you will learn to use ArcGIS software, and you will also learn key fundamentals of using geographic information systems (GIS). At the end of the course we expect you to be an informed GIS user, as well as being reasonably competent using ArcGIS. Topics include data sources, projections, spatial analysis, creating data and metadata, and conceptualizing and solving spatial problems using GIS. GIS is a powerful tool and most students find it to be interesting and enjoyable, although it takes time and effort. If you put in the time (which is considerable) you will have success in this course and in using GIS in the future.
Course learning objectives
Our goal is that after completing this course you will: 1. Understand the fundamentals of spatial analysis
2. Be able to apply GIS to solve real-world problems, particularly environmental, agricultural
and engineering problems
3. Be able to make informed judgements about the suitability of GIS data and analysis for a
particular application
4. Be able to effectively use ArcGIS, a major GIS software tool, for basic analysis tasks
5. Have enhanced problem-solving and communication skills
6. Be able to learn independently in the future about GIS, ArcGIS, and other GIS software
Course structure
Learning to use GIS competently involves both fundamental understanding and familiarity with the specific GIS, in this case ArcGIS. We expect you to take responsibility for learning ArcGIS primarily through an online course and a series of videos, although we will be there to support and add to your learning. Class lectures and discussions will focus more on the use of GIS to solve problems, rather than specifics of ArcGIS software (i.e., which button to push).
Class will focus on GIS concepts, methods, data, and analysis. It will include both lectures and interactive discussions, in which you are expected to participate. Five in-class quizzes
will be given, based on lectures and readings. Course participation is one component of the course grade.
Learning ArcGIS software will primarily be through the ESRI online “Virtual Campus”
courses, and a series of Flash videos we have prepared for the course. This learning needs to take place outside of the classroom, in lab and/or in several additional hours per week that you spend on the ESRI online course and assignments.
Assignments will be hands-on activities, mostly with ArcGIS, that build on the online ESRI
courses, adding analyses that you need to complete on your own. They will be due at the end of the second week after they are assigned. The assignments may include responses to reading assignments as well as work to be done in lab or on your own. Each assignment should be typed and include assignment number and your name. Some of the labs may be possible to do on your own computers, but we do not take responsibility to help you get set up if you use other computers. Two lab quizzes will help to assess your progress in learning GIS techniques.
A final project will provide an opportunity to answer in-depth spatial questions using GIS,
either through the class project or a topic of interest to you. If you have a project defined by your research, with all data in your possession by October 30, you may propose to use that for your final project. Otherwise, you will work on a group project following the guidelines in the Final Report document. Analyses may include biophysical or social topics depending on your interest. A progress report will be due before the final report. The final project will include an oral presentation, short written report, and the electronic data and analysis. Course prerequisites
There are no specific prerequisites, but this course will be difficult without strong computer skills. You are expected to be able to perform computer tasks including developing and
maintaining a folder structure that allows you to access content and includes backups of the most important files, manipulating files and programs from the Web, and creating presentations using Power Point.
Course texts and preparation for quizzes
Study questions will be given for each quiz. You are responsible to find and become familiar with the answers to the study questions assigned, which can be found in several sources: • Some of the information is in the ESRI Virtual Campus courses, and/or ArcGIS help. • GIS Fundamentals, by Paul Bolstad, has been used in the past and may be useful. It is not
required this year.
• Many online sources have excellent information on the topics we will cover. For example, Wikipedia is usually be a reliable source of information for these topics. However it is a good idea to check a second source. Online sources from universities and government agencies are often good information sources.
• Other GIS books and web sites will have similar information and you are welcome to use what is helpful to you.
Course email list
We will use a course email list to notify you of any announcements or changes to the schedule. Students registered for the course will be subscribed to the email list. Email through the list will be from [email protected].
Course Web sites
The class Web site is http://engineering.purdue.edu/~asm540. However, we will mainly use two sites, described below, for regular interaction.
Blackboard: We will also use the course management software Blackboard. The course
overview, policies, and schedule can be found there. The schedule may be updated from time to time, so you should be prepared to get the latest version. You can check your grades there a few days after assignments are handed back.
Course wiki: We will also use a course wiki, http://giscourse.pbwiki.com/, where course information can be shared by students and instructors. Access is private, meaning that only people we invite can view what is there.
Introductions so we can get to know each other. All students are required to post an
introductory message by August 27. Describe your department, your background in
GIS, your reasons for taking the course, and any other information that helps us get to know you. You are encouraged to add a small photo that will help us get to know you. Instructions are on the wiki.
Ask questions and get answers about GIS or the assignments. The “Questions and Answers” page has a table where questions can be posted on the left, and ideas or responses on the right. You are encouraged to respond to the questions of others. Sign up for presentation or meeting times with instructors (as needed).
Ideas for other uses by groups or individuals in the course are welcome. Getting help
It is almost inevitable that you will run into problems with ArcGIS that seem difficult to solve. Finding ways to solve them yourself is an important part of becoming competent in GIS. Therefore we recommend the following steps when you need help:
1. Try the ESRI online help at
http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.3/index.cfm?TopicName=welcome. This is an excellent site where many of your questions can be answered.
2. Use the built-in help in ArcGIS 9.3. The “Search” function in ArcToolbox is often useful when search for how to do something.
3. Post your question to the course wiki, http://giscourse.pbwiki.com/. One of your fellow students may have a suggestion and if not, Larry Theller will probably answer.
4. Email Larry Theller at [email protected]. This is especially appropriate if your question is about the assignment or specific problems with the ArcGIS setup in our lab. He may post the answer to the wiki.
If you have questions about grades, schedule, policies, or other course-related issues, email Dr. Frankenberger at [email protected].
Final project
The final project will be a group project that solve or a project related to your research or strong interest. Groups of two or three are preferred, although not required if you have your own project. Teams and topics will be due Nov. 1, and a progress report will be due Nov 15. Oral presentations will be given the last week of class. The final project report and geodatabase is due Tuesday, Dec. 14, the second day of finals week.
Course instructors
Dr. Jane Frankenberger is a Professor of Agricultural and Biological
Engineering, and has long experience using GIS in watershed and water quality projects. (Read more at http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/~frankenb).
Meeting with me: Office hours are after class (2:20-3:20) on Tuesdays and
Thursdays. The worst time to find me is before class (12:00-1:30 T-Th). I am often in my office, ABE 208A, from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and am easily available with a prior appointment. You can be most sure of finding me by emailing to schedule a meeting. (A schedule request through Outlook is most appreciated.) I will try to be available during scheduled office hours and will notify the class if I will not be available. As a faculty member with a primary responsibility in Extension throughout the state, I often travel and am juggling many responsibilities. Sometimes important meetings I cannot avoid are scheduled at that time. At times, I may be able to talk with you in my office at the spur of the moment outside of office hours, but often I cannot. When you try to meet with me in the moments before class starts, I generally cannot give your question or issue the attention it deserves. It is better if you make an appointment to discuss your concern or to send me an email. Please feel free to talk to me about any issue relating to the course.
Mr. Larry Theller is a GIS Specialist, with expertise in the most current
versions of ArcGIS. He manages the Purdue University ESRI site license, and works on many GIS research and extension projects, especially the GIS
components of a large watershed modeling effort using land use data. He takes the lead in instruction about ArcGIS specifically and the steps needed for specific assignments.
Meeting with Larry Theller: Please ask your ArcGIS and assignment
questions during lab, Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-5:20. If you have additional questions, your first strategy should be to post the question to the wiki. Larry will generally answer questions this way. If for some reason your questions have not been answered during lab or through the blog, you can email Larry directly at [email protected].
Course policies
Late work: Assignments are always due at 1:30 pm, usually Tuesday or Thursday (Dates noted
at the top of each assignment). Many assignments will take longer than you think, and we strongly encourage you to start early, and plan to work on the most difficult parts during lab times when Larry Theller is available for questions. Late assignments that are turned in before
Quizzes: There are seven quizzes, including five in class and two in lab covering ArcGIS techniques. The lab quizzes will be based on GIS techniques that you learned in the ESRI modules or the assignments. If you have a good reason for missing a quiz, please contact me by email in advance to work out a time to make it up.
Working alone: You are welcome to discuss assignments and help each other figure things out.
However, all students are expected to complete and write up their own assignments.
Course attendance. Attendance in class is required. Class sessions are interactive, and you are
expected to be prepared to discuss assigned questions, and additional questions that do not require preparation. Short exercises will be turned in from time to time without prior notification. We will start on time and end on time, so please plan to be ready to learn at 1:30. See me if you have a commitment that prevents you being on time.
Attendance at lab is optional, except for the following dates: Week of October 4: Lab Quiz
Week of Nov 1: Lab Quiz; Discuss final projects
Week of Nov 8: Oral presentations of Ashtabula GIS project Week of Dec. 6: Oral presentations of final project
We strongly encourage you to attend lab, as the lab periods are the main times you should expect to get help from Larry Theller. As he works on many research projects with tight deadlines he is not available to answer questions as they arise.
Basis for grading
Grading ( 200 points total )
PointsAssignments 1-8 (2 through 6: 15 points each; 1: 10 points, 7, 8: 5 points each) 95 Quizzes (6 quizzes with 5 points each – 4 in class and 2 in lab) 30
Participation (in class and on the wiki) 10
Completion of online course 5
Final project: Progress report (10 points), presentation (5 points), and
report/geodatabase/pdf (45 points) 60
Total 200
Purdue University has adopted a +/- grading system for the first time this Fall. Therefore grades will be assigned as follows:
93-100% A
90-93% A-
87-90% B+
83-87% B
80-83% B-
77-80% C+
73-77% C
70-73% C-
67-70% D+
63-67% D
60-63% D
<60% F The participation points will be assessed in various ways. We will often have in-class group discussions, and it is everyone’s responsibility to make sure your group comes up with answers. Answers may be oral or written. I will also keep track of participation in the wiki and from time to time in class oral discussions. Occasionally I will ask a short question at the end of class
which will be turned in. While the answers will not be graded, it provides a record of who was absent.
Emergencies: If the fire alarm is activated as a result of a fire or explosion, the building must be
evacuated immediately. Proceed to the nearest stairway, then to the nearest building exit doors and finally to the Emergency Assembly Area which is located on the Agricultural Mall directly in the front (north side) of the Food Science Building. Building occupants are required by law to evacuate the building when the fire alarm sounds. In the event of a tornado or the sounding of the county tornado sirens, all ABE occupants should proceed to room 106A or 106B (main floor south of the hallway where the coke machines are located). This procedure may also be necessary if there are other emergencies that make it unsafe to be outside, such as release of a harmful or irritating gas outside of the building. In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements,
deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances. We will send information through the course email list to announce any changes.
If you need an accommodation for any type of physical or learning disability, please set up a time to meet with Dr. Frankenberger to discuss what modifications are necessary.
