GEOG30830 Geographic Information Systems

Academic Year 2019/2020

Welcome to GEOG30830 - Geographic Information Systems. This module will introduce you to the use and application of a Geographic Information System (GIS) which allows the acquisition, processing, analysis and visualisation of location-based data. With the increasing application of GIS in research and practice across a wide range of disciplines and sectors (e.g. planning, demographics, health, social and environmental sciences) and, as such, this technical skill is valuable, transferable and highly sought after.

This module will particularly introduce you to the basics of GIS and its applications in social sciences using mainly the ArcGIS Online (AGOL) software and later, an open-source GIS software called QGIS. Applying the problem-solving approach and hands-on practical sessions, you will be trained on the collection, visualization and analysis of geographic data with real-world working examples, and exercises focused on broad analytic themes that GIS is designed to handle.

The lectures will initially focus on mapping and the main parts of a GIS. Later lectures and the assessments will be concerned with the tasks that GIS is designed to handle, i.e. digitisation, spatial analysis, data management. An aspect of the course, for which you will be assessed, is the integration of GIS work with broader analyses and writing skills to produce relevant and comprehensible reports.

In the end, you will have technical skills and competencies in GIS which is highly desirable while your problem-solving, decision making, and academic writing skills will be sharpened.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module the student will have:
• Gained knowledge of GIS as a geographic tool;
• Learned the ArcGIS Online and QGIS software systems;
• Demonstrated an understanding of GIS through exercises.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

14
Autonomous Student Learning

186
Total

200
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This sunsetting module is assessed on the twin bases of technical competence and formative learning techniques. The initial part of the module is about familiarity with data entry and software familiarisation and so the short task based components are used. Later in the module, students are asked to compile report-style components that allow for them to formatively assess their own work according to the criteria set out in the module rubric. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
GEOG20200 - Introduction to GIS, GEOG20220 - Intro to GIS for the Social Sc


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Exercise 1 consists of data collection, visualisation techniques and production a short document with two maps.
Exercise 2 consist of online data download, visualization, mapping and reporting		 Week 7 n/a Graded No

40
Multiple Choice Questionnaire: Online Multiple Choice Questions Week 2 n/a Graded No

10
Assignment: GIS Test: This is the final assessment of this module and will be done remotely or at distance. Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

50

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

A rubric for this module will be provided on Brightspace as per its usual running. Also, students will be given in-class feedback on the three main exercises.

[1] Ballas, D., Clarke, G., Franklin, R. S., & Newing, A. (2017). GIS and the social sciences: Theory and applications. Routledge.
[2] Steinberg, S. J., & Steinberg, S. L. (2005). Geographic information systems for the social sciences: investigating space and place. Sage Publications.
Name Role
Assoc Professor Ainhoa Gonzalez Del Campo Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Eoin O'Mahony Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Tine Ningal Tutor