GEOG517 (HAM)
Advanced Geographic Information Systems
30 points

Lecturers: Dr Lars Brabyn and A.Prof Lex Chalmers
Emails: larsb@waikato.ac.nz and lex@waikato.ac.nz

Paper description

GIS is a contemporary technology being used by an extensive range of organisations. Agencies currently employing GIS specialists include both local and regional councils, the forest industry, most land based research organisations, police, health researchers, fire service, transport companies, and large retail companies. GIS dramatically improves the effectiveness and efficiency of spatial analysis and is increasingly becoming the central information hub for planning organisations.

Paper objectives 

The aim of this paper is to enable students to be proficient in GIS use and be well placed for employment as GIS analysts in industry.  The paper also prepares students for the use of GIS at an advanced level for research. This proficiency in GIS use is based on an understanding of the scientific and social context in which GIS is embedded.
The advanced GIS paper will require active use of ArcGIS software and provide opportunities for students to use other relevant software. Students will be encouraged to apply GIS to their area of interest and will be required to design and implement a research project. In the past project applications have included resource management, biodiversity studies, socio-economic needs assessment, agriculture, tourism, terrain modelling, geology, soil modelling, population studies, and urban planning.  Candidates with interests in other aspects of GIS development, such as software engineering, programming, visualisation and interface design are also encouraged to enrol.

Organisation

This is a full-year paper with two hours per week of formal lectures. In addition students are expected to complete laboratory exercises and the GIS project in their own time. Class field trips are also arranged as appropriate in the course.

Assessment

Internal assessment/examination ratio is 1:0
Work will consist of computer laboratory exercises, a seminar and a project.

Prerequisites

Ideally, those people who enrol will have an undergraduate degree and have completed GEOG328 Geographic Information Systems, or an equivalent course at another university.  However, students with work experience in GIS may be permitted to enrol in the course.

Assessment

Internal assessment/examination ratio is 1:0.

Each student is required to present a seminar.  Also, each student will be required to act as a discussant for one of the other seminars.  In addition to the seminar and discussants report, there will be an essay and a test.  The test will cover the entire course including seminar topics. The essay topics are focused on theoretical issues.

Timetable and Organisation:

Refer to the Online Timetable