GEOG528 (HAM)
Applied Geographic Information Systems for Research and Planning
30 points

Coordinator: Dr Lars Brabyn
Email: larsb@waikato.ac.nz

Paper description

This paper is designed for graduate students who want to learn about GIS quickly for a range of applications. You are not expected to have a completed undergraduate GIS papers. The paper provides both the technical base and conceptual knowledge for students to apply GIS to their particular interests. The paper explains the many spatial analysis functions available in a GIS and these are applied to a range of data sets that are publically available. Students can expect to become confident in cartography, as well as analysing terrain data, road networks, and population census data. GIS is now being used by a wide range of Government and private organizations, including local and regional councils, the forestry industry,  land and marine based research organisations, police, fire service, transport companies, and environmental consultants. There is a shortage of skilled GIS users and this paper is designed to meet this need.

This paper will include lectures and labs offered in GEOG328, but also have additional lectures and assessment to ensure students are studying at a graduate level. Students will be required to attend all the GEOG328 lectures but be provided with additional instructions on research at a graduate level, including the importance of theory relating to their individual application interests, and a critical evaluation of their research. If you have already completed GEOG328 or equivalent then you cannot enrol in this paper.

Paper objectives  

The paper prepares students for the use of GIS for researching in a wide range of applications, including earth science, biology, environmental planning, and social science.
Successful students will acquire the following skills:

• the ability to use Geographical Information Systems (GIS) at a graduate level for a range of applications.
• an understanding of the capabilities of GIS and its limitations both theoretically, technically, and practically.
• an understanding of the mechanics of GIS including database structures and models
• an ability to design and implement a GIS project  

Prerequisites

At least a B average in either the best three of Level 3 papers or all undergraduate papers  

Assessment   

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

Timetable:

Refer to the Online Timetable