Course introduction
Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, allow to capture and analyze geographic data and spatial information easily and efficiently. Already decades ago their usefulness and popularity prompted companies as well as the open source community to develop high-level GIS software solutions, applicable to many disciplines and publicly accessible (QGIS is ahigh-level open-source tool, used in this course).
GIS tools include plenty of possibilities to process, analyze and visualize quantitative as well as qualitative information typically used in research in the social sciences. This course will explain frequently used GIS techniques and demonstrate their applicability across typical cases covered in the UMD program. With lectures, examples and point-and-click instructions, you will learn how to create new insights for your research by solving geographic problems with GIS tools.
Course objectives
By the end of the module, all participants will be able to:
- Identify suitable analysis methods, describe adequate data collection strategies and visualization techniques for your research method, and adopt a GIS-compliant communication of your results.
- Explore and apply GIS capabilities, data models, forms of analysis, mapping concepts and data visualization techniques based on examples provided during the course.
- Implement the abstraction process required to adapt the conceptualization and the operationalization of your research to a GIS-specific data and analysis framework.
Course content
Session 1
Introduction to GIS, maps & data, webservices, geodata types and basic visualization methods. Getting acquainted with the QGIS environment using illustrative cases and exercises with point-and-click instructions.
Session 2
Understand Coordinate Reference Systems. Apply basic geospatial analysis techniques and metadata standards. Introduction to theoretical concepts for GIS-based analysis (topological analysis techniques and other more advanced methods for quantitative analysis).
Session 3
Create output maps using QGIS map visualization tools. Review the conceptualization of your thesis research and how this could be operationalized using spatial data and GIS-based analysis methods.
The three lecture sessions will be complemented by 3 tutorial sessions. In the lecture sessions, theories and analysis methods will be applied using Illustrative, pre-processed examples that can be followed during the lectures. For the tutorials more elaborative examples with point-and-click instructions are prepared, which are released on Canvas right after the lectures. Students are expected to practice GIS analysis methods using these examples in their study time. During the tutorial sessions students are welcome to ask questions and discuss their approach with the assistants.
Course information
| Programme | Urban Management and Development |
| Period | Block 2 |
| ECTs | 1 |
| Coordinator(s) | Alexander Los |
| Language | English |
| Methodology | 3 tutorial sessions with a blend of theories and analysis methods |
| Assessment | The final result of the exam will be an output map showing the results of the exam exercise. |