THE BASICS OF GIS
This online course is designed for the new user of GIS software. It uses ESRI’s desktop GIS platform ArcMap 10.1 during the first offering in fall, 2013.
This course will run twelve weeks. There are maps or videos to create every week, which should be kept in your Course portfolio to submit for a certificate or badge at the end of the term.
The course is organized to build skills gradually. Students
should be able to work with data from their own areas so that the maps
are more relevant to them..
For some topics, guest lecturers teach their specialty.
At
many points, there are path offered for a student to delve deeply into
peripheral topics. Like-minded students can request I set up a group for
them to share documents and information within the group. We are open to
suggestions on ways to improve the course.
Week |
Date |
Topic |
1 |
9/9 |
Where to buy book – installing the program Setting up your computer Unzipping data, storing data to find it easily Finding data for your own area online Ways of looking at Earth, projections |
2 |
9/16 |
Ways to add data to your map Base maps or using ArcGIS services The attribute table, adding a new field Make a Map, learn how to zoom in, out, pan, zoom to feature Layouts and Map Annotation, switching from Layout to Map views Shapefiles vs. Geodatabases Adding services for various reasons. |
3 |
9/23 |
Changing the projection of your shapefiles Symbolizing data – colors, symbols, effects Toolbars and Extensions Labeling, setting extents for labels to show Make PDFs with layers |
4 |
9/30 |
Making an address locator of your region Geocoding addresses in a Excel spreadsheet Using Lat/Lon to locate places on a map Batch Geocoding via web services Making a video of time-related data |
5 |
10/7 |
Clipping features to map one area Creating new shapefiles - point, polygon, line Adding fields, calculating geometry Editing features |
6 |
10/14 |
Selection - how features interact with each other, Ways to use selection Spatial queries Creating buffers zones |
7 |
10/21 |
Georeferencing, getting paper maps into your system Using a GPS to map features, routes, Converting GPS data to useable format Camera with GPS – integrating Camera and GPS separate – making them work Hyperlinking Photos, documents and video to spots on the map |
8 |
10/28 |
Exporting files to Google Earth Orthophotos Working with USGS data viewer ArcGIS Online (UK guest instructor) |
9 |
11/4 |
Preparing for 3-D, ArcScene and ArcGlobe Downloading DEMS from USGS viewer Draping imagery and shapefiles over DEMS Making a TIN from a DEM, if needed |
10 |
11/11 |
Clipping rasters with spatial analyst Extruding features in ArcScene Mapping a watershed in 3D in ArcScene |
11 |
11/18 |
Making a map for ArcReader with Publisher Downloading and using ArcReader by your “client.” Using file geodatabases for aerial photo mosaics |
Thanksgiving week – no new materials |
||
12 |
12/2 |
Joining tables based on common attributes Working with US Forest Service/Davey Tree iTree programs. |