DESKTOP GIS SYLLABUS
PACE UNIVERSITY
 (Peggy Minnis, Instructor)  MMinnis@Pace.edu
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This link will automatically enroll you,
so don't click it unless you are committed to the course.
https://classroom.google.com/c/Njk2MzAzMzU3MDU0?cjc=xpp2s2g

If you mistakenly enroll, you can un-enroll yourself.

Enrollment going on now
Class starts August 26, 2024
You can choose your platform from ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, Global Mapper or ArcMAP
Note:  ESRI is slowly eliminating support for ArcMAP

 Week

Topics     

1

For all Students: Downloading US Census data, unzipping data, storing data so you can find it. 
Projections (ways of looking at the Earth),

2

From here on, you can choose your platform from the four programs  
Shapefiles and Geodatabases, the attribute table, adding a new field, zooming in, out, pan, zooming to a feature, clipping features to map just one area. How to add data to your map.
Base maps, Symbolizing data – colors, symbols, effects, labeling, setting extents for labels , labels as annotation, layouts, switching from Layout to Map views, creating meaningful marginalia, making PDFs with layers.  First assigned map to submit.

3

Changing the projection of a shapefile, comparing our original map (not projected data) with a map with projected data.  Making an inset map, measuring features, importing shapefiles into a geodatabase, measuring distances and area, making halos around labels

4

Batch Geocoding via Google Sheets, using the resulting coordinates to locate places on a map
Making lines from spots to a certain point (à la airline routes)
Making a two-line label, clipping a raster. Finding data from other sources, 

5

Creating new shapefiles - point, polygon, line, adding fields, calculating geometry,
editing features, creating a field for lat/lon of point data, creating a polyline from a polygon and vice versa, exporting files to Google Earth

 6

Selection - how features interact with each other features, spatial queries,
creating buffers zones, georeferencing a "paper" map to a feature, saving an aerial view for off-line use, clipping or extracting a feature from a raster

7

Using a GPS to map features, routes, converting GPS data to a usable format,
Camera with GPS – integrating, Hyperlinking Photos, documents and video to spots on the map. 
Helping your maps tell a story with locations and photos.

8

Kernel density, hot spot mapping.
Using the US Census to download, prepare and map demographic data.
Density mapping of census features - dot mapping

9

Map Packages, USGS National Map Viewer, downloading DEMs, merging adjacent DEMs.  Online uploading. QGIS 3D map sharing.  Making a story map (ESRI programs only)

10

3D week

11

iTree Tools, Your town's canopy analysis

 12

LiDAR processing

  Frequently asked questions:

1.      Does this course cost anything?  No

2.       Do I need to know anything about GIS before I start this?  No, but you need to have patience and watch the videos carefully.

3.      How much time should I expect to spend each week on the work?  About 2 hours, unless you get stuck.  Then, ask for help.

4.      Can I use QGIS to follow the course?  Yes.  There are instructional videos for QGIS, ArcGIS Pro and Global Mapper to do the same things.

5.      Do I have to be a college student to take this course?  No.  There is no age limit.  High school students to senior citizens have taken it successfully.

6.      Is enrollment limited to Pace students.  No

7.      Is the course limited to people in the USA?  No

8.      Who grades my work?  A Pace graduate who learned GIS with me, in person.

9  .  Is all my work for each week due on Sunday night at 11:59?  Please.  That way, my assistant will do the grading. 

10.  Can I get a future week’s assignments in advance?  No.  Each week's lesson is unveiled with a fluorish at 12:01 a.m. on Monday.

11.  Can I submit late work?  You can, but you have to email me so I can go back and grade it myself.

12.  What is this course equivalent to, in college credits?  3

13.  Can I submit evidence of completion of my work for CEUs in my organization?  Yes.  Usually, you show them the syllabus in advance and then the portfolio of completed assignments when the course is over.

14.  How do I get help? Put a request on the week's peer-to-peer area, with your question and email address.

15.  How can I get the program?  ESRI makes a 1-year trial version for $100 for ArcGIS and ArcGIS Pro.  QGIS is free.  Global Mapper has a trial version for the length of the course.  Email me for info on how to work with Blue Marble for a free, limited time, download..

16.  Can I use my organization’s GIS to do my work?  Ask them. They will install it on your computer if they have a license.  The NY DEC does this for employees.  They don't have the 3D license.

17.  What percentage of people who begin work in the first week finish the course?  40%

18. Which program does the instructor prefer?  Whichever does the job with less effort.  So, it's a good plan to learn QGIS as a backup because it's free and is not fussy about your computer type.