Special Topics in GIS Modeling

(click for printer-friendly version)

Special Topics in GIS Modeling Seminar Series

Class Website — www.innovativegis.com/basis/Courses/GM_topics08/

GEOG 3120, Winter Term 2008

Thursdays 4–7pm, Room 125 Boettcher West

Links to online items: (click on an item to access information)

§ Course Description

§ Requirements

§ Hours and Activity

§ About the Instructor

§ Course Syllabus and Assignments

Term Papers

Graded Reports

<click here> for information on the Panel Session on Current Issues and Directions in GIS, February 28th

________________________________________

Course Description (course flyer)

Geospatial Modeling moves GIS beyond mapping as it shifts the focus from documenting location of physical features and characterizing conditions (Descriptive Mapping) to utilizing spatial relationships within and among map layers to solve complex spatial problems (Prescriptive Modeling). This course provides an understanding of the scope, approaches, pitfalls and insights in developing, implementing and communicating GIS models as presented by leading GIS developers and researchers.

GIS modeling involves the application of the tirade of spatial technologies (GPS, GIS, RS) to collect, visualize

and analyze geographically-based interrelations driving complex physical, economic and social systems

Schedule of Topics:

Wk 1 (Jan 03) – Introduction and Overview of Geospatial Modeling (Joseph K. Berry)

Wk 2 (Jan 10) – Mobile Mapping (Glenn Vlass, Spatial Data Technologies)

Wk 3 (Jan 17) – Designing/Implementing Effective GIS Solutions (Dave Bouwman, Sanborn)

Wk 4 (Jan 24) – Natural Resources Application (Dave Theobald, CSU)

Wk 5 (Jan 31) – Environmental Science Application (Rafael Moreno, CU Denver)

Wk 6 (Feb 07) – Pipeline Risk Analysis (Ron Brush, New Century Software)

Wk 7 (Feb 14) – Retail Competition Analysis (Ken Reed, Experian Interactive Media)

Wk 8 (Feb 21) – Virtual Reality Modeling (Chris Hanson, 3D Nature)

Wk 9 (Feb 28) – Panel on Current Issues and Directions in GIS (Matt Ball, Editor Vector1Media; William Gail,

Director, Strategic Development - Microsoft Virtual Earth; Peter Batty, former CTO, Intergraph)

Wk 10 (Mar 6) – Student oral presentations of their term paper research

Hours and Activity

The class meets three hours each week with a formal presentation by a guest lecturer open to the DU and greater GIS community followed by informal discussion of the topic in greater detail and as appropriate, hands-on demonstration experience. Background Readings for each speaker topic will be posted the week prior to the class; the speaker’s PowerPoint will be posted in the GIS Lab course folder the day of the class. Two students are assigned each week to lead, encourage and stimulate class discussion, as well as serve as hosts for dinner with the guest speaker.

About the Instructor

Joseph K. Berry is a leading consultant and educator in the application of GIS technology. He is the Principal of Berry and Associates // Spatial Information Systems (BASIS), consultants and software developers in GIS technology and the author of the "Beyond Mapping" column for GeoWorld magazine since 1989. He has written over two hundred papers on the theory and application of map analysis techniques, and is the author of the popular books Beyond Mapping (Wiley, 1993), Spatial Reasoning (Wiley 1995) and Map Analysis (GeoTec Media, 2007). Since 1976, he has presented college courses, seminars and professional workshops on geospatial technology to thousands of individuals from a wide variety of disciplines. Dr. Berry conducted basic research and taught courses in GIS for twelve years at Yale University's Graduate School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and is currently the W. M. Keck Visiting Scholar in Geosciences at the University of Denver and a Special Faculty member at Colorado State University.

Curriculum Vita: www.innovativegis.com/basis/basis/cv_berry.htm

Website: www.innovativegis.com/basis/

Requirements

Students will prepare and submit prior to each class meeting a short Topics Report of 2-3 pages that 1) summarizes the previous week’s presentation and 2) discusses their initial thoughts on the current week’s topic. In addition, students will prepare a short Term Paper of 10-20 pages and companion PowerPoint presentation on a geospatial modeling application of their choice that will be orally presented at the last class meeting.

There is no penalty for a late report provided you request an extension before it is due; late request is a 10 point penalty. Missing a class means missing a stimulating presentation and nuggets of information from informal discussion from a knowledgeable and experienced speaker— tough to reconstruct thereby muffling the big bang for your tuition bucks. Class mechanics, however, allow you to miss a class provided you:

1) notify the instructor via email prior to missing a class,

2) review the presentation PowerPoint for the session,

3) get a debriefing of important discussion points from a classmate(s), and

4) do a bit of additional Internet research on the topic as needed to coalesce all this into a longer than normal Topic Report ...5-7 pages instead of the normal 2-3 pages, due when you can but hopefully within a couple of weeks after the missed class. The extended report should "build" on some aspect of the topic that interests you; not an attempt to reconstruct the presenter’s remarks.

Grading:

Syllabus and Assignments: Topics in Geospatial Modeling Seminar Series (GEOG 3120)

Dates/Time: Thursdays, 4:00 – 7:00pm, Winter Term 2008

Place: Room 125, Boettcher West

Instructor: Joseph K. Berry, jberry@innovativegis.com, Phone: 970-215-0825

Office hours: Thursdays 1-3pm and Fridays as arranged

Profile at www.innovativegis.com/basis/basis/cv_berry.htm

Class Website: www.innovativegis.com/basis/Courses/GM_topics08/

Course Online Readings:

General Online References: www.innovativegis.com/basis/MapAnalysis/ online book; www.innovativegis.com/basis/ website with links to papers and presentations on map analysis & geospatial modeling

Date

Speaker/Topic

Background Readings

Wk 1 (Jan 03)

Introduction and Overview of GIS Modeling

Presentation by Joseph K. Berry, BASIS and DU

click for presentation description

General Reading:

- A Brief History and Probable Future of Geotechnology

Online book Beyond Mapping III at www.innovativegis.com/basis/MapAnalysis/:

- Introduction

- Overview of Spatial Analysis and Statistics (Topic 24)