ARCH41340 GIS, Cultural Heritage and Spatial Thinking

Academic Year 2021/2022

Studying the past, or dealing with heritage, will require you to think spatially and to critically evaluate spatial information. Space can be considered as the glue that holds our understanding of the past together. It is the one piece of information that is common to most, if not all, evidence that we have. This module introduces you to a series of concepts and techniques that will allow you to both manage and explore heritage data spatially.

From a practical perspective spatial information in Archaeology, and many other disciplines, is most commonly considered in terms of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and this module will have a focus on introducing you to, and giving hands on experience of, these and related technologies. Although this is a module that focuses on heritage it may suit other postgraduate students who require an introduction to spatial methods as part of their research.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate a practical understanding of the fundamentals of GIS
2. Appreciate the potential for more advanced analytical steps in GIS
3. Appreciate the place of GIS in the context of broader spatial concepts
4. Evaluate and discriminate between key types of spatial data and their use
5. Critically assess the use of spatial methods used in heritage research & management

Indicative Module Content:

WEEK 1: Considering GIS, maps, space, and heritage Core skills 1: Getting started, finding data and creating your first “map”
WEEK 2: Some core concepts – from projections to data structures Core skills 2: Improving your “map” and exporting the result
WEEK 3: Data sources and asking questions; Core skills 3: Data sources, constructing queries and basic SQL
WEEK 4: PRESS PAUSE: We will use this session to catch up & think about preparing for the project
WEEK 5: What spatial questions can we ask? & how do we ask them? GIS Analysis 1: Point Pattern Analysis
WEEK 6: “These are small… but the ones out there are far away” GIS Analysis 2: Assessing Proximity and Relationships
WEEK 7: Critiquing GIS 1– what is it good at? what is it poor at?! Practical 7: GIS Analysis 3: Visibility
FIELDWORK BREAK: Use this time to work on your project and ask questions – the lab will be available
WEEK 10: Critiquing GIS 2 – it is all about the data, and the question being asked and …? GIS Analysis 4: Movement
WEEK 11: Saving Time. Practical 10: GIS Automation: Model building
WEEK 12: Reserved for project work
WEEK 13: Reserved for project work
WEEK 14: Reserved for project work

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

8
Computer Aided Lab

18
Specified Learning Activities

80
Autonomous Student Learning

80
Online Learning

14
Total

200
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is taught through practical engagement with the topic, face to face and online materials and group work. There is a strong component of problem based learning. The second assessment can be tailored to align with the student's own research. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Project: A GIS project: this can be proof of concept, with indicative practical outcomes, or might be a smaller more complete piece of GIS research. It can be tailored to your own research aims. Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

80
Portfolio: Portfolio completed through the trimester Throughout the Trimester n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

20

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

UCD School of Archaeology uses standard feedback for all modules - now using Brightspace Rubrics. Feedback will also contains feed forward details - this will help you think about how you could improve your approach in future assignments.