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GEOG40820

Academic Year 2026/2027

GIS Principles and Applications (GEOG40820)

Subject:
Geography
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Geography
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Ye Tian
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) allow the acquisition, storage, analysis and visualisation of location-based data. GIS are increasingly applied in research and practice across a wide range of disciplines and sectors (e.g. planning, demographics, health, social and environmental sciences) and, as such, GIS skills are valuable, transferable and highly sought after.

This module will introduce students to ArcGIS, the most widely used GIS software package. It will enable students developing an understanding of conceptual, theoretical and practical geographical considerations and, most importantly, gaining practical GIS skills for their use and application. These skills will cover spatial data creation, sourcing, management, mapping and geoprocessing.

The module is largely delivered through hands-on computer lab-based practicals, complemented with lectures that will cover theory and analytical themes that GIS are designed to handle. The practicals will focus on the analysis, visualisation and interpretation of spatial data to support environmental and socio-economic assessments, using demonstrative examples and problem-solving exercises. A significant part of the learning will be self-directed, allowing students to develop their skills and spatial awareness through the design and delivery of a spatial analysis project, tailored to individual research and/or interests.
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Computer requirement :

Although this module is taught in a GIS-enabled computer lab, access to lab is limited to designated hours. Thus, It is recommended that you have access to a personal laptop to complete this module given the amount of autonomous learning hours involved. If you plan to purchase a new computer, you can find the recommended ArcGIS Pro configuration at this link: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/get-started/arcgis-pro-system-requirements.htm

UCD Laptop scheme:

The UCD Laptop scheme is available to you if you need a laptop for your studies and may not be able to finance it. This is a long term loan scheme, where eligible students can borrow a new, free laptop for the duration of your studies. This scheme is open to new and continuing students. To be eligible for a laptop you must be registered as a full or part-time student in 2022-23 and be from a low income household (annual income below €50,840). Students who enter through the HEAR pathway, do not need to provide supporting documentation. Non-EU fee-paying students, Erasmus and Study Abroad students are not eligible to apply.

Supporting documentation must be provided to be considered for this scheme. Your application will be assessed on your eligibility, and on the information you provide in the final question of this application. Applications for the UCD laptop scheme are open. Please visit this website - https://www.ucd.ie/all/cometoucd/scholarshipsandfinancialsupport/ucdlaptopscheme/. You can also send an email to: all@ucd.ie with any queries.

Laptops in the Library

Laptops can be borrowed from the James Joyce and the Health Sciences Libraries. Laptops can be borrowed for up to 4 hours at a time. There is no charge to borrow a laptop. However, fines will apply for late returned, lost, stolen or damaged laptops.

Learn more here - https://www.ucd.ie/library/use/laptops/
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Please be aware that these loaned computers may not meet the minimum requirements for optimal GIS functionality.

Use of AI:

The School of Geography does not allow the use of content generative AI.  Any use of AI (for example grammar, writing support, translation- outside of that approved by UCD Access) will need to be agreed with your supervisor in advance and specified in a mandatory appendix. Even if there was no use an appendix that addresses AI use is required for all dissertations. Any use must adhere to academic integrity and UCD rules. The only exception to this will be in agreement with your supervisor, and this requires an explicit statement in your dissertation.

More deails: https://www.ucd.ie/registrar/ucdstrategicpoliciesandinitatives/ai-at-ucd/ai-at-UCD

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module the student will have:

- Theoretical and practical knowledge of GIS applications, spatial data sources and data management issues;
- Working competence of the ArcGIS software package;
- Ability to demonstrate the application of GIS tools to support environmental and socio-economic assessments;
- Spatial awareness for data intepretation; and
- An understanding of the relationship between spatial analysis and report writing.

Indicative Module Content:

ArcGIS interfaces; Adding data; Layer properties; Projections and transformations; Creating and editing shapefiles.
Attribute tables - Creating and managing fields; Geometry calculations; Symbology; Transparency.
Geodatabases. Data types and organising data; Relationships between objects.
GPS and Mobile Apps.
Accessing online data.
Spatial analysis with ArcToolbox: Merge, buffer, clip, erase, intersect, spatial join.
Map layouts: Components; Exporting images.
Working with raster datasets: Spatial analyst tools.

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

End poverty in all its forms everywhere 4

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture 2

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages 5

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 3

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 4

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 4

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 2

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all 2

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation 5

Reduce inequality within and among countries 4

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 5

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 4

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 4

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 2

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss 2

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 3

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development 4
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

26
Autonomous Student Learning

200
Lectures

10
Practical

14
Total

250

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module is largely delivered in a computer lab through hands-on demonstrative and problem-solving exercises. A limited number of lectures will deliver the theory and introduce concepts, terminology and applications.

Students will be guided through the practicals but will self-direct their learning by applying GIS to an area/topic relevant to their discipline, research or area of interest.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

None required

Learning Recommendations:

Basic file management
IT skills


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
GEOG30880 - Applied GIS, GEOG40770 - GIS for Env. Assessment


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment: Using spatial analysis techniques to make three maps for any SDGs with relevant descriptions
 Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
40
 No
Exam (In-person): 120 minutes final exam (close-book) End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
60
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
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?

Individual feedback will be provided via Brightspace post-assessment. This will be complemented with in-class feedback. The project assignment will be submitted in printed form and peer-review feedback will be requested in class post-completion.

Name Role
Yawen Kang Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 15:00 - 16:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 7 Wed 15:00 - 16:50
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