GEOG40870 Advanced GIS

Academic Year 2021/2022

** Students should have complete GEOG40820 prior to taking this module**

Ongoing technological advancements are expanding the use and applicability of GIS; spatial data and maps inform policy and decisions, and they are seamlessly shared online or through social media. The skills to efficiently gather, manipulate and interpret geographic information and harness the potential of GIS in this current information-rich and knowledge-based society are essential in, and transferable across, many sectors and research areas.

This module builds upon the skills gained in the 'Introduction to ArcGIS' module and will develop further the students' theoretical and practical knowledge of GIS while enhancing their spatial thinking capabilities. The module focuses on further exploring geoprocessing methods and tools, cartographic enhancement and online data visualisation and sharing. It will apply the suite of ArcGIS Desktop packages, as well as contemporary ArcGIS interfaces such as ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online.

It will cover advanced principles of data acquisition, management and analysis when working with GIS, including advanced editing, geoprocessing and thematic mapping techniques, and 3D visualisation. Automation of ArcGIS workflows, using the application ModelBuilder and creation of online WebApps and Story Maps will also be covered in the module. Students will be introduced to ongoing technological advancements and capacitate them for life-long self-directed learning in GIS.


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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module the student will have:

- Theoretical and practical knowledge of advanced GIS applications and data processing;
- Advanced working competence of ArcGIS Desktop, including ModelBuilder and ArcScene;
- Working competence in ArcGIS Pro;
- Ability to automate geospatial analysis tasks;
- Working competence on ArcGIS Online for the creation of WebMaps and WebApps;
- Ability to research, collate and manage various formats of online spatial data (including Lidar); and
- Ability for self-directed learning.

Indicative Module Content:

Advancements in GIS technology and applications.
GIS ethics: What are the implications of ever advancing innovation in GIS?
Time series; Network analysis; AddIns.
Multi-criteria analysis
Advanced layout design: Customized labels; 3D enhancement; Data-driven pages; Map packages.
StoryMap
ArcScene – Working with LIDAR data; 3D visualisation and recording.
ModelBuilder – Automating workflows.
ArcGIS Pro
ArcGIS Online - WebMaps and WebApps.
Survey 123.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Practical

12
Specified Learning Activities

60
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Total

184
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 with detailed handouts, but self-directed learning will be pursued through some of the assignments by applying GIS to areas/topics relevant to their discipline, research or area of interest. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Basic theoretical and conceptual understanding of Geographic Information Systems principles and applications.
Working knowledge of ArcGIS Desktop.

Learning Recommendations:


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: Essay of GIS ethics Unspecified n/a Graded No

10
Assignment: 3D visualisation and recording Unspecified n/a Graded No

20
Assignment: Mulit-criteria spatial analysis Unspecified n/a Graded No

15
Project: Story map CV Unspecified n/a Graded No

40
Assignment: Customising geoprocessing workflows Unspecified n/a Graded No

15

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?

Individual feedback on each assignment will be provided post-completion via Brightspace. This will be complemented with in-class general feedback and peer-review feedback activities (e.g. sharing output maps for review and comment).