Note: this schedule may change based on how fast the class is moving, and readings may be updated, so please check back each week
Day |
Date |
Class Topic |
Readings / Ungraded Exercises |
Assignments Due |
---|---|---|---|---|
Thurs |
1/16 |
GIS overview, course overview, lab and software logistics |
none |
|
Tues |
1/21 |
In-class tutorial: ArcGIS Basics-Somerville - see links on ArcGIS Tutorials and Tip Sheets |
Please read:
|
|
Thurs |
1/23 |
Discuss GIS application examples / Learn about basic GIS data formats |
Read the Literature Search Tips presentation and then do a literature search and read at least one of the articles you find and be prepared to discuss it in class. Think specifically about what types of questions the researchers are asking, spatial and otherwise. Our own GIS Application Areas can also be a useful place to start. |
|
Tues |
1/28 |
Data Sources - finding, assessing and using existing spatial data |
Please review the Tufts GIS Data Guide. For city/region specific data, check the subcategory - US States, Cities, and Metros). Also look at the MassGIS web site (drill down to the the data layers link and look through this) |
Assignment 1 - Project Area Interests and Spatial Questions (10 points) due Tuesday,1/28, by 11:59pm |
Thurs |
1/30 |
Basic cartographic principles - reference mapping and thematic mapping |
Read ESRI Guide to GIS Analysis, Ch. 2. |
|
Tues |
2/4 |
Mapping continued; |
Be working on Assignment 2 |
|
Thurs |
2/6 |
Working with US Census data in GIS |
Look over our Census Workshop materials, and also look at the Census Web Site (http://www.census.gov/) |
Assignment 2- (10 points) due Friday, 2/7 |
Tues |
2/11 |
Census discussion continued - mapping quantities |
ESRI Guide to GIS Analysis, Ch. 3 |
|
Thurs |
2/13 |
American Community Survey data |
Spielman, S. E., Folch, D., & Nagle, N. (2014). Patterns and causes of uncertainty in the American Community Survey. Applied Geography, 46, 147-157. |
|
Tues |
2/18 |
Understanding data quality |
Read Assignment 4 |
|
Thurs |
2/20 |
No Class |
Substitute Monday's schedule on Thursday |
Assignment 3 - Working with Census Data (10 points) - due Monday 2/24 |
Tues |
2/25 |
Mapping Addresses through Geocoding |
Homework: Go through the Geocoding Reference USA Tutorial at least through page 8. We'll cover the rest in class. |
|
Thurs |
2/27 |
Finish up geocoding discussion - parcel geocoding, working with unmatched records |
From ArcGIS 10.1 Help, read: |
|
Tues |
3/4 |
Map Projection and Coordinate System Basics |
Watch this clip from The West Wing - "Why are we changing maps?"
|
|
Thurs |
3/6 |
Understanding how to use and trouble-shoot map projections |
Do the Trouble Shooting Coordinate Systems exercise on your own (takes about 1 hour) |
Assignment 4 - GIS data quality assessment (10 points) - due Monday, 3/10 |
Tues |
3/11 |
Exploring geographic data with basic queries |
Look over Assignment 5 - Project Data Preparation and Basic Spatial Analysis |
|
Thurs |
3/13 |
Example Raster Overlay Analysis - Siting a Wind Farm Maintenance Facility in China |
ArcGIS 10.1 Help - please read the following:
|
|
No classes |
|
SPRING BREAK |
|
|
Tues |
3/25 |
Using Spatial Join and Zonal Statistics tools / |
From ArcGIS Help, read:
|
Meet with Barbara - use Trunk Sign-up Tool |
Thurs |
3/27 |
Proximity analysis |
ESRI Guide to GIS Analysis, vol 1 -Ch. 6- Mapping What's Nearby |
|
Tues |
4/1 |
Proximity analysis - street-based examples using Network Analyst |
|
Assignment 5 - Project Data Preparation and Basic Spatial Analysis (15 points)- due Tuesday, 4/1 |
Thurs |
4/3 |
Mapping density and hot spots |
ESRI Guide to GIS Analysis, vol 1 -Ch. 4 - Mapping Density |
|
Tues |
4/8 |
Site suitability example using vector tools |
|
|
Thurs |
4/10 |
Analysis issues |
Scholssberg, Marc. 2003. GIS, the US Census and Neighborhood Scale Analysis. Planning, Practice & Research 18.2-3 (2003): 213 |
Assignment 6 - Detailed Project Plan (15 points) - due Monday, 4/14 |
Tues |
4/15 |
Review - putting analysis steps together |
An interesting example - Coalition for a Livable Future (Portland, Oregon) - Regional Equity Atlas (see especially How to Read the Atlas Maps) and the Metadata section) |
|
Thurs |
4/17 |
No formal class |
Sign up for individual meetings with Barbara to review your project plan |
|
Tues |
4/22 |
Poster Design Workshop |
Please explore Color Brewer - this is a good site for helping you to determine a good color scheme. |
|
Thur |
4/24 |
Course wrap-up and how to continue developing GIS skills |
|
Final posters/papers (30 points) poster must be printed by 5pm Monday, May 5; paper due Wednesday, May 7 |