Welcome to the Class

Welcome to the class!

Please note the links to the left of this page

This course is Analysis of Spatial Data, with a strong focus on GIS analysis and the automation of analysis procedures.

This is a practical course. After this course, you will be able to acquire and analyze spatial data for your own research and purposes.

Hold onto your hats folks, because this will be one heck of a 15-week ride!! No doubt it will be a lot of work, but data analysis and GIS is just so dang fun that I promise it will be worth it.

This blog should be checked regularly for any important information, such as changes to my office hours, assignment changes, or class cancellations (but don't hold your breath waiting for that one...).

What does this mean?

This means after this course, you will be able to perform a site selection analysis using weighted average ranking, create an automated model, perform viewshed analysis, perform shortest path analysis, generate 3D terrains, understand basic interpolation techniques, and more. Bottom line is that you will develop an understanding of many of the ArcGIS extensions in order to perform whatever analysis you need. This course will focus most extensively on the Spatial Analyst extension, but will also explore the 3D Analyst and Geostatistical Analyst extensions as well.

What experience do I need?

An introductory understanding of GIS and a basic working knowledge of ArcGIS. This course can, in theory, be taken simultaneously with an intro to GIS course, but it is inadvisable.

How hard will this course be?

A bit challenging. Between homework assignments, projects, presentations, and exams there will always be something to keep you busy. No worries, though, as most projects and presentations will be done in groups. A bit of a warning: The midterm will be challenging. The grade distribution on my midterms are regularly 50% 85+ and 50% 65-.

I understand it will be challenging, but will it be fun?

Yes! All class exercises and projects will incorporate real-world, practical, analysis concepts and procedures. The final project is a project of your own choosing, so you will be able to apply the skills learned to your own research/interests.

This sounds pretty good. I think you are the best instructor ever!

Yep... You're well on your way to earning an 'A' with thinking like that.