COURSE OUTLINE FOR CREDIT COURSE

Basic Course Information

Courses numbered 1 - 49 are remedial or college preparatory courses which do not apply toward an A. A. Degree and are not intended for transfer. Courses numbered 50-99 apply toward an AA Degree, but are not intended for transfer. Courses numbered 100 and higher apply toward an AA Degree and/or are intended for transfer to a four-year college or university.

Discipline: GEOG
Course Number: 142
Title: Environmental Applications of GIS

Units and Hours

Units: 1.00
Grade Option: Grade/Pass/No Pass
Course Length in Weeks: Min Weeks - 16 Max Weeks - 18
Min Semester Hours
Hour Type
Hours
Min Semester Hours
Max Semester Hours
Lecture Category
1.00
16.00
18.00
Lab Category
0.00
0.00
0.00
Subtotal
1.00
16.00
18.00
Out of Class Hour
2.00
32.00
36.00
Totals
3.00
48.00
54.00
Max Semester Hours
Hour Type
Hours
Min Semester Hours
Max Semester Hours
Max Lecture Category
1.00
16.00
18.00
Max Lab Category
0.00
0.00
0.00
Max Subtotal
1.00
16.00
18.00
Max Out of Class Hour
2.00
32.00
36.00
Max Totals
3.00
48.00
54.00

Grading Basis: Grade/Pass/No Pass
Basic Skills Requirements: Appropriate Language and/or Computational Skills.

Requisites

To satisfy a prerequisite, the student must have earned a letter grade of A, B, C or P(Pass) in the prerequisite course, unless otherwise stated.

Prerequisite: GEOG 120
Corequisite (Course required to be taken concurrently): None
Prerequisite: (Completion of, or concurrent enrollment in): None
Recommended Preparation: None
Limitation on Enrollment (e.g. Performance tryout or audition): None

Catalog Description

Provides students with knowledge and practical experience in the application of GIS in an environmental setting. We will explore how location-based GIS tools are used in many areas of environmental management such as natural disasters, biodiversity, water resources, and pollution. Case studies will be used to explore and understand how GIS is being used to help preserve the earth’s resources and environment.

Student Learning Outcomes

There are no course outcomes for this proposal.

Specific Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
  1. Analyze and identify the spatial patterns of some common environmental problems.
  2. Acquire and evaluate spatial data essential to examining environmental concerns within a GIS.
  3. Report projects results in a simple and concise manner that is understandable to policymakers.
  4. Research and understand existing usage of GIS in environmental management.
  5. Use GIS to improve conventional assessments of biodiversity, natural disaster responses, and water pollution issues.

Methods of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include, but are not limited to, the following
  1. Learning Modules
  2. Lecture
  3. Other (Specify)
  4. Demonstration
  5. Discussion
Other Method(s)
A semester project will be required from each student.

Content in Terms of Specific Body of Knowledge

  1. Definition of Environmental GIS
    1. Nature of environmental problem
    2. Advantages of GIS in addressing environmental problems
    3. Limitations of GIS in addressing environmental problems
  2. Data Capture and Management
    1. Field surveys
    2. Global positioning system
  3. Analysis, Reporting, and Dissemination
    1. Arctoolbox
    2. ArcGIS extensions
    3. Map templates
    4. ArcGIS server
  4. Environmental applications and case studies
    1. Biodiversity loss and habitat assessment
    2. Natural disaster response
    3. Evaluating quantity and quality of water resources
    4. Modeling and tracing fate of pollutants

Textbooks/Resources

Textbooks
  1. Scally, Robert. GIS for Environmental Management. ESRI Press, 2006.

Assignments

Required Reading:
Students will be required to read a series of case studies which document previous applications of GIS in the areas of natural disasters, biodiversity, water resources, and pollution. In addition, students will be required to read news and journal articles in order to identify environmental issues that can be addressed with the help of GIS.

Required Writing:
Subsequent to the completion of each learning module exercise, students are expected to produce a concise and informative writeup about their outputs. In addition, students will also practice their research writing skills by completing a 4 page essay that is required by the semester project.

Critical Thinking:
In their semester projects, students will be required to not only critically review their own work and methods, but also the methods and results of previous studies. Furthermore, students will need to apply their classroom and textbook knowledge in order to complete the 8 learning module exercises that will be distributed throughout the semester.

Outside Assignments:
Students must review and evaluate GIS case studies relevant to their semester projects. This will allow students to understand the background of their projects, and to learn about the proper ways to implement their own projects.

Students are expected to spend a minimum of three hours per unit per week in class and on outside assignments, prorated for short-term classes.

Methods of Assessment

Methods of Assessment may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  1. Class Participation
  2. Class Work
  3. Exams/Tests
  4. Homework
  5. Papers
  6. Research Projects

Open Entry/Open Exit

Not Open Entry/Open Exit

Repeatability

Course is Repeatable for Reasons other than a Deficient Grade? No

Contact Person

Wing H. Cheung