GIST 11: INTRODUCTION TO MAPPING & SPATIAL REASONING
Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading | Value |
---|---|
Effective Term: | Summer 2025 |
Units: | 4 |
Hours: | 4 lecture per week (48 total per quarter) |
Advisory: | This is an introductory level course in the applications of GIST, and assumes no prior knowledge of the discipline; Elementary Algebra or equivalent recommended; not open to students with credit in GEOG 11. |
Degree & Credit Status: | Degree-Applicable Credit Course |
Foothill GE: | Area 1B: Oral Communication & Critical Thinking |
Transferable: | CSU/UC |
Grade Type: | Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass) |
Repeatability: | Not Repeatable |
Cross-Listed: | GEOG 11 |
Student Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate the use of geographic technologies to analyze real world problems and make informed, data driven decisions.
- Describe how to access different sources of data, describe the process of creating data with different geographic technologies, and discuss the fundamental concepts of data quality.
- Evaluate cartographic products in terms of their aesthetic design and ability to communicate information.
- Identify, explain, and interpret spatial patterns and relationships, such as how places are similar and different, the nature of transitions between places, and how places are linked at local, regional, and/or global scales.
- Describe how paper maps and Geospatial Technology can be used for geographic inquiry.
- Describe how GIS&T helps to solve problems of a spatial context.
- Interpreting maps and data.
Description
Course Objectives
The student will be able to:
- Describe how paper maps and geospatial technology can be used for geographic inquiry.
- Describe the historical development of GIST.
- Describe how GIST helps to solve problems of a spatial context.
- Interpret maps and mapped data.
- Evaluate cartographic products in terms of their aesthetic design and ability to communicate information.
- Demonstrate the use of geographic technologies to analyze real world problems and make informed, data driven decisions.
- Describe how to access different sources of data, describe the process of creating data with different geographic technologies, and discuss the fundamental concepts of data quality.
- Identify, explain, and interpret spatial patterns and relationships, such as how places are similar and different, the nature of transitions between places, and how places are linked at local, regional, and/or global scales.
Course Content
- Introduction to geospatial technology
- Describe and provide examples of applications of geospatial technology
- Discuss the components of geospatial technology, including remote sensing, GIS, GPS and its relationships to other fields
- Discuss the historical origins of the geospatial technology industry
- Discuss codes of professional ethics and rules of conduct for geospatial professionals
- Introduction to spatial reasoning
- Identify, explain, and interpret spatial patterns and relationships
- Describe the scientific method, including the formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of a hypothesis
- Projections and coordinate systems
- Describe characteristics and appropriate uses of common geospatial coordinate systems
- Discuss the roles of several geometric approximations of the earth's shape, such as geoids, ellipsoids, and spheres
- Describe characteristics and appropriate uses of common map projections
- Cartography
- Demonstrate proficiency in map reading and interpretation
- Demonstrate how the selection of data classification and/or symbolization techniques affects the message of the thematic map
- Critique the design of a given map in light of its intended audience and purpose
- Analyze the relationship between scale and the level of geographic detail in a representation
- Employ cartographic design principles to create effective and visually compelling printed and online maps
- Geospatial data
- Identify and describe basic types of maps and geographic data used with a GIS, and how data is collected in the field
- Compare and contrast raster and vector data structures and operations
- Give examples of how GIS has been used in the modeling of physical and human processes, including environmental and sustainability issues
- Discuss the art and science of representing real-world phenomena in GIS
- Data quality
- Discuss the elements of geospatial data quality, including spatial accuracy, resolution, precision, and fitness for use
- Discuss the concept of uncertainty, and the ways in which it arises from imperfect representation of geographic phenomena
- Methods of spatial analysis
- Use geospatial software tools to perform basic GIS analysis functions
- Demonstrate the use of web mapping tools to study and develop possible solutions to real world problems
- Satellite positioning and other measurement systems
- Describe the principles behind GPS, and some of its applications, including recreational, mapping, and surveying
- Describe the basic components and operations of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), including the Global Positioning System and similar systems
- Remote sensing and photogrammetry
- Explain the difference between active and passive sensors, citing examples of each and how they are deployed
- Differentiate the several types of resolution that characterize remotely-sensed imagery, including spatial, spectral, radiometric, temporal, and extent
- Aerial and satellite imagery interpretation
- Use the concept of the "electromagnetic spectrum" to explain the difference between optical sensors, microwave sensors, multispectral and hyperspectral sensors
- Define "orthoimagery" in terms of terrain correction and georeferencing
- Demonstrate ways how remotely-sensed imagery can be incorporated into a GIS
- Trends in geospatial technology
- Describe geoportals that allow remotely stored data to be discovered and accessed
- Discuss future trends in geospatial technology
Lab Content
Not applicable.
Special Facilities and/or Equipment
2. Instructor workstation with internet access and digital projector
3. When offered via distance learning, a course management system such as Canvas
Method(s) of Evaluation
Quizzes
Problem sets
Tests
Projects
Method(s) of Instruction
Lecture
Cooperative learning exercises
Hands-on exploratory computer activities
Discussions
Representative Text(s) and Other Materials
Kimerling, Jon, Aileen R. Buckley, Phillip C. Muehrcke, and Juliana O. Muehrcke. Map Use: Reading Analysis Interpretation, 8th ed.. 2016.
Although this text is older than the suggested "5 years or newer" standard, it remains a seminal text in this area of study.
Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments
- Weekly reading assignments from the textbook and objective quizzes
- Written assessments that determine student's mastery of course learning outcomes (SLOs)
- Map analysis based project