School of Environment
GEOG 318 GIS for Human Environments
This course is intended to extend your understanding of the applications of GIS and related technologies in the social domain. In addition to learning about the variety of sources of social data suitable for use in GIS, we will examine a number of investigative and analytical approaches to such data, ranging from cartographic exploration to more advanced methods such as point pattern analysis. The emphasis throughout will be on understanding the range of potential approaches, and on understanding their power and limitations, rather than on the details of any underlying mathematical or statistical theory (although these will also be considered to help you obtain a deeper understanding).
Consistent with developing an appreciation of the application of GIS to real problems in the real world, there will be a number of guest lectures in the course from practitioners in public health, local government, commercial marketing and GIS consulting. This part of the course is intended to improve your understanding of the ‘big picture’ of how spatial approaches are folded into the wider activities of a diverse range of organizations in the public and private sector.
The third element of the course is a set of five laboratory assignments, which will extend your understanding of the use of the ArcGIS product. Together the lab assignments should take you to the point where you are confident to begin using GIS in your own geographical studies.
