Geography 115b

Spatial Techniques

Winter 2003

Professor Micha Pazner

Department of Geography, The University of Western Ontario

Lecture Notes:

Lecture 1
Lecture 2
Lecture 3

Lecture 4

Lecture 5

Lecture 6

Lecture 7

Lecture 8

Lecture 9

Lecture 10

Lecture 11

Lecture 12

(Note: Some of the figures in the lectures are from the course textbook: Map Use: Reading, Analysis, and Interpretation.)

Mock Midterm Exam is available here.

Mock Final Exam

Assignment 2: Mark distribution

Course Info:

Lectures: Tuesday 10:00-12:00 3010 SSC

Labs: (1) Wed. 10:00-12:00 OR (2) Thu. 12:00-14:00.  At SSC 1316A (The GIS Lab)

Office Hours: Course staff will be available for consultation during office hours (see below) and, when warranted, on an individual appointment basis.

Instructor:

Teaching Assistant (TA): Hui Wan. Office Hours: Tuesday, 2:00 – 4:00pm. SSC 2410

Calendar Description:

115a/b. Spatial Techniques.  An introduction to geographic information science with a focus on remote sensing, GIS, and cartography. Principles of navigation, map reading, image interpretation and route planning. Aspects of information representation, organization and visualization, will also be covered by the course. Practical work on the above topics.

2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, half course. Limited enrolment.

Please see attached graphic outline for Weekly Schedule of Lectures, Readings, Labs and Assignments.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: Course Textbook: Map Use: Reading, Analysis, and Interpretation, Revised Fourth Edition, 2001, Muehrcke Phillip C. and Juliana O. Muehrcke, JP Publications, Madison, WI, USA. Approx. $96.-

 

Evaluation

Assignments will be given and collected (ie. due) at the labs, and marked by the TA.

Late assignments may not be accepted. When a late submission is accepted points will normally be taken off–the penalty being proportional to time elapsed.

Do not commit scholastic offences, eg. plagiarism (cf. Western Calendar).

 

Instructional Objectives:

As a result of the course on Spatial Techniques, students will be able to:

  1. Provide accurate definitions of key spatial concepts mentioned in class and in the text.
  2. Explain or relate, in short answer or in a mini-essay mode, spatial concepts presented in the class or text.
  3. Summarize and comment on a main lecture or text topic in an essay that may include examples and diagrams.
  4. Provide a written initial assessment of the value of a given set of geographic data, data processing tools and instruments, and of map use, navigation and transformation techniques.
  5. Use graphic outlining (“mind mapping”) to represent spatial and spatiotemporal problems in diagrammatic form.
  6. Practise map reading and aerial photo interpretation.
  7. Design and implement a reasonably aesthetic cartographic narrative layout.
  8. Navigate on foot with map/air photo and field instruments, including compass and GPS.
  9. Develop computer skills using software, including, system, word processor, outliner, and drawing software as aids for doing the assignments.
  10. Accompany assignment results with a brief narrative containing lucid explanation and commentary