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Course Syllabus

YEAR COURSE OFFERED: 2024

SEMESTER COURSE OFFERED: Spring

DEPARTMENT: Environmental Science, Geology, Aviation Sciences

COURSE NUMBER: ENV 4485, GEO 4485, AVS 4485

NAME OF COURSE: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

Course Description

The course covers the use of GIS to acquire primary geographic data, solve geographic problems, automate geographic analysis, and render explanations for geographic patterns and trends. Students will use the latest GIS software and data layers in a lab section.

Learning Objectives

After this course, students will know how to import various geospatial data sources into a GIS and be able to interact and perform basic analysis on this geospatial data. This course will have an applied focus, with hands-on components as part of the classroom and lab exercises.

Required Reading

Mastering ArcGIS Pro, 2nd Edition (2023), by Maribeth Price (McGraw-Hill Education)

Assignments & Exams

Exams Overview

· 10% - Exam (Wednesday, April 3)

Projects Overview

· 25% - Geodatabase Project (due Monday, March 18)

· 25% - Free Choice Project (due Wednesday, May 1)

o Each student will create an online and interactive map application (Story Map, Dashboard, etc.) to share the results of their research.

Participation

· 10% - Weekly Discussion Prompts via Canvas

o Issued each Friday due Mondays at midnight

Lab Assignments

· 30%

Exam – Open book, open notes, open internet, no colluding

Geodatabase Project - Each student will select a college/university in Texas (excluding Baylor University) and must analyze the geographic, environmental, and socioeconomic characteristics of the surrounding area and community.

The surrounding area is defined as the area within a 10-mile, a 5-mile, and a 1-mile radius around the university.

All feature classes and raster datasets in the File Geodatabase must be projected in the appropriate Texas State Plane (feet) zone.

Each student will create a file geodatabase containing the following feature data summarized within both a 5-mile and 1-mile radius:

· Environmental Data

• NOAA Weather Data | August | Average Temperature (°F) (2022)

• NOAA Weather Data | August | Total Precipitation (in) (2022)

· Facilities Data

• TRI (Toxic Release Inventory) facilities

• Water wells

• Public Schools

• Italian restaurants

· Community Data

• Total population (most current ACS 5-year)

• Median household income (most current ACS 5-year)

• % of population who Agrees Completely that Any product that pollutes the environment should be banned (2022 or most current)

• Average household expenses on electricity (2022 or most current)

• % Political Affiliation & Voting: Republicans

· Distance Calculations

• Distance to closest water body (feet)

• Distance to Baylor University (feet)

In the same File Geodatabase, include the following data clipped to 10-mile radius:

· FEMA National Flood Hazards (features only)

· 30-meter Elevation: Clipped from DEM (Digital Elevation Model) or NED (National Elevation Dataset)

· 30-meter DRG (Digital Raster Graphic/Topo)

· Geology Data (from the USGS Geologic Map Database)

· Aerial Imagery:

Deliverables:

Each student will create and submit a .ZIP archive containing the following files:

· File Geodatabase

· Word Document Overview

Free Choice Project

Complete the project of your choice. Ensure you are using a suitable number of data sources.

Deliverables:

· URL to Online Map

· Accompanying description/documentation (short, 1-2 pages)

Weekly Schedule

· The weekly class schedule will be altered to make up for the lost class day. Please note: even though the day after the eclipse, April 9, is a Tuesday, that day will count as an instructional Monday. In other words, students will attend their Monday classes on Tuesday, April 9. Monday classes will meet in lieu of Tuesday classes.

Attendance Policy

· Attendance will be taken at every Lecture.

· Students are permitted 10 excused absences. More than 10 absences will result in a grade of F.

o NOTE: THE UNIVERSITY ATTENDANCE POLICY STATES: "If a varsity student-athlete is required to participate in an official athletic competition and must miss class in order to participate (or travel to participate) in that competition, this absence is ordinarily considered to be excused and should not be counted against the student-athlete in the context of an applicable attendance policy. Moreover, provided that the student-athlete seeks to make arrangements prior to the absence to complete scheduled assignments, the faculty member will work with the student to allow for the completion of missed classwork and assignments."