Dear Students,
Welcome to Introduction to GIS! My name is Amanda Suzzi-Simmons (she/they) and I'll be leading you on this adventure in this topsy-turvy world we inhabit. I am excited to have you in my class this semester and look forward to embarking on a journey together as we learn about Geographic Information Science (GIS) focusing on hands-on practice using ArcGIS Pro.
Hands-on computer exercises are based on a wide range of materials are utilized to provide a solid foundation for further GIS classes.
My teaching is hands-on, and to follow these lessons, you must have ArcGIS Pro installed on your computers. You also need to be able to create directories and download files.
To avoid troubleshooting during the lessons, you should follow the instruction below to download and install (or update) everything beforehand.
Important Note:
If your computer is not a PC 64-bit multiprocessor machine with a quad core processor or higher, a minimum of 8 GB of RAM and a good graphics card, you should plan on working in the classroom or library.
Once you've set up your account, ArcGIS Pro is available for download on Windows devices only. You can follow the instructions for Download from ArcGIS Online (not the My ESRI option) available about half way down on this page: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/get-started/download-arcgis-pro.htm
File 1: gisclass_Pro2e.zip (229MB) for the Price (2023) textbook.
This week we will go over the syllabus and get to know each other. There will be no lab this week.
Read:
Price (2023) Preface & Intro
Watch Videos:
Explore:
Warmup: Play Where on Google Earth is Carmen Sandiago?
Slides - What is GIS & History
This week we will focus on the fundamentals and history of GIS.
Read:
Price (2023) Chapter 1
Take Quiz on Canvas.
Watch Videos:
TEDxZurich - Bernhard Seefeld - History and future of Mapping
Whys Of Where | Joseph Kerski | TEDxVail
Warmup: Play Groundhog City Simulation
Chapter 1 Teaching Tutorial. Answer the questions and submit on Canvas.
Price (2023) chapter 1 exercise. Submit on Canvas.
This week we will focus on the design of maps.
Read:
Price (2023) Chapters 2-3
Take Quiz on Canvas.
Watch Videos:
Weird, or just different? | Derek Sivers
25 Maps That Will Change The Way You See The World
Warmup: San Francisco Time Machine
Chapter 2-3 Teaching Tutorials. Answer the questions and submit on Canvas.
Price (2023) chapters 2 - 3 exercises. Submit on Canvas.
This week we will focus on geodesy.
Read:
Price (2023) Chapter 4
Take Quiz on Canvas.
Watch Videos:
Greg Asner: Ecology from the air
Storing & Tracking Your Life Using GIS Technology | Cheryl Hanewicz | TEDxUVU
Warmup: Add a map to the OldMapsOnline
Chapter 4 Teaching Tutorial. Answer the questions and submit on Canvas.
Price (2023) chapter 4 exercise and catching up on anything past due. Submit on Canvas.
This week we will focus on vectors.
Read:
Price (2023) Chapter 5
Take Quiz on Canvas.
Watch Videos:
Bill Davenhall: Your health depends on where you live
Steven Johnson: A guided tour of the Ghost Map
Warmup: 2024 Presidential Election Interactive Map
Chapter 5 Teaching Tutorial. Answer the questions and submit on Canvas.
Price (2023) chapter 5 exercise and catching up on anything past due. Submit on Canvas.
This week we will focus on rasters and remote sensing.
Read:
Price (2023) Chapter 6
Take Quiz on Canvas.
Watch Videos:
Spatial Data: make the most of your opportunities | Chris Grundy | TEDxLSHTM
GIS: My JEDI Language for Fighting Health Disparities | Yvonne Kariuki | TEDxColePark
Warmup: Explore Native Land
Chapter 6 Teaching Tutorial. Answer the questions and submit on Canvas.
Price (2023) chapter 6 exercise and catching up on anything past due. Submit on Canvas.
This week we will focus on attribute tables and databases.
Read:
Price (2023) Chapter 7
Take Quiz on Canvas.
Warmup: Ancient Earth globe
Chapter 7 Teaching Tutorial. Answer the questions and submit on Canvas.
Price (2023) chapter 7 exercise. Submit on Canvas.
This week we will focus on errors and editing.
Read:
Price (2023) Chapter 8
Take Quiz on Canvas.
Watch Videos:
The Power of Geography to Make a Sustainable Future | Lisa Benton-Short | TEDxMashpeeED
Lalitesh Katragadda: Making maps to fight disaster, build economies
Warmup: Earth Nullschool
Chapter 8 Teaching Tutorial. Answer the questions and submit on Canvas.
Price (2023) chapter 8 exercise. Submit on Canvas.
This week we will focus on queries.
Read:
Price (2023) Chapter 9
Take Quiz on Canvas.
Watch Videos:
Making data mean more through storytelling | Ben Wellington | TEDxBroadway
Data science for the environment | Dan Hammer | TEDxBerkeley
Warmup: Arctic Sea Ice
Chapter 9 Teaching Tutorial. Answer the questions and submit on Canvas.
Price (2023) chapter 9 exercise. Submit on Canvas.
This week we will focus on joining tables and overlays.
Read:
Price (2023) Chapter 10
Take Quiz on Canvas.
Watch Videos:
How we see color - Colm Kelleher
It’s Not Easy Seeing Green: The Complexities of Color Blindness | Bryan Kett | TEDxPasadena
Warmup: WebGL Globe_World Elevation
Chapter 10 Teaching Tutorial. Answer the questions and submit on Canvas.
Price (2023) chapter 10 exercise. Submit on Canvas.
This week we will focus on spatial analysis and map algebra.
Read:
Price (2023) Chapter 11.
Take Quiz on Canvas.
Watch Videos:
Mapping experiences and access to opportunity in cities: Amy Hillier at TEDxPhilly
Koala tracker: Alex Harris at TEDxNoosa 2014
Warmup: Ventusky
Chapter 11 Teaching Tutorial. Answer the questions and submit on Canvas.
Price (2023) chapter 11 exercise. Submit on Canvas.
This week we will focus on building models.
Read:
Price (2023) Chapter 12. Stop before "Sharing workflows"
Take Quiz on Canvas.
Watch Videos:
Modern cartography and the 3D Map Revolution | Rachel Hwang | TEDxPenn
How a geospatial nervous system could help us design a better future | Jack Dangermond
Chapter 12 Teaching Tutorial. Answer the questions and submit on Canvas.
In Lab, you will work on Calculate Environmental Equity for Public Policy . Submit on Canvas.
This week we will focus on sharing GIS data, maps, and a dashboard.
I will post Lecture slides here as they become available.
Catch up on past due assignments
Catch up on past due assignments