GIS in Appplied Research & Development

Course Outline:

Day 1: Introduction to GIS in Applied Research

• Session 1: Overview of GIS and its Applications in Research

  • Introduction to GIS technology

  • Importance of spatial data in research

  • Case studies of GIS in applied research

• Session 2: GIS Software and Tools

  • Introduction to popular GIS software (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS)

  • Basic interface navigation and functionality

  • Data types and formats in GIS

Day 2: Spatial Data Collection and Management

• Session 3: Data Sources for GIS Research

  • Overview of spatial data sources (satellite imagery, surveys, open data)

  • Data acquisition methods

• Session 4: Data Management in GIS

  • Importing and organizing spatial data

  • Georeferencing and projections

  • Data cleaning and preprocessing

Day 3: Spatial Analysis Techniques

• Session 5: Introduction to Spatial Analysis

  • Understanding spatial relationships

  • Overview of spatial analysis techniques (buffering, overlay, proximity analysis)

• Session 6: Advanced Spatial Analysis

  • Geostatistics and spatial interpolation

  • Hotspot analysis and clustering

  • Modeling and simulation in GIS

Day 4: GIS Mapping and Visualization

• Session 7: Cartography and Map Design

  • Principles of effective map design

  • Creating thematic maps

  • Symbolization and labeling

• Session 8: Interactive Mapping and Visualization Tools

  • Creating interactive maps with GIS software

  • Integrating GIS with web platforms and dashboards

Day 5: Integrating GIS into Research Projects

• Session 9: GIS in Research Methodology

  • Designing a research project with GIS components

  • Combining GIS with qualitative and quantitative methods

  • Case studies and project examples

• Session 10: Communicating Research Findings with GIS

  • Presenting GIS outputs in reports and publications

  • Storytelling with maps

  • Final project presentations and feedback

Course Materials:

• Software: QGIS (Open Source), ArcGIS (Trial version)

• Reading materials: Selected articles and case studies on GIS in research

• Practical exercises and datasets

Assessment and Certification:

• Assessment: Participants will complete a final project involving the application of GIS to a research question relevant to their field.

• Certification: Participants who successfully complete the course and project will receive a certificate of completion.