Advanced Issues in Geographic Information Science GCU 452-4

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1 Advanced Issues in Geographic Information Science GCU Simon Fraser University, spring course, January 7 to April 1, 2003 Tuesday 2:30 4:20/Room: AQ 5005 Instructor: Dr. N. Schuurman Office hours: Monday 2:30 3:20; Tuesday 4:30 5:20 Phone: schuurman@sfu.ca Website: Course description This course blends advanced theoretical study of GIS with original field research. The classroom section is based on readings from journals in the field of geographic information science. The readings cover a spectrum of applied and theoretical problems in GIS. These include: ontologies, data models; internet mapping; environmental modelling;; standardization; time, and environmental modelling. Seminar-style lectures will illustrate the conceptual questions that drive GIS research. Questions from the readings will be posted on the website, and students will be responsible for preparing answers to the questions prior to each class. Breakout groups will address specific problems that arise from the readings. The readings and discussion are designed to instill an appreciation for the complexities of the technical and theoretical hurdles involved in developing geographic information science. By the end of the semester, students will have a sense of the many theoretical directions that advanced study in GIS might entail. Discussion of the readings should, in addition, suggest avenues for constructive enquiry into existing and new research with a view to developing improved solutions to technical and representational problems in GIS. The Laboratory: field work and applied GIS The laboratory portion of this course is designed to acquaint students with real-time field experience and application of GIS to research problems. The class will be divided into groups, and each group will develop datasets for one of five different projects. Projects will involve team work, and focus on development of a comprehensive proposal, field data collection and subsequent GIS analyses. They will be 1

2 evaluated based on proposal presentations, the analytical product and final presentation on the world wide web (www). Each of the projects will develop particular areas of applied GIS research. Students will be selected for one of five assignments that include: (i) Population density distribution mapping; (ii) Land-use plan for the Squamish Nation Indian Band; (iii) GIS implementation for the District of Pitt Meadows; (iv) SFU Spatial Data Inventory & Online Data Dictionary Service; and (v) Historical estimation of mammal species richness using statistical simulation techniques. Your teaching assistant is Darrin Grund. He will attend each of the three laboratory periods, and assist students with project design and execution. Required readings You are required to read a compilation of seminar articles. These will be available in the first class, and form the basis of the lecture portion of the course. Evaluation Project outline & presentations 15% February Project report 15% March 18 Project website 15% due March 26 In-class analysis of readings 5% throughout Pop quizes 15% throughout Project progress reports 10% throughout Final exam 25% take-home test Proposals and presentations Proposals are an integral part of the project and should be imaginatively and convincingly presented. Teams may delegate members to do the physical presentations but the entire team should be involved in the conception and implementation of the proposal and its description to the class. A written report of 4-5 pages must accompany the presentation. The final project report is a professional document. It should be both readable and technically comprehensive as well as reflect high graphic design standards. Like the report, the web site should convey the project background, methodology and result in a lucid and concise manner. It should also be computationally efficient: pages should load rapidly while retaining high production value. 2

3 Late work will not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made. This stipulation proposals, reports and the final web site. Ten percentage points per day will be deducted for any late work. All work must be proofread for spelling and good grammar. All work must be original. Plagiarizing or cheating in any form will be reported and a failing mark will be awarded. Course content and scheduling Week one January 7: Course introduction - Selection of project teams and dates for proposal presentations. - Distribution of reading material and assignment of papers for presentation. - How to read and think about academic papers. Week two January 14: Ontologies 1 1. Hunter, Gary Understanding Semantics and Ontologies: They're Quite Simple Really - If You Know What I Mean! Transactions in GIS 6 (2): Schuurman, Nadine Social Dimensions of Object Definition. In Re-presenting GIS, edited by D. Unwin. London: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 3. Smith, Barry, and David Mark, M Geographical categories: an ontological investigation. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 15 (7): Week three January 21: Ontologies 2: formalization of difference 1. Winter, Stephan Ontology: buzzword or paradigm shift in GI science? International Journal of Geographical Information Science 15 (7): Fonesca, Frederico, T., Max J. Egenhofer, Peggy Agouris, and Gilberto Camara Using Ontologies for Integrated Information Systems. Transactions in GIS 6 (3). 3. Frank, Andrew, U Tiers of ontology and consistency constraints in geographical information systems. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 15 (7): Week four January 28: Ontologies 3: working with space and categories 1. Kuhn, Werner Ontologies in support of activities in geographical space. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 15 (7):

4 2. Kavouras, Marinos, and Margarita Kokla A method for the formalization and integration of geographical categorizations. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 16 (5): Kuhn, Werner Modeling the Semantics of Geographic Categories through Conceptual Integration. In Geographic Information Science, edited by M. J. Egenhofer and D. Mark, M. New York: Springer. Week five February 4: Ontologies 4: in the field with data models 1. Worboys, Michael F Nearness relations in environmental space. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 15 (7): Cova, Thomas, J., and Michael Goodchild, F Extending geographical representation to include fields of spatial objects. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 16 (6): Raubal, Martin Ontology and epistemology for agent-based wayfinding simulation. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 15 (7): Week six February 11: Class presentations - Proposal presentations. Week seven February 18: Class presentations - Proposal presentations. Week eight February 25: Web-based and participatory GIS 1. Carver, Steve Guest editorial: Public participation using web-based GIS. Environment and planning B: Planning and Design 28: Carver, Steve, Andrew Evans, Richard Kingston, and Ian Turton Public participation, GIS, and cyberdemocracy: evaluating on-line spatial decision support systems. Environment and planning B: Planning and Design 28: Janowski, Piotr, Maria A. Jankowska, and Milosz Stasik A Map Browser for an Internet-based GIS Data Repository. Transactions in GIS 5 (1):5-18. Week nine March 4: Social and legal issues 4

5 1. Bowker, Geoffrey Mapping Biodiversity. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 14 (8): Ghose, Rina Use of Information Technology for Community Empowerment: Transforming Geographic Information Systems into Community Information Systems. Transactions in GIS 5 (2): Lopez Watermarking of digital geospatial datasets: a review of technical, legal and copyright issues. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 16 (6): Week ten March 11: Data 1. Plewe, Brandon The Nature of Uncertainty in Historical Geographic Information. Transactions in GIS 6 (4): Pundt, Hardy Field Data Collection with Mobile GIS: Dependencies Between Semantics and Data Quality. GeoInformatica 6 (4): Agumya, Aggrey, and Gary Hunter, J Responding to the consequenes of uncertainty in geographical data. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 16 (5): Week eleven March 18: Spatial data standardization 1. Assignment: Determine which agencies are responsible for semantic standardization and interoperability in Canada and in BC. What role does each body play? How are their responsibilities differentiated? 2. Jacoby, Steve, Jessica Smith, Lisa Ting, and Ian Williamson Developing a common spatial data infrastructure between State and Local Government - an Australian case study. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 16 (4): Schuurman, Nadine Flexible Standardization: Making Interoperability Accessible to Agencies with Limited Resources. Cartography and Geographic Information Science 29 (4): Week twelve March 25: Controversial issues in GIS 5

6 1. Peuquet, Donna Making Space for Time: Issues in Space-Time Data Representation. GeoInformatica 5 (1): Van der Perk, M., J.R. Burema, P.A. Burrough, A.G. Gillett, and M.B. Van Der Meer A GIS-based environmental decision support system to assess the transfer of long-live radiocaesium through food chains in areas contaminated by the Chernobyl accident. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 15 (1): Week thirteen April 1: Reading week. - Distribution of final exam. NOTE: This outline is subject to change depending on availability of materials and class progress. 6

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 3700 Introduction to Spatial Information for Environment and Natural Resources. (2 Credit Hours) Semester Syllabus

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 3700 Introduction to Spatial Information for Environment and Natural Resources COURSE INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Kris Jaeger Assistant Professor 359 Kottman Hall (Mondays and Tuesdays)