Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2020 - GEOG 455W D100

Theoretical and Applied GIS (4)

Class Number: 3191

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2020: Thu, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    GEOG 355.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A critical examination of advanced topics in GIS, such as: boundary definition, expert systems and artificial intelligence, error and uncertainty, and scale in a digital context. Examines social applications and the roles of GIS in society. Students will design original projects, including data acquisition, analysis, and web site development. Students with credit for GEOG 452 or GEOG 455 may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course details:
This course blends advanced theoretical study of GIS with original scientific research and writing. In the seminar portion of the course, we will read, discuss and critique academic papers relevant to the study of GIScience. Each week will introduce a new topic of interest in GIS. These topics cover a spectrum of theoretical, ethical, and practical problems. These include topics such as critical GIScience, qualitative & feminist GIS, volunteered geographic information, crowdsourcing, code/space, digital geographies, digital inequality, geoprivacy, geosurveillance, and algorithmic bias. Seminar-style lectures will illustrate the critical questions that underlie GIS. Students will be responsible for preparing responses to several scientific paper and answering questions related to the specific research issues that emerge.

The readings and discussion are designed to instill an appreciation for the complexities of the technical, social, and theoretical hurdles involved in developing and applying geographic information science. By the end of the semester, students will have a sense of the many theoretical directions and critical perspectives that advanced study in GIS might entail. Discussion of the readings should, in addition, suggest avenues for constructive enquiry into existing and new research.

This course is also a “W” or writing course. As such, each of the assignments is designed to develop and improve communication skills. In this course, we focus on technical proposal and report writing as well as critical reflections on academic papers. Finally, writing for digital media is encouraged through slide show presentations and development of website content.  

The Laboratory: Using GIS to answer scientific research questions

The laboratory portion of this course is designed to acquaint students with application of GIS to real-world research problems. The class will be divided into five to six groups, and each group will develop a set of methodologies designed to answer specific research questions. Projects will involve team-work and focus on development of a comprehensive proposal and subsequent GIS analyses and representation. Groups will be evaluated based on their proposal, proposal presentation, research report, project websites, and project updates.

Labs begin in the first week of classes, on January 9th.

Grading

  • Project proposal 15%
  • Proposal presentation 10%
  • Scientific research report 20%
  • Project website 10%
  • Reading Responses 20%
  • Presentations of class themes 10%
  • Project Updates/Peer Evaluations 15%

NOTES:

Evaluation Subject to Change

Grading Scale:

A+     97 or higher
A       91-96 
A-      85-90 
B+     80-84 
B       75-79 
B-      70-74 
C+     65-69 
C       60-64 
C-      55-59 
D       50-54 
F        0-49

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

You are required to read a compilation of seminar articles. These will be assigned in the first class and form the basis of the lecture portion of the course. Throughout the course, students will submit short responses to several articles of their choosing. These will be graded upon argumentation, precision in language, brevity, and acuity of analysis.

No textbooks are required for this course.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS