Summer 2025 - GEOG 150 OL01

Digital Earth (3)

Class Number: 1890

Delivery Method: Online

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Online

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Jun 3, 2025
    Tue, 3:00–4:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Jun 24, 2025
    Tue, 4:00–5:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Practical applications of geographic information techniques for analysis and problem-solving in multiple contexts. Breadth-Social Sci/Science.

COURSE DETAILS:

GIScience is a well-established and integrative discipline at the intersection of spatial data management, spatial analysis and statistics, geovisualization and remote sensing. GIScience allows analysts to understand spatial patterns and act on them by visualizing and analyzing events on the earth using computers and digital data. A wide range of events can be studied using GIScience including patterns of human settlement, natural landscapes, retail store siting, voting, urban land use and human health.

This course will demonstrate how the various GIScience components contribute to a more complete understanding of real-world events and processes. Students will also obtain an understanding of how GIScience analysis can be extended to benefit research and policy in a multidisciplinary context.

Course Organization:
This is an intersession course so the lecture sessions will be 4 hours (2 hrs x 2 days) per week for 6 weeks. The lectures will be asynchronous. Students will learn about and practice geographic analysis techniques through lectures, computer labs, and assignments. Selected short readings will enhance and extend understanding of the materials presented in the lectures.

This is an intersession course so the lab sessions will be 4 hours (2 hrs x 2 days) per week for 6 weeks. The computer labs will be asynchronous. The labs will help prepare students to complete the graded assessments and apply GIScience techniques to various real-world problem contexts.

Notes:
The contents are subject to changes depending on the number of students, available resources and circumstances.

Format: Completely online. The course begins in the first week of the term.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge about geographical information science concepts,
- Obtain working competence in using software tools for problem-solving,
- Conceptualize GIScience based solutions for a range of spatial problems.

Grading

  • Participation 5%
  • Quizzes 10%
  • Assignments 35%
  • Midterm Exam (synchronous online) Monday 2nd June 3:00-4:00pm Pacific 20%
  • Final Exam (synchronous online) 30%

NOTES:

All marks in the course are absolute and NOT scaled or assigned based on a curve.

REQUIREMENTS:

Requirements for Online Learning:
Modern Windows or Mac computer, video camera, microphone, keyboard, mouse, reliable internet connection.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Textbook and Software:
- The GIS software and reading materials will be made available at no cost for use during the course. It is the sole responsibility of students to maintain a digital technology environment that provides reliable access to the internet and any additional online software tools to complete and submit deliverables.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website 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

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.