Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - GEOG 455W D100

Theoretical and Applied GIS (4)

Class Number: 4402

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.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 description:

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 seminal academic papers in GIScience. Each week will introduce a new topic of current interest in GIS. These topic areas cover a spectrum of applied and theoretical problems in GIS. These include: the evolution of GIScience, critical GIScience, feminist and qualitative GIS, the Geoweb, representation of spatial phenomena, volunteered geographic information, neogeography and digital geographies, code space(s), privacy, surveillance, algorithms and Big Data. Seminar-style lectures will illustrate the conceptual questions that drive GIS research and ethics. Students will be responsible for preparing synopses of scientific papers and answering questions related to the specific research issues that emerge.

The readings and podcast discussions are designed to instill an appreciation for the complexities of the technical 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 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.

This course is a “W” or writing course. As such, each of the assignments is designed to develop and improve writing skills. We will focus on technical proposal and report writing as well as summaries and critiques of scientific papers. Finally, writing for digital media is encouraged through development of video or slideshows (paper proposal) and website content.

The Laboratory: Using GIS to answer and report on science and social science research questions.

The laboratory portion of this course is designed to acquaint students with real-time/data application of GIS to research problems. The project will pivot to include three components of a typical GIS projects: 1) data discovery and/or collection; 2) analysis; 3) presentation of cartographic and written results as well as a website. Each aspect of the project development will be presented in a scientific report that emulates the quality and detail that would be expected from a consulting company or research white paper. The website will enable students to develop skills for digital writing and presentation.

Your teaching assistant, Stella Harden (stella_harden@sfu.ca) will be in attendance at each laboratory to assist you with project design and execution. Labs start on January 16th.

Grading

  • Paper proposal video or slideshow (Feb 27) 10%
  • Intellectual issues research paper (Mar 27) 20%
  • Midterm text (Feb 13) 15%
  • Proposal lightning talk (March 13/20) 5%
  • Project/Storymap (April 6) 25%
  • Final exam (TBA) 25%

NOTES:

  • This is fundamentally a course about how to think critically and write coherently. Its content is based in the domain of GIScience but the principles you will learn apply in all aspects of academic and intellectual life. The paper that you research and write about one of the topics covered in the lectures will teach you to: a) ask questions about the truth claims of authors; b) identify the key themes that describe a topic area; and develop your own argument(s). As this is a W course, the writing aspect of your assessment material will be stressed.
  • Project proposals/outlines are an integral part of the research and should be imaginatively and convincingly presented. The project Story Map website should convey the project background, methodology and results in a lucid and concise manner.
  • Late work will not be accepted unless prior arrangement have been made. This stipulation applies to the 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. The instructor reserves the right to run final essays through a plagiarism detection program. Plagiarizing, using AI or cheating in any form will be reported and a failing mark will be awarded.

NOTE: This outline is subject to change depending on availability of materials and class progress.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

You are required to read a compilation of scientific papers and articles. These represent contemporary issues in theoretical GIScience. They are also the basis for learning how to write creatively and lucidly about theoretical and scientific issues. 30% of your final mark is based on developing an argument that uses these and other papers to explore a research trend in GIScience.

I will meet individually with each student in the class to discuss how to develop and deliver a strong intellectual argument that is backed by published research. Students will use the readings and my podcasts about the readings to choose a unique topic for further discovery and exposition.


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.