GEOG 3500 - Introduction to GIS - Fall 2015 Dr. Bruce Hunter Instructor hunter@unt.edu Office: ENV 320J Office Hours: Tues. 3:00 5:00P Lecture Section 001 Tues 6:00 6:50P, PHYS 104 Lab Section 301 Tues 7:00 8:50P, ENV 336 (CSAM I) Michael Sakinejad Graduate Teaching Assistant Michael.Sakinejad@unt.edu Office: ENV 232 Office Hours: Wed 12:30 3:30 Lab Section 300 Tues. 7:00 8:50, Section 302 Wed 10:00 11:50P, ENV 340 (CSAM II) Course Materials 1. Text: Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop (3 rd Edition), Law and Collins, ESRI Press. 2. Lab workbook: Journey Along the Path of GIS Enlightenment (15 th Edition), Hunter, UNT. Purchase from Eagle Images in the University Services Building 125 (facilities.unt.edu/bldg/usb, north of Fouts Field- see map on last page) or CopyPro (1300 W Hickory St, Denton, TX). 3. Personal USB flash drive. Course Objectives 1. Understand basic geography and GIS concepts pertinent to conducting analyses of geospatial data. 2. Integrate various spatial and non-spatial data formats using an industry-standard GIS software package to create cartographic products. 3. Develop a strong foundational understanding of GIS technology that enables correct use of GIS for other university coursework, independent research or employment. Student Expectations 1. Attend all course lectures and lab exercises. This is a comprehensive course. You cannot miss classes and expect to do well. Contribute to class discussions. 2. Use email for all course communication and assignment submission. 3. Perform computing tasks in a Microsoft Windows environment, including but not limited to data downloads, ZIP file compression, and Copy/Paste using GIS software and Windows utilities. 4. Spend time outside of lab sessions working on assignments. This is a time intensive class. Instructor Expectations 1. Active and timely use of email to communicate modifications to course schedule, student expectations, assignment clarifications, and all news pertaining to the course. 2. Return grades in a timely manner with meaningful feedback and guidance. 3. Facilitate a candid and respectful learning environment. Grades 1. Weekly Labs (best 10 of 13 labs worth 2% each) 20% (2 points/lab, 20 points total) Record answers in a Word document and email to lab instructor. 2. Projects 1 4 (15% each) 60% (15 points/project, 60 points total) Cumulative projects that require the utilization of theory and GIS skills. 3. Midterm exam 10% (10 points) 50 multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer questions worth two points each. 4. Final Exam 10% (10 points) 50 multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer questions worth two points each.
Course Schedule Week Date Assignment Lecture Lab Lab Chapters to Due read 1 25-Aug Introduction Demo 28-Aug Last day to add/drop without consent of instructor 2 1-Sep Spatial data concepts 1 1,2,3 & 4 3 8-Sep Coordinate systems & proejctions 2 1 6 8-Sep May drop with written consent of instructo r 4 15-Sep Symbolizing/classifying data 3 2 7 & 8 5 22-Sep Project 1 (Due 10/6) Labeling and querying 4 3 9, 15a, 15b 6 29-Sep Attributes & tabular data 5 4 16 & 17 2-Oct 5-Oct Last day to drop cours with automatc W (written consent of instructor required) Instructor may drop students with a WF for non-attendance 7 6-Oct Project 2 (Due 10/20) Tables continued) and Map Making 6 5 10 & 19C 8 13-Oct Midterm Exam 7 6 None 9 20-Oct Project 3 (Due 11/3) Editing spatial data 8 7 12 & 13 10 27-Oct Editing geodatbase and topology 9 8 11 2-Nov Last day to drop course with written consent of Instructor (W or WF chosen by instructor) 11 3-Nov Project 4 (Due 11/20) Data manipulation 10 9 18a&b, 19a&b 9-Nov Qualifying students may begin to request an Incomplete for the course 12 10-Nov Planning & data analysis 11 10 13 17-Nov Automating GIS with Model Builder 12 11 20-Nov Last day to completely withdraw from the semester (drop all classes) 14 24-Nov Address geocoding 13 12 15 1-Dec Hat Night Review for final 13 16 8-Dec Final Exam 6:00-8:00 PM PHYS 104 The date and time of lab exercise and project submissions are recorded on email. Lab Exercise Submissions Lab results are due within one week from when assigned. The assigned date is the beginning time of your lab section, and results are due before the beginning of the next lab. No late lab results are accepted. You are graded on the highest 10 grades out of 13 exercises. It is recommended that you complete all of the labs for your benefit. Submit results via email before the beginning of the next lab. Project Submissions Project results are due by 6:00 pm on the due date. Late project work will be accepted within one week after the due date and will automatically lose 20% points. Projects beyond one week of the due date will not be accepted. Each project includes a grading checklist and students will receive a copy of the checklist showing their grade. Submit project results via email.
CSAM Lab Rules/Expectations 1. Cellphones: turn them off or turn the ringer off. If necessary, use your cell phone in the hallway after the exercise presentation is given at the beginning of the lab. 2. No food or drink next to the computers. Place any foodstuffs on the shelves at the back of the lab and dispose of it when you leave. Soft drink cans/bottles and paper go in recycling bins. Note! A security camera is in use in the lab. 3. Do not print out material for other classes. We do not receive funds to support the printer. Your fees go to the General Access Computer Labs (GAL). If you have large print jobs, please do them in GAL labs located around campus: https://computerlabs.unt.edu/location-labs 4. Save your work on the T:\ drive or flash drive and save often. The computers shut down every night between 2:00 7:00A. Data on the C:\ drive is automatically deleted each night. If you are working late, save your work often to your own storage place. 5. Do not do your work during other classes. The lab schedule is posted on the door. Please be respectful of others and refrain from using the labs during times it is scheduled for instruction. 6. Communication: email is the first means of communication with the lab instructors. Always include your name in the email. Do not wait until the last minute to ask instructors for help or guidance. 7. Do not share the access codes to CSAM labs with others and never prop the building doors open. Note! Occasionally, UNT Police will check the lab at EESAT closing time. You have the department s permission to use the CSAM facilities after hours. However, if you leave the building you may not return the outside doors will be locked. Never prop the outside doors to the building. Safety is a top priority. Typical EESAT (ENV) Building Hours: 10:00 am 10:00 pm SUN 6:00 am 11:00 pm M R 7:00 am 10:00 pm F 8:00 am 10:00 pm SAT University and Department Policies Disability Accommodation The University of North Texas is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens. Succeed at UNT UNT endeavors to offer you a high-quality education and to provide a supportive environment to help you learn and grow. As a faculty member, I am committed to helping you be successful as a student. Here s how to succeed at UNT: Show up. Find support. Take control. Be prepared. Get involved. Be persistent. To learn more about campus resources and information on how you can achieve success, go to succeed.unt.edu.
Student Behavior in the Classroom Student behavior that interferes with an instructor s ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor will request the Dean of Students to consider whether the student's actions violated the Code of Student Conduct. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at https://deanofstudents.unt.edu/conduct Classroom Courtesy Guidelines Turn cell phones off or set to silent before arriving. Do not arrive late or leave early. Do not sleep or eat during class. Do not work on other assignments during class. Do not talk when the instructor is lecturing, unless prompted for feedback by the instructor. Extra Credit The Department of Geography does not allow extra credit assignments (work not specified on a course syllabus). Academic Dishonesty Students caught cheating or plagiarizing will receive a "0" for that particular assignment or exam. Additionally, the incident will be reported to the Dean of Students for further penalty. According to the UNT catalog, the term "cheating" includes, but is not limited to: (a) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; (b) dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; (c) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a faculty or staff member of the university; (d) dual submission of a paper or project, or resubmission of a paper or project to a different class without express permission from the instructor(s); or (e) any other act designed to give a student an unfair advantage. Altering a returned test and claiming a grader or scanning machine made an error is also considered cheating. The term "plagiarism" includes, but is not limited to: (a) the knowing or negligent use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment; and (b) the knowing or negligent unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials. Dropping Courses Refer to Registrar s website for important deadlines: registrar.unt.edu Students may independently drop a course prior to the Census Date. After the Census Date, students must have written consent to drop from the instructor. Depending on the date the student received written consent to drop, instructors may award the student a W or WF. A WF will have the same effect as an F for the class. Refer to the Spring 2015 Registration Guide for dates: http://registrar.unt.edu/registration/spring-registration-guide The instructor may withhold consent for students to drop, provided that the students have been informed in writing at the beginning of the semester. Be aware of the last day to drop as students will be trying to contact instructors to obtain permission to drop. Withdrawing Withdrawing means to drop all classes for the semester. To withdraw from all classes, students must make a formal request by email, fax or in person with the Registrar s Office: registrar.unt.edu/registration/withdrawing-semester
Workbook purchase locations: University Services Building 125 Copy Pro Corner of Hickory and Fry