Course aims:

Knowing, understanding and a correct using of fundamental ideas concerning concepts specific to GIS.
Enabling decision making based on spatial data
Collecting, manipulating and using spatial data in data base management

Course Entry Requirements:

Cartography; Geomorphology; CAD techniques.

Course contents:

The course covers the following main topics: • Introduction and theoretical issues in GIS; • Areas of GIS applicability; • GIS components; • GIS functions; • Spatial data structures. Internal representation of vector layers. Internal encoding of a raster; • Databases; • Spatial data acquisition; • Data conversions. Data import. Import from other GIS software. Import from CAD software; • Data structures. Designing a database for attribute data; • Acquiring and integrating data; • Attribute and spatial queries; • Building surface models; • Exploratory data analysis; • Maps and digital cartography. Thematic mapping techniques. The seminar covers the following main topics: • Preparation of a GIS project; • GIS products; • Arc Gis Desktop’s modules; • Conversion of analog cartographic products; • Building new shapefile; • Building new geodatabase; • Map rectification, georeferencing and digitizing; • The digitizing process. Digitizing regimes; • Using symbols and creating annotations in GIS; • Integrating and manipulating attribute data; • Attribute and spatial queries; • Building surface models; • Spatial analysis; • Thematic mapping techniques.

Teaching methods:

Conversation, exemplification.

Learning outcomes:

• Using GIS enhances students' ability to think critcally about analyzing data. • Using GIS promotes students' ability to use numbers and numeric skills, and to use tools that facilitate processing and transferreing information.; • This technology enables students to visualize spatial patterns, linkages, and relationships. GIS is used not only in geography courses, but in environmental studies, earth science, history, mathematics, chemistry, biology, language arts,and other subjects.

Learning outcomes verification and assessment criteria:

• A two-hour written examination (75% of the final grade)• Carrying out practical work. (25% of the final grade)

Recommended reading:

• GIS by ESRI – Michael Minami, Using Arc Map, Enviromental Systems Research Institute, Inc., 380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373-8100, USA;, New York, -, -.
• GIS by ESRI, Enviromental Systems Research Institute, Editing in Arc Map, New York Street, -, -.
• GIS by ESRI – Aleta Vienneau, Using Arc Catalog, Enviromental Systems Research Institute, Enviromental Systems Research Institute, -, -.