DIGI205-25S1 (C) Semester One 2025

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 February 2025
End Date: Sunday, 22 June 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 2 March 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 11 May 2025

Description

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide the tools for managing, analysing and presenting spatial information in an intuitive and graphical way. This course provides students with an introduction to the fundamental concepts, principles and techniques of GIS. The course examines the use of geographic technology including global positioning systems as well as GIS. It also introduces you to the development of GIS and GPS software skills, including ArcView.

Nau mai ki GEOG-DIGI205/GISC422 – welcome to GEOG-DIGI205/GISC422. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide the tools for managing, analysing, and presenting spatial information in an intuitive and graphical way. GEOG-DIGI205/GISC422 provides students with an introduction to the fundamental concepts, principles, and techniques of GIS. The course examines the use of geospatial technology including global positioning systems (GPS), geographical information systems, and aspects of remote sensing (RS). It also develops introductory GIS software skills using ArcGIS and ENVI.

This year’s main contributors are Dr. Carolynne Hultquist (carolynne.hultquist@canterbury.ac.nz), Dr. Ioannis Delikostiids (ioannis.delikostidis@canterbury.ac.nz), and Justin Harrison (Laboratory, Field and Equipment Technician, justin.harrison@canterbury.ac.nz).

GEOG-DIGI205/GISC422 is designed to provide an applied introduction to geographic information systems. The course focuses on key concepts and methods in GIS, GPS and Remote Sensing. It will allow students to develop hands-on skills for handling and analysing geospatial data.

Learning Outcomes

  • Course Requirements:
    To be eligible to be credited with a pass in GEOG-DIGI205/GISC422, you must meet the following course requirements:
    1. Complete the laboratory programme
    2. Hand in lab work and complete quizzes
    3. Pass the final exam

    Course Learning Outcomes:
    The aims of this course are to:
  • Provide an applied introduction to key technical concepts and methods used with GIS, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Remote Sensing (RS).
  • examine and use data capture and analysis techniques with GIS, GPS and RS
  • develop hands-on skills using GIS and RS software

    After completing this course, we expect you to have gained the following:
  • an understanding of the key concepts in GIS, GPS, and RS
  • the ability to apply basic spatial analysis techniques to geographic data
  • hands-on skills using the technology and in particular to:
    o demonstrate practical use of GIS and RS software; o access and use digital geographic data;
    o produce digital map compositions which demonstrate sound cartographic principles; and
    o undertake basic fieldwork for geographic data collection
  • an awareness of the limitations of geographic technology

Prerequisites

Any 30 points at 100 level from the BA, BE (Hons), BSc or Bcom.

Restrictions

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 13:00 - 14:00 C2 Lecture Theatre
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Thursday 10:00 - 11:00 A2 Lecture Theatre
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
Computer Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 15:00 - 18:00 Ernest Rutherford 211
211A GIS Comp Lab (24/2-24/3)
Ernest Rutherford 211A GIS Comp Lab (31/3, 28/4-26/5)
Ernest Rutherford 211 GIS Comp Lab (31/3, 28/4-26/5)
24 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
02 Tuesday 14:00 - 17:00 Ernest Rutherford 211 GIS Comp Lab
24 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
03 Wednesday 11:00 - 14:00 Ernest Rutherford 211 GIS Comp Lab
24 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
04 Monday 08:00 - 11:00 Ernest Rutherford 211 GIS Comp Lab
24 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
05 Friday 08:00 - 11:00 Ernest Rutherford 211 GIS Comp Lab
24 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
06 Tuesday 08:00 - 11:00 Ernest Rutherford 211 GIS Comp Lab
24 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun

Timetable Note

23 hrs lectures (23 x 1 hour lectures)
30 hrs labs (10 x 3 hour labs)
97 hrs self-study and assignment/project work

Course Coordinator / Lecturers

Ioannis Delikostidis and Carolynne Hultquist

Lecturer

Justin Harrison

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
10 x lab quizzes on Learn 10% Due by 9am every Monday following each lab
Lab 1 Report 08 Mar 2024 4%
Labs 2 - 4 Report 29 Mar 2024 12%
Labs 5 - 7 Report 17 May 2024 12%
Labs 8 - 10 Report 31 May 2024 12%
Final Exam 50% Due date to be advised

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

Heywood, D. Ian. , Cornelius, Sarah, Carver, Steve; An introduction to geographical information systems ; 4th ed; Prentice Hall, 2011.

Longley, Paul et al; Geographic information science & systems ; Fourth edition; Wiley, 2015.

Supplementary readings which you are expected to read will be listed most weeks online.

Notes

GEOG-DIGI205 Prerequisites: 45 points at 100-level or above, from any degree schedule.
GISC422 Prerequisites:  Undergraduate degree or diploma

Course Requirements:
To be eligible to be credited with a pass in GEOG-DIGI205/GISC422, you must meet the following course requirements:
1. Complete the laboratory programme
2. Hand in lab work and complete quizzes
3. Pass the final exam

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $998.00

International fee $5,188.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Humanities .

All DIGI205 Occurrences

  • DIGI205-25S1 (C) Semester One 2025