Unit 2802: Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis

1. Introduction to GIS

• Definition and history of GIS
• Concept of spatial data and spatial information
• Types of GIS software: desktop, web-based, mobile
• Applications of GIS in various fields: environment, urban planning, public health, transportation, agriculture

2. Spatial Data Representation

• Types of spatial data
  • Vector data: points, lines, polygons
  • Raster data: pixels, grid cells
• Coordinate systems and map projections
  • Geographic coordinate system (latitude, longitude)
  • Projected coordinate systems (UTM, State Plane)
• Georeferencing and spatial referencing
• Metadata: definition, importance, standards

3. Data Acquisition and Sources

• Methods of spatial data acquisition
  • Remote sensing: satellite imagery, aerial photography
  • GPS data collection
  • Digitizing existing maps and data
• Sources of spatial data
  • Government agencies (e.g., USGS, NASA, local governments)
  • Satellite data providers
  • Crowdsourcing and volunteered geographic information (VGI)

4. Spatial Analysis Techniques

• Spatial query and selection
• Buffering and proximity analysis
• Overlay analysis (intersect, union, clip)
• Interpolation techniques (IDW, spline)
• Network analysis: shortest path, service area

5. Cartography and Map Design

• Principles of cartography
• Map elements: title, legend, scale, north arrow, source
• Symbology: colors, symbols, line styles
• Labeling techniques and considerations
• Designing maps for effective communication

6. Geostatistics

• Introduction to geostatistics
• Variogram analysis: concept and interpretation
• Kriging: ordinary, universal, and other types
• Spatial autocorrelation metrics (Moran's I, Geary's C)
• Spatial interpolation methods

7. Spatial Data Visualization

• Choropleth maps and thematic mapping
• Heat maps and density mapping
• 3D visualization techniques
• Web mapping applications and tools (e.g., ArcGIS Online, Leaflet, Mapbox)

8. Spatial Analysis in Environmental Management

• Land use and land cover mapping
• Natural resource management applications
• Environmental impact assessment using GIS
• Conservation planning and habitat suitability analysis

9. Spatial Analysis in Urban Planning

• Site selection analysis
• Transportation and infrastructure planning
• Zoning and land use analysis
• Demographic mapping and urban population studies

10. Spatial Analysis in Public Health

• Disease mapping and epidemiology
• Healthcare accessibility analysis
• Emergency response planning with GIS
• Spatial patterns of health outcomes