Spring 2024
Brightspace Access of
Course Material Online (for students enrolled in the course)
INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Walid H. Shayya |
Instructor's Contact Information
|
GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION:
ENRM 303 is intended to cover the fundamentals of geospatial information systems. These include the geographic information system (GIS), which represents a computerized data management system designed to input, store, analyze, and output geographically-referenced spatial data; the global navigation satellite system (GNSS), which combines globally-functional satellite constellations (including the U.S. Global Positioning System or GPS) with global and regional ground-based reference stations (at accurately surveyed locations) to enhance and broaden positioning; and remote sensing, which is widely used to gather information about features on the earth’s surface without being in physical contact with these features. The course is designed to provide students with limited geospatial technology and analysis background with the ability to gather spatially-distributed and geographically-referenced data, query data, analyze spatial relationships, and produce professional outputs. The specific topics covered include geospatial data models; geodesy, datums, map projections, and coordinate systems; mapping and cartographic output; data collection and entry; GNSS and coordinate surveying; aerial and satellite imagery; geospatial and tabular data analyses; basic geospatial analysis; advanced geospatial (including terrain) analyses; geospatial estimation; geospatial modeling; and data standards and quality. The laboratory work will focus on the practical application of geospatial information systems following the hands-on approach where the student is expected to gain practical knowledge on using ArcGIS for Desktop, aerial and satellite imagery, and several positioning and navigation systems.
Course Format: Lectures (Asynchronous Online), Laboratories (Face-to-Face)
Meeting Times/Locations: Lectures (recorded by 5:00 PM on Saturdays), Laboratories (Mondays and Wednesdays @ 12:00-1:50 PM or 2:00-3:50 PM in Bicknell 208)
Semester Start Date: January 22, 2024
Semester End Date: May 3, 2024Prerequisite: NATR 213 and upper-division standing or permission of instructor
4 credits (2 lecture hours, 4 laboratory hours), spring semester
EXPECTED COURSE OUTCOMES:
Upon the successful completion of ENRM 303, the student is expected to have:
Developed an understanding of the various components of geospatial information systems (GIS, GNSS, and remote sensing).
Demonstrated how to design, create, and maintain spatially-distributed and geographically-referenced data using desktop GIS software.
Evaluated vector and raster data entry and editing, tiling, database and metadata development, and cartographic model development.
Understood how to best utilize the various data models (including vector and raster data) for representing entities.
Demonstrated the use of remotely-sensed aerial and satellite imagery (and elevation data) in GIS applications.
Applied positioning systems (including GPS) for geospatial data collection.
Utilized analytical methods to facilitate basic and advanced geospatial analysis, including multi-layer overlay operations, interpolation, and surface analysis.
Evaluated real-world GIS and spatial analysis applications to investigate a variety of current natural resources and environmental issues.
Demonstrated how to apply the ArcGIS Desktop software to tackle real-life problems effectively.
Demonstrated proficiency in generating detailed project technical reports and making professional presentations.
STUDENT HOURS:
The instructor has the following designated student hours per week during the spring semester:
Mondays: 11:00 to 11:50 AM
Tuesdays: 11:00 to 11:50 AM
Wednesdays: 11:00 to 11:50 AM
Thursdays: 11:00 to 11:50 AM
Fridays: 8:00 to 8:50 AM
If necessary, students are also encouraged to make appointments to meet the instructor at other times.
CONTACT HOURS AND CLASS SCHEDULE:
ENRM 303 is a four-credit course. It includes six contact hours per week (two for lecture and four for laboratory). One section of the lecture and the laboratory is offered during the 2024 Spring semester. The schedules of the offered class sections are as follows:
- ENRM 303 - Section LN1 (lecture): The two 50-minute weekly lectures are recorded and made available by 5:00 PM on Saturdays.
- ENRM 303 - Section 02L (laboratory): Meets on Mondays and Wednesdays (12:00 to 1:50 PM) in Room 208, Bicknell Hall.
TEXTBOOK(S):
Below is a list of the three textbooks required in ENRM 303 (the texts are available from the Campus Store and various online vendors):
Bolstad, P. and S. Manson. 2022. GIS Fundamentals: A First Textbook on Geographic Information Systems (7th Edition). Eider Press, White Bear Lake, Minnesota (ISBN: 978-0-97176-475-0).
Law, M. and A. Collins. 2022. Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop 10.8 Sixth Edition. ESRI Press, Redlands, California (ISBN: 978-1-58948-577-8).
Gorr, W.L. and K.S. Kurland. 2020. GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Desktop 10.8. ESRI Press, Redlands, California (ISBN: 978-1-58948-614-0).
We will use the the first textbook predominantly during the lecture, while we will cover the second and third texts will during the laboratory (please note that older editions of the ArcGIS textbooks cannot be used in class). The instructor will provide additional handouts on topics not covered (or briefly covered) within these books. A lecture manual is also required (only available for purchase from the Campus Store).
Shayya, W.H. 2024. Fundamentals of Geospatial Systems: Lecture Manual (7th Edition). XanEdu Publishing Inc. (ISBN: 979-8-82277-930-3).
Additional pertinent material is available online from a variety of sources for geographic information systems (GIS.COM, fgdc, GeoPlatform, nationalatlas, census.gov, USGS, and ESRI), the global positioning system (GPS.gov, aero.org, Trimble, and Garmin), and remote sensing (USGS, USDA, CUGIR, and NYS GIS Clearinghouse). Students are encouraged to acquire pertinent knowledge from these and other online resources on the world wide web.
CLASS POLICIES:
Class Material and Reminders: The lecture and laboratory topics in ENRM 303 will follow the course outline provided on this page (under Brightspace) and online at people.morrisville.edu/~shayyaw/RREN303/RREN303.htm (the course outline along with course expectations will be covered during the first class recording). Lecture materials are delivered through two weekly recordings available online (lecture recordings are available asynchronously on Brightspace). You should expect the class recordings to be made available by 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays starting January 22, 2024. Weekly reminders for the class will be prepared on Saturdays and made available in the weekly page in Brightspace. Additionally, a copy of the weekly reminders will also be forwarded to the campus email address of every student currently enrolled in the class.
Attendance: Each student enrolled in ENRM 303 must log on to Brightspace to review the week's course material and attend to any class assignments. Quizzes and homework assignments must be completed in most weeks of the semester. Attendance will be taken based on the student completing the weekly online quiz (if assigned) and submitting the weekly assignment(s). If a student fails to take a quiz and submit an assignment when due, the student will be marked absent for that week. Appropriate action will be taken when a student misses 20% or more of the course during the semester. Moreover, a student with a few or no class absences during the semester will receive favorable consideration during the grading process when the student is close to receiving the next higher letter grade. Class examinations will be held during the class. No make-up examination will be given without a written medical excuse, family emergency, or prior permission from the instructor. Students are responsible for all materials covered, whether assigned or presented online in the recorded lectures and the laboratory exercises.
Assignments: ENRM 303 includes six homework assignments (accounting for 5% of your final grade in the course), 18 laboratory assignments (accounting for 12% of your final grade in the course), and ten class projects (accounting for 26% of your final grade in the course). Homework and laboratory assignments will each carry an equal weight of 10 points, while the class projects are graded on a 100-point scale. Class assignments must be accessed and submitted through the provided links on Brightspace. Assignments must be completed individually and submitted by the listed deadline (although there is usually a grace period of one day for submitting a class assignment in ENRM 303). Those course assignments serve a specific educational purpose by allowing the student to learn and apply the covered course concepts and be engaged with the covered topics and the utilized software. As such, students must complete those assignments accurately, neatly, and on time. Copying another student's assignment (including retyping their answers) or allowing someone else to copy your completed assignment is considered cheating (and it will result in you receiving a zero grade on the assignment). Assignments may not be submitted for a grade once an assignment is corrected and returned to the class. A student missing an assignment will receive a grade of zero on that assignment. However, the lowest assignment grade for homework and laboratory will be dropped at the end of the semester.
Examinations/Quizzes: There will be two class examinations and a final in ENRM 303. Class examinations will have to be completed during the class online on Brightspace and will cover the material presented during the recorded online lectures, in-person laboratories, class assignments, and assigned readings. Starting from week#1, please note that there will be a weekly online quiz (except for the weeks when an exam is scheduled) on the material covered in the recorded weekly lectures. When present, the weekly quiz must be completed between 5:00 p.m. and midnight on Thursdays. A student missing a weekly quiz will receive a grade of zero on the quiz. At the end of the semester, however, the quiz with the lowest grade for each student will be dropped.
Student Behavior: As students in a technical program are preparing for a professional career, all students are expected to conduct themselves as professionals (in both manner and dress). Good behavior in the classroom is expected from all students. Students who engage in unacceptable or disruptive behavior will be asked to leave the class.
Eating, drinking, or consuming tobacco products is prohibited in all in-person classroom settings (classroom, laboratory, or field). Doing so may result in the student's dismissal from that class period and count as an unexcused absence.
Cell phones and pagers must be turned off during in-person instruction time. Using these devices may result in the student's dismissal from that class period and be counted as an unexcused absence.
Honesty Policy and Discipline (Due Process): Honesty and integrity are significant elements in professional behavior and are expected of each student. Any assignment (including those in electronic media) submitted by a student must be of the student's original authorship. Representation of another's work as the student’s own shall constitute plagiarism. In any form, cheating is unacceptable in all college courses. Students having academic problems should consult their academic advisor or a college counselor. Cheating will be dealt with according to SUNY Morrisville policy. The standards of academic honesty and due process procedures for SUNY Morrisville are in the Rules, Regulations, and Expectations section of the Student Handbook.
Safety Guidelines: Certain laboratory assignments may require the student to be absent from the professor's immediate supervision. Whether the student is under close supervision or not, safe conduct and use of equipment shall be the ultimate rule. Failure to comply with prudent safety practices and/or willful disregard for class participants and/or equipment may cause immediate dismissal from that particular class session by the professor. Continued inappropriate activity will be cause for dismissal from the course.
Things to remember: The nature of the material covered in ENRM 303 will require a consistent effort from each student (understanding earlier lectures and laboratories will be critical to grasping concepts presented in subsequent classes). Each student should plan to keep up with class material and spend the necessary time needed to complete and submit course assignments on time. Completing assignments well before the due date will allow the student to ask questions should the student encounters problems. Students also should remember to ask questions of the instructor when they face difficulties, whether inside or outside the classroom. The instructor has an open-door policy and welcomes the opportunity to visit with students whenever needed.
GRADING/EVALUATION OF THE STUDENT:
Evaluation is a shared responsibility between the teacher and the student. It aims to demonstrate how well the professor has taught and the student has learned specific course materials, the principles, concepts, and terms relevant to the covered topics. Evaluation is also intended to assess the student's ability to apply the acquired knowledge in problem-solving.
The breakdown of grading in this course will be as follows:
Class Work Ethic and Participation ==> 5% of the final grade
Homework Assignments ==> 5% of the final grade
Laboratory Assignments ==> 12% of the final grade
Class Projects ==> 26% of the final grade
Weekly Quizzes ==> 6% of the final grade
Two Hourly Examinations ==> 28% of the final grade
Final Comprehensive Examination ==> 18% of the final grade
The distribution of grades in this course will be based on the A-F College grading scheme. The letter grades correspond to the following percentage scale: A (90-100%), A- (87-89.9%), B+ (83-86.9%), B (80-82.9%), B- (77-79.9%), C+ (73-76.9%), C (70-72.9%), C- (67-69.9%), D+ (63-66.9%), D (60-62.9%), and F (<60%).
STARFISH EARLY ALERT SYSTEM:
This course participates in the Starfish Early Alert System, an early intervention system designed to enable academic success, student persistence, and graduation. When an instructor observes student behaviors or concerns that may impede academic success, the instructor may raise an alert flag that notifies the student of the matter, requests an individual contact to discuss the issue, and (in most cases) refer the student to the academic advisor. If you receive an email notification of an early alert, you must contact the instructor as soon as possible to discuss the issue. The purpose of the contact is to determine the severity of the issue, accurately assess its potential impact on your academic success, and plan actions to prevent negative consequences and enable academic success. For more information about the Early Alert system, contact your academic advisor.
OUTLINE OF TOPICS:
Week |
Lecture Topic* |
Date Recording Available |
Textbook Chapter |
1 |
Introduction to ENRM 303 Overview of GIS (GIS.COM, USGS) |
- 20 Jan. - 20 Jan. |
Handout Handout |
2 |
GIS and the Information Age Geographic Data |
- 27 Jan. - 27 Jan. |
1Ch. 1 1Ch. 2 |
3 |
Common Spatial Data
Models Comparison of Spatial Data Models |
- 3 Feb. - 3 Feb. |
1Ch.
2 1Ch. 2 |
4 |
Vector Topology Georeferencing |
- 10 Feb. - 10 Feb. |
1Ch. 2 1Ch. 3 |
5 |
Map Projections GIS Data Entry and Editing |
- 17 Feb. - 17 Feb. |
1Ch.
3 1Ch. 4 |
6 |
GIS Output and
Introduction to Maps First Hourly Examination (to be held during the lab. on Wednesday) |
- 24 Feb. - 28 Feb. |
1Ch. 4 |
7 |
Remote Sensing and Imagery Digital Orthoimagery |
- 2 March - 2 March |
1Ch. 6 1Ch. 6 & 7 |
Week 8: Spring Break (No classes) | |||
9 |
NYS GIS Clearinghouse
Imagery Intro. to GPS, GPS Operation, and Differential GPS |
- 16 March - 16 March |
Handout 1Ch. 5 |
10 |
Overview of Global
Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) GNSS Signal Errors, Augmentation, and Applications |
-
23 March - 23 March |
1Ch. 5 1Ch. 5 |
11 |
Digital Data Attribute Data and Tables |
- 30 March - 30 March |
1Ch. 7 1Ch. 8 |
12 |
Inventory Operations Second Hourly Examination (to be held during the lab. on Wednesday) |
- 6 April - 10 April |
1Ch. 9 |
13 |
Basic Spatial Analysis Advanced Spatial Operations and Network Analysis |
- 13 April - 13 April |
1Ch. 9&10 1Ch. 9 |
14 |
Terrain Analysis Spatial Models and Modeling |
- 20 April - 20 April |
1Ch. 11 1Ch. 13 |
15 |
Data Standards and Quality Final Examination Review |
- 27 April - 1 May |
1Ch. 14 |
16 | Final Examination (comprehensive) | Finals Week |
Week: Date |
Laboratory Topic* |
1: 22 Jan. | Introduction to the Course and Computers |
1: 24 Jan. |
Introduction to the Course Assignments and Deadlines Installation of Exercise Data (CD-ROM of Data Purchased with Texts 2 and 3) Introduction to ArcGIS for Desktop (2Chapter 2 - Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop) |
2: 29 Jan. |
Interacting with Maps (2Chapter 3 -
Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Display map data - Navigate a map - Use basic tools - Look at feature attributes Interacting with Data (2Chapter 4 - Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Browse through map data - Add data to ArcMap - Work with map layers |
2: 31 Jan. |
Exploring Online Resources (2Chapter 5 -
Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Create a web map - Merge online and local layers - Share a map package Working with Coordinate Systems and Projections (2Chapter 6 - Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Examine coordinate systems - Project data - Define a map projection - Georefernce a raster |
3: 5 Feb. |
Introduction (3Chapter 1 -
GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Desktop 10.8) - Opening and saving a map document - Working with map layers - Navigating in a map document - Measuring distances - Working with feature attributes - Selecting features - Changing selection options - Working with attribute tables - Labeling features |
3: 7 Feb. |
Symbolizing Features (2Chapter
7 - Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Create custom symbology - Symbolize features by categorical attributes - Use styles and creating layer files - Symbolize rasters Classifying Features (2Chapter 8 - Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Classify features by standard methods - Map density - Use graduated and chart Symbols |
4: 12 Feb. |
Labeling Features (2Chapter 9 - Getting to
Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Use dynamic labels - Set rules for label placement - Create graphic labels - Convert dynamic labels to annotation Making Maps for Presentation (2Chapter 10 - Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Create a layout - Add titles and additional text - Add standard map elements - Add final touches and setting print options |
4: 14 Feb. |
Building Geodatabases (2Chapter 11 -
Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Create a geodatabase - Create feature classes Creating Features (2Chapter 12 - Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Draw features - Use more construction tools |
5: 19 Feb. |
Map Design (3Chapter 2 -
GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Desktop 10.8) - Creating point and polygon maps using qualitative attributes - Creating point and polygon maps using quantitative attributes - Creating custom classes for a map - Creating custom colors for a map - Creating normalized and density maps - Creating dot density maps |
5: 21 Feb. |
Editing Features
(2Chapter 13 - Getting to Know ArcGIS for
Desktop) - Delete and modifying features - Split and merging features - Edit feature attribute values |
6: 26 Feb. |
GIS Outputs (3Chapter
3 - GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Desktop 10.8) - Building an interactive GIS - Creating map layouts - Reusing a custom map layout - Creating a custom map template with two maps - Adding a report to a layout - Adding a graph to a layout |
6: 28 Feb. | First Hourly Examination |
7: 4 March |
File
Geodatabases (3Chapter 4 -
GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Desktop 10.8) - Building a file geodatabase - Using ArcCatalog utilities - Modifying an attribute table - Joining tables - Creating centroid coordinates in a table |
7: 6 March |
Geocoding
Addresses (2Chapter 14 - Getting to Know
ArcGIS for Desktop) - Create an address locator - Match addresses - Rematch addresses |
Week 8: Spring Break (No classes) | |
9: 18 March |
Spatial Data (3Chapter
5 - GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Desktop 10.8) - Examining metadata - Working with world map projections - Working with US map projections - Working with rectangular coordinate systems - Learning about vector data formats - Exploring raster basemaps from Esri web services - Downloading raster maps from the USGS |
9: 20 March |
Excercise on
Utilizing Digital Orthoimagery and GPS Measurements in ArcGIS - General characteristics of NYS DOI - Tiling ccheme and file names for NYS DOI - Characteristics of NYS DOI - Online availability of NYS DOI - Downloading NYS DOI - Incorporating DOIs and GPS data in ArcGIS |
10: 25 March |
Querying Data (2Chapter
15 - Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Select and finding features - Use attribute queries - Create reports Selecting Features by Location (2Chapter 16 - Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Use location queries - Combine attribute and location queries |
10: 27 March | Mapping Using a Handheld GPS Unit (1st GPS Exercise) |
11: 1 April | Navigating Using Real-time Differential GPS (2nd GPS Exercise) |
11: 3 April |
Joining and
Relating Data (2Chapter 17 - Getting to
Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Join data by attribute - Relate data - Join data by location |
12: 8 April |
Preparing Data
for Analysis (2Chapter 18 - Getting to
Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Dissolve features - Clip layers - Create a data subset - Run tools in a model |
12: 10 April | Second Hourly Examination |
13: 15 April |
Geoprocessing (3Chapter
6 - GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Desktop 10.8) - Extracting features for a study area - Clipping features - Dissolving features - Merging features - Intersecting layers - Unioning layers - Automating geoprocessing using ModelBuilder |
13: 17 April |
Geoprocessing
Vector Data (2Chapter
19 - Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Buffer features - Overlay data - Calculate attribute values - Create graphs |
14: 22 April |
Digitizing (3Chapter 7 -
GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Desktop 10.8) - Digitizing polygon features - Digitizing line features - Digitizing point features - Using advanced editing tools |
14: 24 April |
Demonstration of
the Spatial Analyst Extension of ArcGIS - Creating surface of elevations - Surface analysis (contour, slope, aspect, hillshade, & viewshed) - Raster calculations - Converting features to rasters - Converting rasters to features |
15: 29 April |
Geocoding (3Chapter 8 -
GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Desktop 10.8) - Geocoding data by Zip Code - Geocoding data by street address - Correcting source addresses using interactive rematch - Correcting street reference layer addresses - Using an alias table Spatial Analysis (3Chapter 9 - GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Desktop 10.8) - Buffering points for proximity analysis - Conducting a site suitability analysis |
15: 1 May |
Using ArcGIS Spatial Analyst (2Chapter
20 - Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop) - Create raster surfaces - Combine raster surfaces Review for Final Exam |
*The topics
and corresponding dates listed in the tables above are tentative and may be
subject to change during the semester.
COLLEGE-WIDE POLICIES: To view the College-wide policies page, please click on this
link.
1Bolstad, P. and S. Manson. 2022. GIS Fundamentals: A First
Textbook on Geographic Information Systems (7th Edition). Eider
Press, White Bear Lake, MN (ISBN: 978-0-97176-475-0).
2Law, M. and A. Collins. 2022. Getting to Know ArcGIS
Desktop 10.8 (6th
Edition). ESRI Press, Redlands, California (ISBN:
978-1-58948-577-8).
3Gorr, W.L. and K.S. Kurland. 2020. GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS
Desktop 10.8. ESRI Press, Redlands, California (ISBN: 978-1-58948-614-0).