School of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Course Outline for RREN 303

FUNDAMENTALS OF GPS/GIS

Spring 2008

WebCT Access of Course Material On-line (for students enrolled in the course)

INSTRUCTOR:

GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to provide the student with basic understanding of the global positioning system (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS).  The focus will be primarily on the application, uses, management, implementation, and benefits of these systems (rather than the theory and the technical details of how GPS and GIS actually "work").  The course is also designed to give students with very little GPS/GIS background a working knowledge of how to gather spatially-distributed and geographically-referenced data, query data, analyze spatial relationships, and produce maps.  The laboratory work will focus on teaching the student how to use GIS and GPS through hands-on exercises.  Students are expected to gain practical knowledge on using GPS and differential GPS (DGPS) as well as the ArcGIS Desktop software.

EXPECTED COURSE OUTCOMES:

At the successful completion of RREN 303, the student is expected to have:

1. Developed an understanding of GPS/GIS hardware, software, and systems and how they work together and separately.

2. Learned how GPS and GIS work together and in conjunction with a variety of other geospatial technologies.

3. Understood the concepts and applications of GPS and GIS in natural resources and agriculture.

4. Used remotely-sensed data (including aerial photographs and digital orthoimagery) in making basic measurements, locating features, and creating attributes.

5. Learned the numerous applications of ArcGIS Desktop software.

6. Became proficient in using computers for analyzing spatially-distributed and geographically-referenced data.

7. Became proficient in generating reports and making presentations.

OFFICE HOURS:

The instructor has the following designated office hours per week:

• Mondays: 1:00 to 1:50 p.m.

• Tuesdays: 9:00 to 9:50 a.m.

• Wednesdays: 10:00 to 10:50 a.m.

• Thursdays: 10:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.

If necessary, students are also encouraged to make appointments to see the instructor at other times. Students with disabilities who require accommodations to fully-participate in the course activities are requested to contact the instructor within the first two weeks of the semester.

CONTACT HOURS AND CLASS SCHEDULE:

RREN 303 is a three-credit hour course.  It includes four contact hours per week (two for lecture and two for laboratory).  One section of the class is offered during the 2008 Spring semester.  The schedule of the offered section is as follows:

• RREN 303 - Section 1 (lecture):  Meets on Mondays and Wednesdays (11:00 to 11:50 a.m.) in Room 207, Bicknell Hall.
• RREN 303 - Section 01L (laboratory):  Meets on Wednesdays (2:00 to 3:50 p.m.) in Room 208, Bicknell Hall.

TEXTBOOK(S):

The following are two required textbooks that can be purchased from the College's Bookstore:

1. Davis, B.E.  2001.  GIS: A Visual Approach (2^nd Edition).  OnWord Press, Albany, New York.

2. Ormsby, T., E. Napoleon, R. Burke, C. Groessl, and L. Feaster.  2004. Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Basics of ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo (2^nd Edition).  ESRI Press, Redlands, California.

The first textbook will be used in the lecture during the first twelve teaching weeks of the semester while the second will be used in the laboratory during the same time period.  An additional textbook will be used during the last few weeks of the semester and will be provided by the instructor at the time.  The details of this textbook which focuses on the basics of GPS are provided below:

3. Hurn, J. 1989. GPS: A Guide to the Next Utility. Trimble Navigation, Sunnyvale, California.

Other material is available on-line and may be accessible either through the course's web page or using the listed URLs in the course manual.  Such resources are available on both geographic information systems (GIS.COM, USGS) and the global positioning system (Trimble).  Students are encouraged to be actively involved in acquiring some pertinent knowledge from these and other on-line resources available on the web.

CLASS POLICIES:

• Attendance: First and foremost, students must always plan to be in class on time.  Given the nature of the course, all students are also required to attend all classes and laboratories.  Class attendance will be kept and appropriate actions will be taken when students are absent for more than 20% of the course.  Very few or no absences will be considered during the grading process when the student is close to receiving the next higher letter grade.  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 material covered in the class whether presented orally during the lectures (and laboratories) or assigned.

• Assignments: This course will include several class and laboratory assignments as well as a paper and a class presentation.  Therefore, it is important that students complete their assignments independently (except when students are asked to work in groups), accurately, and neatly.  Assignments must also be submitted on time.  Not being present in class may not be used as an excuse for turning in a late assignment.  Assignments received past the due date will be devalued 5% for each day that the item is late.  No class assignment of any student will be graded (for credit) once the same assignment is corrected and returned to the class.

• Examinations: Class examinations will cover class material, homework and Laboratory assignments, and assigned readings.

• 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 the consumption of any tobacco products is prohibited in the classroom situation (lecture hall, classroom, laboratory, or field). Doing so may result in the student's dismissal from that class period and will count as an unexcused absence.

• Cell phones and pagers must be turned off during instruction time. Use of or disruption of class by these devices will result in the student's dismissal from that class period and will count as an unexcused absence. Laptop computers may not be used during the lecture.

• Honesty Policy and Discipline (Due Process): Honesty and integrity are major 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. Cheating, in any form, is an unacceptable behavior within all College courses. Students having academic problems should consult with their academic advisor or a college counselor. Instances of cheating will be dealt with in accordance to College policy. Standards of academic honesty and due process procedures for Morrisville State College are located in the Rules, Regulations, and Expectations section of the Student Handbook. 

• Safety Guidelines: Certain class assignments may require the student to be absent from the professor's immediate supervision. Whether the student is under immediate supervision or not, safe conduct and safe use of equipment shall be the ultimate rule. Failure to comply with prudent safety practice and/or willful disregard for class participants and/or equipment may be cause for immediate dismissal from that particular class session by the professor(s). Subsequent similar activity may be cause for dismissal from the course by the Dean.  

• Things to remember: The nature of the material covered in RREN 303 will require a consistent effort from each student (understanding earlier lectures and laboratories will be critical to grasping concepts presented in subsequent lectures).  Each student should plan to spend at least an hour for every lecture convened in class.  Given the course's focus, students are also urged to spend the time in completing laboratory exercises and course assignments on time.  Completing assignments and projects well before the due date will give the student a chance to ask questions should s/he encounter 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 STUDENT:

Evaluation is a shared responsibility between the teacher and the student. The purpose of the evaluation is 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, and to determine the students' ability to apply that knowledge to specific situations.

The breakdown of grading in this course will be as follows:

• Class Participation, Attendance, and Work Ethic ==> 5% of final grade

• Class Assignments and Laboratory Reports ==> 15% of final grade

• Term Paper and PowerPoint Presentation ==> 20 % of the final grade

• Quizzes ==> 10 % of the final grade

• Two Hourly Examinations ==> 30% of final grade

• Final Comprehensive Examination ==> 20% of 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%).

OUTLINE OF TOPICS:

*The topics and corresponding dates listed in the tables above are tentative and may be subject to change during the semester.