Understanding GIS Technology (P01530)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : GEO-P-GIS1

This course aims to provide an appreciation of the technology which underlies modern GI systems. The course will begin with a brief examination of the technological roots of today's systems. It will continue to review hardware, operating systems, networking and the performance of systems. The course will conclude with a review of user interfaces.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Distributed GIS; Available only to postgraduate students

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences), (School of GeoSciences, Schedule N)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Block 2 only

? Contact Teaching Time : 4 hour(s) per week for 5 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Thursday	09:00	13:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

- understand the software components of a typical geographical information system.
- appreciate the historical development of such systems.
- understand the data model underlying the Arc/Info GIS and its development, together with the implications of legacy models on current implementations.
- be able to demonstrate the use of Arc/Info for the automation, management, analysis and display of data.
- critically review the available technologies, assessing their merits and shortcomings.
- predict future developments and understand the implications of standardisation efforts.
- appreciate the concept of a computer system and understand its performance and different approaches to interfacing it to the user and to other computers.
- understand the value of networked information and the concept of a corporate system.
- appreciate the importance and role of the computer operating system.
- understand how software systems can be customised and linked.
- locate, read and summarise relevant literature, from both traditional and electronic media, to extend your understanding of the topic.
- develop reasoned arguments, firmly grounded in the available literature.
- plan and write assignments, within the specified parameters and to a professional standard.
- take responsibility for your own learning through reading and the preparation of assignments, and reflect upon your learning experience.