Postgraduate Course: Distributed GIS (PGGE11084)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/ |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course introduces students to the concepts, technology and benefits of distributed GIS services (web, mobile and multi-computing architectures) and contrasts these with previous monolithic systems. It will illustrate the growing importance of distributed GIS in corporate and enterprise environments. The underlying technology of computer networks and the Internet are explained. Emphasis is placed on web-based systems, although consideration is also given to real-time systems and location-based services accessible via mobile devices and smartphones. Web mapping systems are explained in detail, including GoogleMaps and developments in data to feed these systems, together with the impact of Web 2.0, are reviewed. The importance of standards is highlighted, and OpenGIS and other key standards are explained (including WMS, WFS, WMTS). The use of these standards to produce a range of applications $ú from AJAX-based mashups to integrated web services - is discussed. Practicals and exercises will examine different solutions to serving geographical data. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2012/13 Block 2 (Sem 1), Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Laboratory | | 6-11 | | 16:10 - 18:00 | | | | | Central | Lecture | | 6-11 | | 14:00 - 15:50 | | | |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
|
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Distributed GIS | 1:00 | | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
&· understand the value of distributed geographical information and services
&· understand the value of networked information and the organisation-wide deployment of a system
&· understand the technological underpinnings of distributed GIS and the restrictions inherent in both hardware and protocols, mitigating strategies and opportunities
&· predict future developments and understand the implications of standardisation efforts
&· appreciate the importance standards such as the OpenGIS web mapping suite
&· understand the concepts of interoperability
&· become familiar with tools to create distributed web services
&· be aware of contemporary debates in the industry relating to distributed GI services
&· 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.
|
Assessment Information
Report 15%
Practical 35%
Exam 50% (one hour; answer one essay question from a choice of four) |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
- Technological Infrastructures for Distributed GIS
- The Place of Standards, OpenGIS and Spatial Data Infrastructures
Practical: Authoring web pages
- Building Distributed GI Services
Practical: From Database to Web
- The Battleground of GI: Local Search and Web Mapping
Practical: Web Mapping APIs
- Mobile GIS, Location-Based Services and Data Issues
Practical: Integrating Paper Maps with Web Services
|
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Reading List (more extensive list on Course Outline and course web page)
- Groot, R. and McLaughlin, J. (2000) Geospatial Data Infrastructure, Oxford University Press
- Kraak, M.-J. and Brown, A. (2001) Web Cartography, Taylor & Francis, London
- Mitchell, T. (2005) Web Mapping Illustrated, O'Reilly
- Peng, Z-R and M-H Tsou (2003) Internet GIS: Distributed Geographic Information Services for the Internet and Wireless Network, Wiley, London
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| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | PGGE11084 Distributed GIS, web mapping, OpenGIS |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Bruce Gittings
Tel: (0131 6)50 2558
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Caroline Keir
Tel: (0131 6)50 2543
Email: |
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