Geography 591: Introduction to Geographic Information Science

This new course presents a survey of Geographic Information Science, the basic research field underpinning geographic information systems (GIS). Geographic information science rests on three basic areas: cognitive models of geographic concepts; computational and implementations of geographic models; and interactions between GIS and society. The course will provide overviews of these three research areas. The course will review applications of GIS and sources of geographic data, and include material on spatial data quality and spatial data standards. It also will provide students with an awareness of the history of GIS, the current state of the GIS industry, and trends and projections for the future. Ethical issues and legal dimensions of geographic information will be presented, and current high priority research areas within geographic information science also will be reviewed. This course is required course in UB's new Integrated Graduate Education and Research Training multidisciplinary Ph.D. in Geographic Information Science.

FACTS ABOUT THE COURSES

TIMETABLE: Geography 591 meets twice a week (Tu & Th), 12:30-1:50 pm.

CREDIT HOURS: Geography 591 is a 3-credit course.

GRADING: Two non-cumulative short-essay tests will each be worth 35 % of the grade, and a term paper will be worth 30 %.

NOTES:

• Students who took GEO 506 from David Mark should not take GEO 591 "Introduction to Geographic Information Science", as there is a greater than 50 % overlap in course material.

Course Outline

• Nov 9 (Tu) Intellectual Property, Privacy, and Ethics; Efficiency, Equity, Effectiveness

• Nov 11 (Th) Public Participation GIS; GIS and Social Theory
• Public Participation GIS Home Page
• Empowerment, Marginalization, and Public-Participation GIS (Varenius Project)
• Links relating to First Nations and GIS
• Intertribal GIS Council Home Page