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GIS 230 Applied GIS: The Environment
Credit Hours:  3
Effective Term: Fall 2013
AGEC: None
Credit Breakdown: 2 Lectures, 3 Labs
Times for Credit: 1
Grading Option: A/F

Description: Use Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the leading technique used in ecosystem analysis, to analyze data types, sources and applications; to integrate the physical and topographic information in a landscape with characteristics of the biotic components of the environment; and to address environmental systems and problems. This course focuses on GIS applications to analyze and interpret ecological data. Use GIS to interpret spatial information in relation to land use and to create a decision matrix to plan, manage and restore land for more effective land use and success in environmental restoration efforts.

Prerequisites: GIS113

Corequisites: None

Recommendations: None

Measurable Student Learning Outcomes
1. (Knowledge Level) Describe a broad range of current environmental issues.
2. (Application Level) Identify, explain and apply GIS applications to address environmental questions.
3. (Synthesis Level) Create solutions to environmental issues and solve software issues using the ArcMap Help function and ESRI software support website.
4. (Application Level) Convert raster elevation data into vector contour data.
5. (Comprehension Level) Classify different types of environmental areas.
6. (Application Level) Create both raster and vector land use GIS data.
7. (Application Level) Calculate acreage of different environmental land use areas in GIS data.
8. (Application Level) Calculate hypsometry from water shed GIS data.
9. (Application Level) Determine the order of dendritic systems.
10. (Application Level) Demonstrate and explain how GIS can be used to address environmental questions.
11. (Application Level) Identify, acquire and use sources of publicly available datasets relevant to current environmental issues.
12. (Application Level) Describe common GIS data formats and demonstrate how to manipulate them using GIS software.
13. (Synthesis Level) Design and conduct a work flow using spatial analyst and other GIS tools to address specific environmental questions.
14. (Synthesis Level) Create and present quality map information products based on a project.
Internal/External Standards Accreditation
URISA (http://www.urisa.org/)

ESRI (http://www.esri.com/) &

GISCI (http://www.gisci.org/)

NCGIA (http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/) &