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NOTE: Syllabus and schedule are now kept up to date on learn.unm.edu.

 

CE547 - 2013 Syllabus & Schedule

Syllabus

Instructor Julie Coonrod E-mail jcoonrod@unm.edu
Assistant Tyler Gillihan E-mail tgilli@unm.edu
Blackboard Development Stephen Brown

Class Time:  Mondays & Wednesdays, 10:00 - 11:15 a.m. 
Lecture Room:  Dane Smith Hall 143 
Prerequisites:  Graduate standing or approval of the instructor
Text:  Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop for ArcGIS 10, ESRI Press, 2010.  
(make sure there is an orangish band on the top of the front of the book that says ‘for ArcGIS 10’)

Course Objectives

            The principles and operation of geographic information systems will be taught using ArcGIS.  Assignments will include working with surface and subsurface digital representations of the environment with consideration of hydrologic and transportation processes.  Individual experience in GIS will be gained by completing a term project that applies GIS to a specific area of the student’s interest.


Class Format

            We will meet twice a week in a computer classroom.  Most class periods will consist of both lectures and computer work. Please bring a USB drive with you to class so that you can back up any computer work that you do.  Also bring your text with the accompanying CD as we will do some in-class exercises out of the text.


Hardware/Software

            The GIS software that we will be using is ArcGIS 10 at both the ArcInfo and ArcView licensing levels.  The computers in Dane Smith Hall, the Engineering and Science Pod, and the Lobo Lab are available for your use.  The hours of the computer labs are listed below.

 

Dane Smith Hall

ESC Pod

Lobo Lab

Mon-Thur

7:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

7:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

8:00 am – 11:30 pm

Friday

7:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Saturday

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Noon - 8:00 p.m.

Noon – 5:00 pm

Sunday

closed

Noon - 8:00 p.m.

Noon – 11:30 pm

# Computers

10 in pod,

75 in classrooms

45 in pod,

42 in classrooms

70

Telephone

277-0085

277-0440(S),

277-0459 (N)

277-8825

The computers in the Dane Smith Hall classroom can be used when a class is not in session.  If your class project requires the use of a digitizer or a plotter, you will have to coordinate with another Department.


Homework Policy

            The homework in this course will mostly be computer exercises and I expect you to turn in the output of your exercise and a sufficiently good separate explanation of what you have done so that I can follow your output.  I do not want the result turned in alone.  I want to have you explain in writing how you got the result, much as you would explain to somebody who was approaching this task as a new exercise for the first time.  All assignments will be given a letter grade.  The time given to complete assignments will vary, typically 2-3 class periods.  A (black & white) print out of each assignment should be turned in at the beginning of the appropriate class period.  The associated (colored) web posting of each assignment should be made prior to the following morning.  Late assignments will be docked a letter grade for each week they are late.  


Grading Procedures

Your grade will be based on the following items: 
Homework:  30%  Midterm Exam:  15% 
Term Project Report:  25%  Term Project Presentation:  10% 
Final Exam:  20%     (May 8, 10 am - noon) 

Course Instructor Evaluation Plan

            The standard approved instructor evaluation form will be used at the end of the semester.


Term Projects

            For your term project, you should pick a topic that interests you.  Your project should include the formulation, execution, and presentation of original research.  Your GIS work should be well documented.  A project idea is due in writing mid February.  A list of data sources is due near Spring Break.  Your final report will be due at the end of the semester.  Final in-class presentations will be the last several weeks of class.


Other Requirements

            You must have an e-mail account.  The class will correspond with each other on assignments, project progress, data sources, etc.  You must also have a home page where you will post some of your work on the web.  Accounts are available through UNM.

            Although you can work on a local hard drive, you should never consider your work to be secure.  You should back your work up on a USB drive. 

 

(Very) Tentative Class Calendar
(check periodically for updates)

WEEK - TOPIC

MONTH

DATE

DATE

0 - Introduction to GIS

January

14

16

1 - ArcView, Web Authoring

21

23 

2 - Map Projections

 

28 - HW #1 due

30

3 – Intro to Grid

February

4 - HW #2 due

6*   

4 - Grid, Watershed delineation

11 - HW #3 due

13         ideas due

5 – Point Coverages, River Reaches

18  

2- HW #4 due

6 - Data types

 

25

27 -HW #5 due

7 – Review, Midterm

March

4  

6 – midterm exam

8 – Spring Break

11 (no class)

13   (no class)

9 – STATSGO, Geodatabases, generating surfaces

18 - HW #6 due

- data sources list

20

 

10 – Spatial Analysis

 

25

27 -

11 – 3-D Analyst, Customization (VB, VBA, AML & Avenue)

April

1

3

12 – GPS, Remote Sensing

8 - (draw numbers for presentation order)

10

13 - Presentation Prep

15– presentation tips

17- working class (optional)

14 - Class Presentations

22 - class presentations (7)

24- class presentations (7)

15 – Class Presentations

Final Exam Review

May

29 – class presentations (7)

1- class presentations (3) - evaluation, review for final

 

FINAL EXAM

 

6

8- FINAL               

10 am - noon

*Instructor out-of-town