Syllabus

PRIVATEInstructor	Julie Coonrod	Telephone	277-3233
Office	Tapy 7000 (1^st floor)	E-mail	jcoonrod@unm.edu

Text: Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop, Second Edition, Updated for ArcGIS 9.3, ESRI Press, 2008.

(make sure there is a yellow triangle near the upper right hand corner of the book saying ‘Updated to ArcGIS 9.3’ and yellow band near the bottom that says ‘Second Edition’)

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 9.3 at both the ArcInfo and ArcView licensing levels. The its 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.

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

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 on February 16. A project outline is due March 9. Your final report will be due May 11. Final in-class presentations will be the last several weeks of class.

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.