Course Descriptions and Syllabi

587 GPS/GIS Field Techniques (4, Sm)

1. Scope and Purpose

This course aims to provide students with the requisite knowledge and practical skills to source and evaluate, against recognized quality standards, data for use in Geographical Information-based projects and assess the quality of information output from those projects. This course is divided into four modules as follows:

• Sourcing spatial data – focusing on how to identify sources of spatial data using discovery metadata, how to capture spatial data into a GIS and how to design a data capture strategy
• Data standards – identify the range of national and international data standards, introduce case studies on specific standards, assessment the impact standards have on the development of Spatial Data Frameworks at national and international levels.
• Data quality - define the different measures of data quality and how the might be assessed, introduce the concepts of spatial uncertainty, identify the sources of error in spatial data and how they might propagate when data is combined, consider the impact of data quality on spatial analysis.
• Evaluating fitness for purpose – the process by which the suitability of data for a specific application can be determined, the management of data quality within an organization.

2. Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course, students should be able to:

• design and implement a strategy for capturing or sourcing spatial (geographical) data and accompanying metadata,
• assess the impact of national and international data standards on the sourcing and availability of spatial (geographical data) data,
• critically evaluate the potential impacts of data quality on spatial analysis and decision making,
• specify fitness for purpose criteria and apply them to the evaluation of spatial (geographical) data for specific applications.

3. Teaching and Learning Strategies

The learning and teaching strategies are student centered. They aim to encourage a deep-learning approach by using reflection and self-evaluation. A written Directed Reader will be provided on-line, which will provide the essential background, the framework for study and essential detail. It will include self assessment exercises. Each section of this Reader will be framed with a context setting introduction, clearly identified learning outcomes and additional reading within the academic and professional literature. Students will be required to reflect on their learning as part of the self assessment exercises and the summative assignments. Opportunities for students to discuss issues with staff and fellow students will be provided via an online bulletin board.

Assessment Strategies

Assessment is by coursework. There will be two assignments of equal weighting, the first assesses the student’s evaluation of data strategies and the implications of data standards; the second assesses their evaluation of data quality for a particular application.

Assessment 1Data sourcing analysis (50%) (3000 words)
Students will identify and evaluate issues relating to the sourcing of spatial data and in particular the impact of data standards and spatial data infrastructure initiatives.

Assessment 2 Data quality evaluation (50%) (3000 words)
Students will evaluate the quality of data being used for a particular application. This evaluation will involved an assessment of the requirements of the project and the identification of relevant data quality issues.

5. Student Learning Resources

The primary resource will be the Directed Reader supplemented by a
mixture of academic journal and professional references.

Core Texts:
Chrisman N. (2002), Exploring Geographical Information Systems (2nd Edition),
John Wiley: New York.

Longley P.A., Goodchild M.F., Maguire D.J. and Rhind D.W. (2001)
Geographic Information Systems and Science, John Wiley: Chichester.

Other texts:
Heywood I, Cornelius S and Carver S. (2002) An Introduction to Geographical
Information Systems, Prentice Hall.

Longley P.A., Goodchild M.F., Maguire D.J. and Rhind D.W. (1999)
Geographic Information Systems(2nd Edition) John Wiley: Chichester.

Longley P.A, Brookes S.M, McDonnell R. and MacMillan B. (1998)
Geocomputation: A primer, John Wiley: Chichester.

eJournals (available via ATHENS access)
Computers, Environment and Urban Systems
Computers and Geosciences
International Journal of Geographical Information Science