Geographic Info Sciences (MSGA)

Students will learn to identify, explain, and find meaning in spatial patterns and relationships, such as site conditions, how places are similar and different, the influence of a land feature on its neighbors, the natures of transitions between places, how places are linked at local, regional, and/or global scales. Through readings, discussions, and weekly hands-on assignments, students will learn how to frame research questions and engage with relevant literatures to create research designs appropriate for GIS.

This course will require students to integrate a variety of theories concerning the nature and uses of maps and geographic information with technical practice in cartographic design and geovisualization. Assignments will be weekly or bi-weekly.

This course focuses on the application of statistics and spatial models in GIS. It will cover concepts of quantitative methods, the use of statistical procedures in problem solving, and applications of quantitative methods and spatial analysis throughout a series of geographic problems. Weekly assignments will provide practical experience. Topics include: point pattern analysis, areal data analysis, MAUP, gravity models, spatial autocorrelation, and geostatistics (i.e., variograms and kriging).

This course focuses on the analysis of remotely sensed images with an emphasis on the use of satellite imagery and digital processing techniques in geographical research. It is designed for early graduate students or advanced undergraduates who are interested in pursuing careers or scientific work in the remote sensing or geospatial technology fields. Practical applications of digital image analysis will be provided in weekly assignments.

This course focuses on addressing geospatial problems through programming in python. The python language will be used write and modify scripts to automate procedures, integrate numerical and scientific site-packages to facilitate analysis and model development in the spatial domain. Assignments will be weekly or bi weekly. Cross-listed with GISC 450.

This course focuses on the acquisition, methodologies, analysis, presentation and reporting of imagery and mapping data referencing activities on the earth with a focus on intelligence. Due to data availability and breadth of subject, non-military applications of the geospatial intelligence approach will be stressed. Topics may include food security, environmental and health risks, urban planning, and crime (including terrorism) analysis. Assignments will be weekly or bi-weekly.

This special topics course will focus on the applications of geographic information science (GIS) in a specific domain determined at the instructor’s discretion, such as use land cover change, public health, or environmental modeling.

In this course, students will acquire knowledge needed to share GIS content on the Web or across the enterprise using relevant programming techniques. The course will focus on workflows to publish maps, imagery, geoprocessing models, and feature templates for using Web applications that support visualization, analysis, and editing of GIS resources. Assignments will be weekly or bi-weekly.

With permission from the Department Chair, this course may substitute for one MSGA elective course. Students will work with a faculty member to create a set of readings and assignments culminating in a project equivalent to those assigned in the course which they are substituting, over the course of one to four semesters. Application of appropriate geospatial technologies is expected.

Prerequisite: Completion of MSGA 510 and MSGA 520; minimum GPA of 3.0 and approval of the faculty advisor. Final 3 credits must be taken in the last semester of the program. An intensive independent research project utilizing theories, methods, and techniques acquired in the program.