ADVANCED GIS

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

GE406

Academic Year of enrolment:

2022

Year of supply:

2022/2023

Type of Course:

Characterising

Degree:

Course of 2nd Cycle Degree in GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES OF EARTH AND PLANETS

Disciplinary Sector:

Structural Geology

Language:

Italian

Location:

CHIETI

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

FERRARINI FEDERICA

Cycle:

First semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

Prerequisites:

It is preferable (but not mandatory) the knowledge of GIS at a basic level, even acquired by using open source software (e.g., QGIS, GRASS GIS, etc.) different from that will be used during the course (see 'TEACHING METHODS')

Objectives

The course is aimed at:

1) strengthening the skills in using the Geographic Information Systems (GIS), improving the experience in setting up targeted projects, in data-and-map generation and management, visualization and graphic rendering;
2) exploiting, with more efficiency, the basic tools and acquiring knowledge and experience in using advanced functionalities available in ArcGIS for Desktop (by ESRI), exploiting their potential in managing and processing (2D and 3D) spatial data in the field of geology and territorial applications.

At the end of the course, the student will have to demonstrate to have acquired skills in using the main (basics and advanced) GIS tools introduced by the teacher and be aware of their potential in the various fields of Geosciences.
At the same time, he will be asked to show complete autonomy during the planning stage of a GIS project according to different information requested during decision-making processes or scientific research, as well as in the choice of an effective strategy for both problems solving and data rendering.

Contents

The main topics, the course will focus on, will concern:

1) introductory notes and basics on the Geographic Information Systems (GIS); data types; geographic reference systems and projections; georeferencing; data creation and editing and layout; Technical Cartography and WEB Services;

2) Data query and vector/raster analysis using geoprocessing tools; spatial interpolation and introduction to the ‘Spatial Analyst’ Toolbox; map algebra;

3) Spatial interpolation of 3D data and introduction to the ‘3D Analyst’ Toolbox; Digital Elevation Models and their use for the topographic- and drainage basin analyses. 3D data view in GIS.

Extended Syllabus

1) Basic concepts of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS); data types (VECTOR MODEL: points, lines, polygons – CONTINUOUS DATA MODEL: rasters); data format and extensions; the ArcGIS Desktop (by ESRI) Infrastructure: the use of ArcMap user interface, the integrated applications ArcCatalog, ArcScene and ArcToolbox; main ArcGIS Extensions; geografic reference systems and projection types; main geographic reference systems and projections used in Italy; raster and vector georeferencing (the Georeferencing toolbar), minimize georeferencing errors; changes of projection;

2) Creating and planning a GIS project (data frame and layers’ properties); creating and modifying data (Editor Toolbar); digitizing techniques; working with tables (structures, attributes and relationships between tables – join and relate); thematic map (styles and different methods of symbolization); map layout (legend, grid, bookmarks, working with more data frames); Regional Technical Cartography and Web Map Services;

3)Data Query: spatial and attributes data query (simple and multiple); basics of Structured Query Language; main Geoprocessing tools (Toolbox Analysis Tools): basics and use of the functions ‘Dissolve, Append, Clip, Intersect, Union, Merge, Buffer;

4) SPATIAL ANALYSIS 1) the Toolbox ‘Spatial Analyst Tools’; spatial interpolation methods (Trend, Inverse Distance Weighting, Kriging), density analysis, proximity analysis; Map algebra and Raster Calculator;

5) SPATIAL ANALYSIS 2) the Toolbox ‘3D Analyst Tools’ and 3D features; Digital Elevation Model (DEM): DEM creating and mosaic from vector and raster data, respectively; TIN (Triangulated Irregular Network) model; Terrain analysis: contouring, hillshade, slope, aspect, curvature; topographic profiles; watershed and drainage basin delineation;

6)3D view of vector and raster data; ArcScene application; interactive “globe viewer” (Google Earth Pro e ArcGIS Earth) and data import/export from GIS (and vice versa).

Recommended Bibliography

TEXT BOOKS
1) Barbara Guandalini, Giovanni Salerno (2013). MANUALE DI ARCGIS 10 – GUIDA PRATICA CON ESERCIZI SVOLTI, Dario Flaccovio Editore, ISBN 978-88-579-0183-1;

2) Giancarlo Graci, Paolo Pileri, Marco Sedazzari (2008) - GIS E AMBIENTE: GUIDA ALL'USO DI ARCGIS PER L'ANALISI DEL TERRITORIO E LA VALUTAZIONE AMBIENTALE, Dario Flaccovio Editore, ISBN 978-88-7758-822-7

3) Niccolò Dainelli, Filippo Bonechi, Matteo Spagnolo, Anna Canessa (2008) - CARTOGRAFIA NUMERICA – MANUALE PRATICO PER L’UTILIZZO DEI GIS, Dario Flaccovio Editore, ISBN 978-88-7758-789-3;

RECOMMENDED BOOK
- Bajjali W. (2018) - ARCGIS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER ISSUES. Springer Textbooks in Earth Sciences, Geography and Environment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61158-7_2, ISBN978-3-319-61157-0

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

The 60-hour course will be delivered through lectures and practical exercises. The lectures will introduce the student to the basic and advanced tools showing their potential in solving geological issues (but not exclusively).
Practical exercises will be carried out for at least 3h/week, in the computerized classroom, using the software ArcGIS for Desktop v. 10.x (by ESRI) and providing the student with exercises based on real case studies (with varying difficulty levels) to deal with by using the tools discussed during the lectures.
The course will be structured into 3 modules in order to improve the access to teaching, ease learning and strengthen competencies. Each module will be followed by a test (partial exam) to verify the learning level.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

At the end of each module, the student will have to take a (partial) practice test based on the GIS tools introduced during the teacher’s lectures and pratic exercises. The test will also include open-ended questions on theoretical concepts the GIS tools are based.
Each practice test will be graded with a score between 1 and 30 and the test is considered passed if the score is >18. The admission to the following test is dependent on the previous one passing. The final score will result from the mean value between the single tests scores.
If the student is no longer admitted to taking the (partial) practice tests, he will have to take a (comprehensive) exam at the end of the course. Also, the student who might want to improve the score gained from the partial tests can ask to access the comprehensive exam.

Contacts/More Information

Course attendance is strongly recommended

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

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