Course Description:

This course is a practical survey of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), techniques and software as applied to Geology, intended to "jump-start" graduate students who need to use these tools. The course is project-based and focuses on application rather than theory. Students whose research involves the theory behind GIS, or who will be involved with advanced applications of these tools, should consider taking graduate level courses in the Geography department. After completion of this course, students will have a basic understanding of how GIS works and how spatial data can be manipulated in a GIS for common earth science applications.

Course Text (Recommended):

• C.P. Lo and Albert K. W. Yeung. (2006). Concepts and Techniques of Geographic Information Systems. 2nd Edition. Prentice Hall Series in Geographic Information Science. ~$80-100 new. (1st additions can be found used for under $20)

Software:

This class utilizes ArcGIS 9.2 (ArcInfo) from Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI).

Faculty, Staff and Graduate students are eligible for permanent installations of ESRI software on their UB office and/or personal computers. For more information students in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences or the Natural Science and Mathematics Departments should contact Science and Engineering Node Services (SENS) at nodehelp@nsm.buffalo.edu . If you choose to have the software installed or upgraded on your computer do not wait until the last minute. It may take a week or more before SENS can perform the upgrade.

For students outside these schools but within the College of Arts and Science wishing to obtain the software should contact College of Arts and Sciences Educational Technology Node (CASet) and request an ESRI software account from UB's site license administrator. This can be done by submitting a CASet's GIS-ESRI Support form available from the Campus User's Guide for Accessing ESRI Software.

All other students are encouraged to contact Central Information Technology Services (CIT) for information on how they can obtain this software. Some departments may manage their own GIS software so students are also encouraged find out their own department specific policies.

Lab Exercises:

Lab exercises consist of hands on computer based work on a variety of topics. These exercises are self-paced and the time it takes for students to complete varies; however, you should expect them to take up most all of the lab time. Students should also dress appropriately for class since labs dealing with GPS will be, in part, conducted outdoors.