6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1017563BNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Department
Geography
Educational team
Frank Canters (course titular)
Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture
26 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
15 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

The course offers a comprehensive introduction to geographical information processing in a digital environment. Through the practical exercises (computer lab) students should demonstrate to have gained insight in digital processing and analysis of spatial data and should demonstrate their capability to apply the acquired techniques in the context of a practical case study, using GIS software.

 

  1. Introduction

a. Wat is a geographical information system?

b. Spatial and non-spatial data

c. Spatial data models: field approach, object approach, model transformations

d. Digital representation of spatial data: raster and vector models

e. The Triangulated Irregular Network model

  1. Spatial reference systems

a. The physical model of the Earth: the geoid

b. Mathematical models of the Earth

c. Definition of a geodetic datum

d. Relation between geoid, reference ellipsoid and topographical surface

e. Definition of a two-dimensional reference system

f. Map projections: classes, orientation and properties

g. Large-scale reference systems

h. Coordinate transformation

i. Coordinate transformation in practice

  1. Spatial analysis in raster GIS

a. Map overlay and map algebra

b. Spatial operations: local, focal and zonal operations

c. Cartographic modeling: definition of a cartographic model

d. Multi-criteria analysis

e. Advantages and disadvantages of cartographic modeling

  1. Methods for spatial interpolation

a. Trend surface analysis

b. Local polynomial interpolation

c. Weighted distance interpolation

d. Geostatistical interpolation

e. Areal interpolation

f. Dasymetric mapping

  1. Data management and spatial analysis in vector GIS

a. Basic principles relational data management

b. Querying attribute data using SQL

c. Object-relational models

d. Open GIS Simple Features specification

e. Mechanisms for spatial indexing

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Geo-informatiekunde, Cursusslides (beschikbaar op Canvas), Canvas
Digital course material (Required) : Oefeningen: syllabus met opgave oefeningen en beschrijving gebruikte software (QGIS), Syllabus (beschikbaar op Canvas), Canvas
Handbook (Recommended) : Geographic Information Science and Systems, Longley, P.A., Goodchild, M., Maguire, D.J. and Rhind, D.W., 4de, Wiley Higher Education, 9781118676950, 2016
Handbook (Recommended) : Concepts and Techniques in Geographic Information Systems, Lo, C.P. and Yeung, A.K.W., 2de, BIB, 9780131495029, 2007
Handbook (Recommended) : GIS Fundamentals: A First Text on Geographic Information Systems, A First Text on Geographic Information Systems, Bolstad, P., 5de, BIB, 9781593995522, 2019
Additional info

Nothing to be mentioned

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

After successful completion of the course the student should:

  • have knowledge of different spatial data models and how these models are implemented in GIS software;
  • have knowledge of the different components of a cartographic reference system and be able to transform data from one coordinate system to another;
  • have a proper understanding of how raster GIS and vector GIS software is used for spatial problem solving;
  • master the concept of map algebra and how this concept is applied for multi-criteria analysis;
  • have a good understanding of commonly used interpolation methods, including geostatistical approaches, and be able to correctly apply these methods;
  • be aware of recent developments in the organisation and maintenance of spatial databases;
  • be able to define a flowchart for solving a particular spatial problem, making use of methods for spatial analysis;
  • have developed the practical skills to perform spatial analysis using both raster and vector GIS software.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
Practical Exam determines 50% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Mondeling examen with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

    Note: Hoorcollege: mondeling examen met schriftelijke voorbereiding

Within the Practical Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Praktisch examen in comp-labo with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

    Note: Oefeningen: praktisch examen in computerlabo (gebruik GIS-software voor zelfstandig oplossen van een ruimtelijk vraagstuk)

Additional info regarding evaluation

Lectures: oral exam (10' preparation)

Exercises: practical exam (application of spatial analysis techniques in the context of a case study)

Calculation of mark: 50% oral exam + 50% practical exam

Students have to obtain a score of minimum 8/20 on both the oral exam and the practical exam to pass for this course. When the score is below 8/20 for either the oral exam or the practical exam, the total score for the course will be set equal to the lowest score of both partial evaluations.

Partial marks for the oral exam and the practical exam, if the student obtains at least half of the score for one of these parts, are transferred to the second session and to the next academic year.

The student can relinquish his partial mark for the oral exam or the practical exam, provided he reports this to the lecturer by e-mail not later than 15/8 (2nd session) or 1/10 (no transfer to the next academic year).

Once the student has indicated that he will abandon his partial mark, he will irrevocably lose the partial mark.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Geography: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Computer Science: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biology: Ecology and Biodiversity (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biology: Education (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Geography: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biology: Ecology and Biodiversity
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: biologie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: chemie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: wiskunde (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: ingenieurswetenschappen (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)