GIS 520 - Advanced Geospatial Analytics

Spring 2015
Syllabus
Course Description: This course follows GIS 510 (NR 531), Introduction to Geographic
Information Science, with a focus on applied geospatial analytics. Students will further
enhance their geospatial analyses skills and their understanding of the analysis
capabilities of geospatial technology and learn to effectively communicate the results to
guide decision making. This is accomplished through weekly themes and assignments
in which students learn to integrate data from various formats, analyze data, and display
results for decision making processes. This course is designed as an internet-based
course. As with GIS 510, all course materials are delivered through the internet and
student activity can be accomplished from student owned computers.
Note: During Spring, Summer, and Fall of 2010 terms this course was offered as GIS
595 Special Topics course. If you have taken that course please let us know
immediately.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Integrate and analyze data in various formats

Search for, retrieve, evaluate the suitability of, and integrate datasets for specific
types of analysis applications
Describe the analysis capabilities of various kinds of geospatial technologies
Identify data limitations for particular analytical application
Select and perform appropriate advanced geoprocessing functions for specific
objectives
Apply appropriate analysis techniques for different types of decision-making
objectives
Build simple customizations for the ArcMap user interface

Prerequisites: 510 Introduction to Geographic Information Science.

Course delivery and requirements

Course delivery: This course is delivered through an online learning management
system called Moodle. Moodle is a program that offers students and faculty an
integrated suite of tools for the online classroom, including forums (discussion board),
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assignments, a gradebook, quizzing, and more. Most of the Moodle tools are
asynchronous, meaning that students do not have to be online at the same time as
students classmates or instructor.
The block in Moodle titled Course Overview includes the course syllabus (this
document), grading course assignments, accessing online help sessions, tips for AcGIS
10.2 and other relevant information about the course. Students should be responsible
for being familiar with all the material posted in the Course Overview block in
Moodle.
Course material is organized by Theme Blocks in Moodle. For each theme, all related
required readings, supplemental readings, lecture presentations, homework
assignments, and any additional information will be posted in the related Theme Block.
We suggest that the Theme Block is the starting point to access the assignment
material, since any material referenced within the assignment will be available from the
theme block. Students are responsible for all material posted for each theme
within the Theme Block.
Required Readings: There is no text book for this course. Readings for the course will
come from various sources (such as ArcGIS Help Resources, Books, Tutorials etc.) as
assigned in the class schedule and will be available on-line. In most instances additional
lecture audio-video recordings will be also available.
Required Materials: You will need a copy of or access to ArcGIS Desktop 10.2.2
(with all the extensions). If you are using a home computer or laptop, it is highly
recommended that you use either Windows XP or Windows 7 operating system.
Students using Vista have experienced problems completing some of the assignments.
Please ensure you have administrative rights to your computer.
ESRI software, including ArcGIS Desktop 10.2.2, may be downloaded by NCSU
students at http://software.ncsu.edu/vendor/esri/package/arcgis-desktop. Students are
responsible to ensure that they have access to ArcGIS Desktop for timely completion of
the assignments.
If for any reason, during any time throughout the semester, if you will not be able to use
your own computer, you can also have access to ArcGIS Desktop 10.2.2 through the
Virtual Computing Lab (VCL): http://vcl.ncsu.edu/
Note: If you are having trouble with the ArcGIS Desktop download, install or
licensing, please contact the Help Desk at 919-515-HELP or help@ncsu.edu. For
licensing issues only, you could also contact, Bill Coker, Software Licensing Manager
OIT, at 919-515-5419 or bill_coker@ncsu.edu.
ESRI online courses: The completion of the following two ESRI Virtual Campus
courses will be required:
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1. Turning Data into Information Using ArcGIS 10 (6 modules)

2. Using Raster Data for Site Selection (for ArcGIS 10) (1 module)
Turning Data into Information Using ArcGIS 10 is a free course, hence you will need to
only login with your ESRI Global Account to access the course material:
http://training.esri.com/acb2000/showdetl.cfm?DID=6&Product_ID=991. You will need
registration code to access the Using Raster Data for Site Selection (for ArcGIS 10)
course:
http://training.esri.com/gateway/index.cfm?fa=catalog.webCourseDetail&courseid=2132
Your Registration Codes for this course will be sent via email. If, for any reason, your
code will not work or if you misplace your code, you will need to request the
Registration Code yourself by completing a user request using the Virtual Campus
Subscription Website administered by the NCSU Libraries:
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/gis/virtcamp.html or by contacting Matt Sumner at
mssumner@ncsu.edu.
Educational Approach: This course will be taught entirely on the Internet and consists
of four segments: readings and/or audio-video recordings, ESRI course modules,
homework assignments, and electronic exercise submissions. In addition, in place of a
final exam/project, students will develop a Web based course portfolio that will
systematically display all the work done for this course. The portfolio should
demonstrate students ability to synthesize the material addressed during the semester
and apply the use of geospatial science to new real world situations. Each component is
an important part of the course plan for maximizing student benefit. Readings and/or
audio-video recordings are to be completed prior to class assignments. Students are
responsible for all assigned course materials.
The homework assignments are designed to facilitate as much independent learning
as possible. They are structured to build upon each other so failing to complete an
exercise on time places the student at a significant disadvantage for further learning.
NO credit or reduced credit may be given for assignments submitted after the due
date/time. All reasonable effort will be extended to provide both facilities and out of
class help to allow the prompt and on-time completion of the homework exercises.
Assignments (including course Portfolio): All assignments are to be submitted via
the course webpage through Moodle (https://wolfware.ncsu.edu) as one zip file that has
all the required deliverables for the particular assignment, unless otherwise requested.
Full credit will only be given to assignments submitted through Moodle portal by the
specified due date/time. Emailed assignments will not be accepted. If for any reason
you will not be able to upload your assignment through Moodle, let the instructors know
by posting to the appropriate course Forum, and we will address the issue.
All late submissions need to be approved by your instructor or TA at least 24 hours in
advance of the deadline. Assignment/portfolio extensions will be granted ONLY
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providing a valid excuse is acceptable. An excuse will be granted ONLY for any of the
following conditions:
1. Severe illness documented by a verifiable physician (documentation required)
2. Verifiable personal or family emergency (documentation required)
3. Official NCSU excuse (documentation required)
It is the students explicit responsibility to ensure course assignments are submitted on
time. With exception of an instructor's excuse due to above mentioned conditions (see
University policy on excused absences) technical issues do not constitute adequate
grounds for receiving an extension.
Grades on approved late submission will be reduced 20% and NO credit will be
given for unapproved late assignments.
Class Forum: We will maintain a Class Forum and a forum for each assignment
accessible at the course site. The forum is a good way to communicate as questions
you have will likely be shared by other students. Check out the appropriate forum first if
questions occur. If that does not help, simply post a question and we or another student
will reply. We will try to respond within 24 48 hours to the posted questions (excluding
the weekends and holidays). Students should be aware that questions posted the day of
the assignment due date, may not be responded until the next day. Since we
emphasize independent learning, we strongly encourage you to reply to
questions posted by another student in the class.
Grading: The inevitably painful process of evaluation will be handled as follows:
Homework Total 75%
Portfolio 25%
Note that some assignments will carry multiple credits - be sure to view the grading
process page linked on course introduction section: Grading Course Assignments.
Letter Grade

Range of Total Score %

A+

>= 97.00

96.99 - 93.00

A-

92.99 90.00

B+

89.99 - 87.00

86.99 - 83.00

B-

82.99 80.00

C+

79.99 - 77.00

76.99 - 73.00
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C-

72.99 - 70.00

D+

69.99 - 67.00

66.99 - 63.00

D-

62.99 - 60.00

<= 59.99

Final grades will be assigned based on a strict interpretation of above point

ranges. Grades on approved late submission will be reduced 20% and NO credit
will be given for unapproved late assignments. Any requests to review the
grading decisions should be requested within one week of the date the grades
are being posted.
Audit Only:
To take GIS 520 for Audit only, as opposed to the usual A-F, the student must complete
all homework assignments with a 70% total average score. They do not have to
complete the portfolio project.
University Policy and Procedures:
In this course, university policies and procedures will be followed for academic integrity,
accommodation for disability and religious observation, discriminatory conduct, sexual
harassment, and other matters. These are briefly described below.
NC State University Code of Student Conduct: Academic Integrity, which is the
backbone of this Code, will rigorously be adhered to and Academic Dishonesty will
appropriately be dealt with as governed by the "North Carolina State University Code of
Student Conduct". Therefore, students are strongly urged to refer to and abide by this
code. This document, which can be found at http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-11-35-01
is very explicit on cheating and plagiarism. Students are expected to be knowledgeable
about the Code and its implications in the work related to this course. Students are
responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the
appropriate citations of sources, and for respect of others' academic endeavors. All
work that students do for this course should be an individual effort of a student,
unless otherwise indicated. For additional information you may contact the Coordinator
of the Office of Student Conduct at 300 Clark Hall or 5-2963.
Classroom Environment: Students with disabilities are entitled to reasonable
adjustment in class requirements to ensure that the requirements are not discriminatory.
If you need such adjustments, please let us know as soon as possible so they can be
made. For additional information you may contact the Disability Services for Students
Office at Student Health Center, Suite 2221 or at their web site at:
http://dso.dasa.ncsu.edu/
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Supporting Fellow Students in Distress:

As members of the NC State Wolfpack community, we each share a personal
responsibility to express concern for one another and to ensure that this classroom and
the campus as a whole remains a safe environment for learning. Occasionally, you may
come across a fellow classmate whose personal behavior concerns or worries you.
When this is the case, I would encourage you to report this behavior to the NC State
Students of Concern website: http://studentsofconcern.ncsu.edu/. Although you can
report anonymously, it is preferred that you share your contact information so they can
follow-up with you personally.
Students' Responsibilities: As part of your educational experience in GIST courses,
you will be expected to participate in class forum discussions and complete all
assignments using software and/or data provided. You will be expected to fulfill your
class assignments using equipment and tools belonging to the university and/or your
equipment and tools. It is expected that you will use proper care and caution and will
assume responsibility for your health and safety.
Withdrawal and Incomplete Polices: Any student who enrolls in GIS 520 and
does not complete the course work or process a withdrawal form before the end of the
Universitys official drop period for the semester will receive a F grade unless they
initiate one of the following options:
a. The student is passing and officially drops the course after registration and records
deadline. In this case the student will be given a W. Passing this course is defined as
having earned an average grade in the course of a D or above on the date of the
students request for the W. This option will only be available in keeping with the
current policy http://www.ncsu.edu/registrar/registration/withdrawal.html
b. The student receives an IN. This grade will be given only in special documented
circumstances when a student, for some serious reason, cannot complete the course by
the required deadline. An IN will be given only if the student has completed at least
80% of the course. An IN" cannot be used to simply avoid an F grade. All work to
complete the course must be finished by the end of the next semester or the IN will be
changed to an F grade. This option will only be available in keeping with the current
policy.
Withdrawal for Behavior that Interferes with the Instructional Process: Disruptive
behavior, which impedes the teaching/learning process, will not be tolerated. An
instructor may withdraw a student for disruptive behavior that is interfering with the
instructional process (such as students being disrespectful or harassing faculty, TAs or
other students or using portable phones or radios). Students are expected to respect
the opinions of others and to engage in discussion in a sensitive and respectful manner.
For further information see Students Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct in the
catalog.
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Please make sure you fully understand this agreement (i.e., syllabus) as you will be
held to the entire policy as stated above.
Have a great semester!