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ENMT307 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

Module 2 Discussion

Spatial Data and Projection

After reading the Week 2 GIS Articles under Module 2, please complete the required task and respond to one or more of the following questions. After making your initial response (primary post), come back in a day or so to respond to the postings of your classmates (secondary post).

PARTICIPATION QUESTIONS (choose one):

1) Choose two or three map projections to present to the class (try to present some that no one has posted yet). List the properties of these projections and the distortions. Don’t forget to show a picture of the projections too! A good reference is http://www.icsm.gov.au/mapping/map_projections.html or http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb//pubs/MapProjections/projections.html . A good list of map projections and visuals can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_map_projections .

2) Why is it important that all of the geospatial information stored in a GIS be geometrically rectified (registered) to one another in a project? Give an example to support your argument.

3) You have been asked to conduct a GIS project that maps the land cover of Western Europe/Antarctica/Africa (choose only one). Which map projection would you choose for this project and why? Provide pictures!

4) What is the difference between a map projection, coordinate system, and a datum? Choose one type of coordinate system to showcase and explain its purpose/application.

ENMT307 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

Module 3 Discussion

GIS Data Formats and Data Quality

After reading the Week 3 GIS Articles under Module 3, please complete the required task and respond to one or more of the following questions. After making your initial response (primary post), come back in a day or so to respond to the postings of your classmates (secondary post).

PARTICIPATION QUESTIONS (choose one):

1) Explain, as if you were explaining to a small child, the difference between raster and vector data formats and the pros and cons of each.

2) Give an everyday example of something that is either high precision but low accuracy, or high accuracy but low precision. Give a second everyday example of something that is non-observable data or secondary data – explain!

3) Satellite images are raster data. There are many types of multispectral satellite images acquired from satellite remote sensing. Include (attach or paste) a picture of a satellite image. Explain which satellite/sensor this image came from, characteristics of the sensor, the location of the picture, the resolution of the image, the image date and time of day, and any other relevant characteristics. (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/ might be a good place to start, or http://www.satimagingcorp.com/ , or try a Google search like “Landsat”…) ***Do not just post a picture, I want the image details too!***

4) You will be conducting joins, relates (p. 175), and queries (p. 28) in your workbook this week. Explain the difference between these and give examples.

ENMT307 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

Module 4 Discussion

Spatial Analysis

After reading the Week 4 GIS Articles under Module 4, please complete the required task and respond to one or more of the following questions. After making your initial response (primary post), come back in a day or so to respond to the postings of your classmates (secondary post).

PARTICIPATION QUESTIONS (choose one):

1) What do you think about ArcGIS Pro so far? How does it compare to your expectations? Are there any particular tools that you are the most interested in? Are there any particular capabilities you want to learn more about?

2) Give a detailed summary of one of the tools in the analysis toolbox or the spatial analyst toolbox. What input files are required? What output file(s) do you end up with? What does the tool do? (look back over the Week 4 GIS Articles under Module 4 and workbook pages 209 and 210 to get started)