Prospectus

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Geographic Information Systems

Course
2024-2025

Admission requirements

Required course(s):

  • Introduction to Statistics

Description

Geographic information systems (GIS) are computer systems for the collection, storage, visualization, and display of geographically referenced information. A GIS can be used to ask and answer complex questions that have a spatial component. We can use a GIS, for example, to choose suitable land for a residential development based upon a series of criteria (distance from wildlife refuges, cost, slope, soil type) or to identify statistically significant clusters of infant deaths in a city. In fact, there are applications for GIS in almost any area of study including policy science, urban and regional planning, public health/epidemiology, geology, hydrology, history, anthropology, paleontology, and, of course, geography.

In this course we utilize GIS to examine spatial data in relation to a range of environmental and socioeconomic issues. This course introduces GIS using common desktop packages called QGIS 3.x, or ArcGIS Pro. You will use this software and some additional programs, called ‘plug-ins’ (QGIS) or ‘extensions’ (ArcGIS), for vector and raster (grid-based) analysis. The course is problem-based. Your task is to solve problems using the GIS and to demonstrate your new knowledge through homework projects, a practical exam, and a research project.

Course Objectives

Skills:

  • Students will develop and carry out a scientifically sound GIS project.

  • Students will effectively demonstrate skills in spatial analysis and scientific writing.

Knowledge:

  • Students will demonstrate an understanding of key terminology and software tools and when to use them.

  • Students will work together and individually to identify appropriate methods to answer spatial questions.

Timetable

Timetables for courses offered at Leiden University College in 2024-2025 will be published on this page of the e-Prospectus.

Mode of instruction

This methodology course will focus on both theoretical concepts underpinning how a GIS works and the practical skills you will need to use a GIS in a research setting. To that end this course will rely on lectures to introduce concepts and skills and then students will apply lecture material through hands on exercises. To demonstrate that students can independently utilize the material introduced during class sessions they will complete a practical final exam, two independent research related assignments, and a final project.

Assessment Method

  • Participation 15%

  • Literature Review 15%

  • Cartography Project 15%

  • Final Exam 20%

  • Final Project 35%

While this is primarily a course that will teach you specific skills, you will also be learning elements of scientific writing such as describing data and methodological choices in the process of developing your final project and homework assignments.

Reading list

Readings will be listed in the syllabus.

Registration

Courses offered at Leiden University College (LUC) are usually only open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Leiden University students who participate in one of the university’s Honours tracks or programmes may register for one LUC course, if availability permits. Registration is coordinated by the Education Coordinator, course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.

Contact

Dr. Achim Haeger, a.hager@luc.leidenuniv.nl (Blocks 1, 2)
Dr. Sarah E. Hinman, s.e.hinman@luc.leidenuniv.nl (Blocks 1, 4)

Remarks

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