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GIS1402 Geographic Information Systems

Semester 3, 2020 Online
Short Description: Geographic Information Systems
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
School or Department : School of Civil Engineering and Surveying
Student contribution band : Band 2
ASCED code : 031199 - Geomatic Engineering not elsew
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Rationale

The course is designed to introduce Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and provide a broad understanding of its capabilities to students.

Synopsis

The course will cover the basic concepts and principles of geographic information systems (GIS). Topics to be covered include the fundamentals of GIS and GIS data quality and implementation issues.

Objectives

The course objective define the student learning outcomes for a course. On completion of this course, students should be able to:

  1. describe concepts, components, functional elements, and applications of GIS;
  2. differentiate GIS data in terms of its type, structure, input & editing method, management system, and output procedure;
  3. appreciate coordinate system and projection used in GIS data;
  4. apply GIS tools used for spatial data processing;
  5. recognise GIS data quality and GIS implementation issues;
  6. apply the concepts of spatial analysis and modelling.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 10.00
2. Spatial data types, sources structures and topology 10.00
3. Spatial data model & structures 10.00
4. GIS data management 10.00
5. GIS data output 10.00
6. GIS data analysis 20.00
7. Analytical modelling in GIS 10.00
8. Data quality issues 10.00
9. GIS application issues 10.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=03&subject1=GIS1402)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

Heywood, I Cornelus, S & Carver, S 2011, An Introduction to Geographical Information Systems:, 4th edn, Pearson Education Limited, Essex, England.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
Campbell, J & Shin, M 2011, Essentials of Geographic Information Systems, Saylor publication.
(available hardcopy to buy via; and online via: (only refer chapter 1,3,4,5,6,7 & 8).)
Huisman, O, & de By, R. A 2009, Principles of Geographic Information Systems – An introductory textbook, ITC Educational Textbook Series, Netherlands.
(Online access via: .)
Sutton, T., Dassau, O. & Sutton, M 2009, A Gentle Introducion to GIS, Spatial Information Management Unit, South Africa.
(Online access via: .)

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Assessments 53.00
Online Lectures 26.00
Online Tutorials 26.00
Private ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 50.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Notes
Online Quiz 1 70 7 24 Dec 2020 (see note 1)
Assignment 250 25 28 Jan 2021
Online Quiz 2 80 8 29 Jan 2021
Online Examination 600 60 End S3 (see note 2)

Notes
  1. A sample quiz will be made available on the ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk prior to the start of the scheduled on-line quiz.
  2. This will be an open examination. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the exam by their course examiner via ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk. The examination date will be available via UConnect when the official Alternate Assessment Schedule has been released.

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S3 2020 are:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.

    Requirements after S3 2020:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-.

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S3 2020 are:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

    Requirements after S3 2020:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade in a course a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks for the course.

    To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2).

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.

  6. Examination information:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S3 2020 are:
    An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination.

    Requirements after S3 2020:
    In a Closed Examination, candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into the examination.

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S3 2020 are:
    The details regarding deferred/supplementary examinations will be communicated at a later date.

    Requirements after S3 2020:
    Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.

  8. ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene ¾«¶«´«Ã½app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the Examiner.

  2. Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be despatched to USQ within 24 hours if required by the Examiner.

  3. In accordance with ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Policy, the Examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances.

  4. If electronic submission of assessments is specified for the course, students will be notified of this in the course Introductory Book and on the USQ ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Desk. All required electronic submission must be made through the Assignment Drop Box located on the USQ ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Desk for the course, unless directed otherwise by the examiner of the course. The due date for an electronically submitted assessment is the date by which a student must electronically submit the assignment. The assignment files must be submitted by 11.55pm on the due date using USQ time (as displayed on the clock on the course home page; that is, Australian Eastern Standard Time).

  5. If the method of assessment submission is by written, typed or printed paper-based media students should (i) submit to the Faculty Office for students enrolled in the course in the on-campus mode, or (ii) mail to the USQ for students enrolled in the course in the external mode. The due date for the assessment is the date by which a student must (i) submit the assessment for students enrolled in the on-campus mode, or (ii) mail the assessment for students enrolled in the external mode.

  6. The Faculty will NOT normally accept submission of assessments by facsimile or email.

  7. Students who do not have regular access to postal services for the submission of paper-based assessments, or regular access to Internet services for electronic submission, or are otherwise disadvantaged by these regulations may be given special consideration. They should contact the examiner of the course to negotiate such special arrangements prior to the submission date.

  8. Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in a course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of a course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded one of the temporary grades: IM (Incomplete - Make up), IS (Incomplete - Supplementary Examination) or ISM (Incomplete -Supplementary Examination and Make up). A temporary grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non directed personal study.

  9. Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or to sit for an examination at the scheduled time may apply to defer an assessment in a course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination; IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).

  10. Harvard (AGPS) is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use Harvard (AGPS) style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide.


Date printed 12 February 2021