Geographic information systems in environmental science

Course unit

title

Scientific direction

Scientific code

Faculty

Department (s)

Geographic information systems in environmental science

Ecology and environmental science N 012

Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences

Institute of Geological Sciences

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Lectures

0

Consultations

1

Self-studies

9

Seminars

0

Aims of course

To broaden and deepen the knowledge on Geographic Information Science and application of modern Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in environmental domains.

Main topics

Geographic Information Science and Technology – main concepts and definitions. Importance of geographic (spatial) information. Spatial data models: raster, vector, grid, TIN data.  Applications of different data models. Data formats and transformations. Spatiotemporal data. Topological relationships in spatial data. Commercial and open source GIS software. Methods of spatial data mining. Spatial analysis – principles and operations. Selection and editing of spatial data.  Vector and raster analysis. Interpreting the results of analysis. Modelling in GIS. Location based services.  Organisational, legal and ethical aspects of spatial data management. Public spatial information and the EU INSPIRE Directive. Spatial information infrastructures and spatial data portals. Lithuanian spatial information infrastructure and geoportal.lt.  Environmental information systems and public spatial data. Crowdsourced spatial data, collaboration using web GIS. Spatial data and maps: map layers, co-ordinate systems, principles of cartographic visualization. Interactive maps. Multiscale maps. Spatial data services. Specific applications of GIS in environmental research.  

Main literature

·       Tian, Bai. GIS technology applications in environmental and earth sciences. Taylor & Francis;CRC Press 2017. ISBN 13: 9781498776059

·       Hamid Reza Pourghasemi, Candan Gokceoglu (eds.). Spatial Modeling in GIS and R for Earth and Environmental Sciences. Elsevier 2019. ISBN: 9780128152263.

·       Patrick McHaffie, Cassie Follett. GIS: An Introduction to Mapping Technologies. CRC Press; 1st edition (October 31, 2018). ISBN-10 : 1498740235

·       Menno-Jan Kraak, Ferjan Ormeling. Cartography Visualization of Geospatial Data. CRC Press; 4th edition (July 29, 2020).  ISBN-10 : 1138613959   

·       Ian Masser (Editor). Geographic Information Systems to Spatial Data Infrastructures-A Global Perspective. CRC Press 2019. ISBN 13:9780429000249

·       Ezra Dessers. Spatial Data Infrastructures at Work: Analysing the Spatial Enablement of Public Sector Processes. Leuven University Press 2014. ISBN 13:9789058679376

Assessment strategy

Assessment criteria

Exam

Essay, including a study of possibilities of application of GIS methods in doctoral research. Discussion. Three open questions.

Giedrė Beconytė

PhD

Prof.

Approved by the Council of Graduate School of Life Sceinces Center No 600000-…-… on the …. of …… 2021

Chairman