Instructor: John Harrington, Jr.
Office Hours: MWF 2:30-3:20
Meeting Time: M 8:30- 11:20
Meeting Place: Room 302 Dickens Hall
 

Catalog Description: Integration of spatial analysis techniques and models with tools such as           Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing as applied to rural resource systems. Explores strategies for adaptation of various types of spatial models into the GIS framework. Sources of data for analysis will be considered with special emphasis placed on the use of remotely sensed data. Pr. GEOG 705 and GEOG 708; GEOG 700 or STAT 702 or equivalent.

Seminar Format: During the first half of the semester, we will meet to discuss assigned readings or to hear seminar participant presentations of relevant articles (that they have selected). An essay exam covering the assigned readings, article presentations, and associated seminar discussion will be held on March 15th. In addition, each seminar participant will present both a Research Topic report and an oral summary of Data and Methods to be used in the research.

The major emphasis for the second half of the semester will be individual work on the lab exercises and research projects and presentations of the research to the group.

Optional Textbooks: Environmental Modeling with GIS. 1993. (M. Goodchild et al. Eds), Oxford Univ. Press. and Forest Ecosystems: Analysis at Multiple Scales, 2nd Edition. 1998. R.H. Waring and S.W. Running, Academic Press.

Spring 1999 Seminar Theme: Data and methods available to model environmental change. We will include in the seminar coverage of types of models (empirical and process oriented) that can be utilized to examine the rate and magnitude of natural and human induced environmental change.

Course Grades: Final letter grades for GEOG 890 will be based on student performance in seven areas:

1) the essay exam (15%)

2) article presentations (10%): for each presentation, students are to prepare a summary handout that includes a complete citation, important concepts, and key figures.

3) oral progress reports on your research project (25%): 1 - topic, 2- data and methods, 3 - status report, and 4 - final (formal) presentation in class on April 26th.

4) a written research project report (25%): a typed, 15 + page manuscript (that could be submitted to a journal ?). Final reports are due May 3rd.

5) a "one hour" laboratory exercise (10%): designed for the level of an introductory course involving either remote sensing, or GIS, your exercise will make use of at least two of your data sets. These lab exercises are due APR 26th.

6) a typed bibliography (10%): for a selected natural or rural resource application of GIS and/or remote sensing; your bibliography should concentrate on recent publications. Bibliographic topics are to be selected in consultation with the instructor - so that we compile a comprehensive listing for as many areas as possible. Bibliographic lists from each individual participant will be distributed to all other students in the class. These lists are due in class on APR 19th.

7) seminar participation (5%) - the instructors evaluation of the amount and appropriateness of your contribution to the success of the seminar.

Research Projects: students are to identify a project (in consultation with the instructor) that involves natural or rural resource data analysis and modeling environmental change using either GIS or digital image processing of remotely sensed data. Your individual project will be evaluated based on: 1) the scope (difficulty and/or originality) of the task, 2) the quality of the paper you prepare that includes: a title page, an introduction (description and justification of the project), a relevant literature review, a data description and methods section that includes a flowchart and discussion of data analysis methods, a summary of the research findings including appropriate tables and figures, a final section that summarizes the research results (in relation to other work) and suggests additional research activities, and a bibliography or literature cited section. Assessment of manuscript quality will include: organization, quality and style of writing, design and suitability of figures, relevance and amount of cited literature.
 

                        Activity
JAN 25     Seminar Overview
                 
FEB 1       Assigned Readings

FEB 8       Topic Reports, Participant Presentations

FEB 15     Assigned Readings, Participant Presentations

FEB 22     Assigned Readings, Participant Presentations

MAR 1     Data and Methods Reports

MAR 8     Assigned Readings, Participant Presentations

MAR 15   Assigned Reading, Review, Essay Exam

MAR 22   Spring Break

MAR 29   Independent work on research projects/labs

APR 5      Status Reports

APR 12    Independent work on research projects/labs

APR 19    Independent work on research projects/labs
                Bibliographies Due
 
APR 26   Final Project Presentations
                Lab Exercises Due

MAY 3    Written Reports Due (by 11:20 am)