Spring 2020

Applied GIS to Environmental Studies is strategically developed to broaden the perspectives of students interested in learning how to exploit the exponentially growing geospatial data products for applications in fields of Earth Sciences (i.e. geography, ecology, hydrology, geology, glaciology, etc.). We will use publicly available datasets and platforms for learning to address local, regional, to global-scale environmental problems. This course will challenge students to think creatively and multi-dimensional, with hands on projects and assignments that will be reinforced by lectures and readings. Importantly, students will engage with all environmental applications from an inquiry-based learning perspective. In order to achieve this goal, students will gain experience 1) evaluating the strengths and weakness of geospatial data products, 2) identifying datacenters for data download, 3) pre/post processing of data, 4) initiating spatial analyses, 5) synthesizing and exporting data, and 6) interpreting spatiotemporal patterns and uncertainties to a pseudo-stakeholder(s)/decision maker(s). proficient The objective of this course is to provide the necessary knowledge, direction, and experience for students to cultivate the necessary analytical skills for addressing environmental and/or ecological problems using powerful geospatial solutions in their future endeavors.