Geospatial Information Sciences
GISC 2302 Geodesy and Geospatial Analysis (3 semester credit hours) Introduction to the basic concepts of geodetic datums (horizontal and vertical), coordinate systems, and map projections. Applications in the Earth Sciences will be discussed to reinforce concepts. (3-0) Y
GISC 2305 Spatial Thinking and Data Analytics (3 semester credit hours) This course explores the role that Spatial Thinking plays across a variety of subject areas in science, engineering, mathematics, arts and humanities. We will introduce rich resources of geospatial data from government agencies, social media, and semantic web. Students will be exposed to introductory methods in Spatial Data Analytics afforded by Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Spatial Analysis, and Mapping technologies and learn how to bring spatial considerations into research and applications. The course is intended to empower students with spatial intelligence (one of the nine intelligences on Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences) and with experiences of applying spatial thinking and data analytics to problem solving. (Same as EPPS 2305 or GEOS 2305) (3-0) Y
GISC 2307 Digital Earth (3 semester credit hours) This course will introduce you to the topics and concepts in digital earth and geospatial technologies that are becoming increasingly important tools in research, policy, and everyday life. The topics will cover digital earth and geospatial data sources (ex., GPS, citizen science, satellite imagery, government agencies, social media, and semantic web), methods and applications (ex., disaster relief, biodiversity conservation, disease spread), and implications (ex., privacy, ethical, legal issues). Students will gain experience compiling/collecting and analyzing analog, digital, and geospatial data as a mechanism to understand and research our physical and social world. Spatial problem-solving will be emphasized and analyses will address real-world issues in which geospatial technologies have played an important role. Finally, cartographic methods and tools to create maps that can be used to communicate data, ideas, and concepts to officials and policy makers will also be discussed. (Same as EPPS 2307 and GEOS 2307) (3-0) Y
GISC 2309 Principles of Geospatial Information Sciences (3 semester credit hours) An introduction to the primary Geospatial Information Sciences (GIS) methods for manipulating, querying, analyzing, and visualizing spatial-based data. Topics include spatial data models, data acquisition and editing, cartography, and spatial analysis. This course is designed to provide a foundation for all other upper level GISC courses. (Same as GEOG 2309 and GEOS 2309) (3-0) Y
GISC 2326 Computer Mapping and Geovisualization (3 semester credit hours) Examines the theoretical concepts and practical applications of cartographic and geographic visualization. Topics covered include concepts for geographic data representation, symbolization and map design, and methods for geographic visualization and display. 3D visualization, cartographic animation, and web-based mapping may also be included. Lab sessions explore the implementation of cartographic and geographic visualization with industry standard GIS software. Prerequisite: GEOS 2305 or GISC 2305 or GEOS 2307 or GISC 2307 or GEOG 2309 or GEOS 2309 or GISC 2309. (3-0) Y
GISC 3336 Fundamentals of Sustainability (3 semester credit hours) This course will introduce students to the basic concepts of sustainability, its manifestation in multiple human dimensions, as well as its implications for the future. Various topics related to sustainability will be covered including the meaning and history of sustainability, natural systems, sustainability metrics, global energy production and consumptions, climate change and greenhouse gas reduction, water management and conservation, sustainable agriculture and food production, transportation planning, environmental ethics and history, and social justice. Additionally, the course will explore the complex interrelationships between modern environmental, social, and economic problems, as well as the possible solutions that can be employed to overcome them. Through this course, students will be empowered to make informed decisions and that support a sustainable future. (Same as ENVR 3336 and EPPS 3336) (3-0) Y
GISC 4310 Environmental and Health Policy in East Asia (3 semester credit hours) Rapid development in East Asia has brought economic wealth to individuals in this region but has also created serious environmental and health problems such as pollution, resource depletion, pandemics, climate change, and so on. This course explores the environmental and human health challenges in East Asia as well as how governments and other actors are addressing them through various approaches to "sustainable development." East Asia is defined for this course as the region encompassing China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and some countries in Southeast Asia, but we will also focus on the role of the United States as it has been extensively involved in this region, when necessary. To help build the fundamental background of students' understanding of current environmental and health issues in East Asia, the course begins with an overview of historical, geographic, socioeconomic, political, and cultural issues in East Asia, and then examines ongoing policy actions to address various environmental and health problems in the region. Students are expected to take an active role in reviewing and discussing the material and, more importantly, in thinking critically about the interrelations of environment and human health in East Asia. (Same as IPEC 4310) (3-0) T
GISC 4317 Python Programming for Social Science (3 semester credit hours) Introduction to computer programming skills and their application in social sciences using Python. Topics covered include fundamental programming syntax, control structural, numerical and scientific computation, visualization, and social data analytics. Students are expected to programmatically design and build a project related to social sciences. (Same as EPPS 4317) (3-0) Y
GISC 4325 Introduction to Remote Sensing (3 semester credit hours) Topics include principles of remote sensing and sensors, image visualization and statistics, radiometric and geometric correction, enhancement, classification, change detection, and innovative image processing approaches. (Same as GEOS 4325) (3-0) Y
GISC 4328 Drone and Remote Sensing (3 semester credit hours) Recent technological advancements and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations have opened new possibilities for an increasing number of individuals and commercial enterprises to possess small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), commonly known as drones. This presents new opportunities for businesses and scientific research, notably in the acquisition of high resolution remotely sensed images, a task traditionally relegated to sensors mounted on satellites and manned aircraft platforms. Drones, as an innovative alternative remote sensing platform, provide individuals with complete control over various aspects, including the choice of aircraft type (e.g., fixed-wing or multi-rotor drone), sensor systems (e.g., visible, NIR, and thermal camera), location, time of day, altitude above-ground-level (AGL), look-angle (e.g., oblique or vertical), look-direction, and duration-all at a cost that was previously unattainable. The course encompasses the exploration of theories, technologies, methodologies, and applications of drone-based photography and videography for remote sensing purposes. The course is open not only to GIS students, but to any individuals interested in the realm of drone technology. (3-0) Y
GISC 4363 Internet Mapping and Information Processing (3 semester credit hours) Provides a conceptual overview and hands-on experiences in Internet mapping and web-based geospatial information processing with a wide range of state-of-the-art software, including both open-source and commercial packages. Topics covered include cloud computing, client/server configuration, distributed data access and display, web-based user interaction and customization. (3-0) T
GISC 4380 Spatial Concepts and Organization (3 semester credit hours) Examines the recurring patterns of physical objects and human beings on the Earth's surface, the flows or circulations among them, and the spatial concepts and theories which have been advanced to help understand and explain these spatial arrangements. Provides a fundamental understanding of spatial processes, concepts, and theories. (Same as GEOG 4380) (3-0) Y
GISC 4381 Spatial Data Science (3 semester credit hours) Data science has emerged as one of the key drivers of societal transformation. Many data have intrinsic spatial properties (e.g., locations, geometry, and boundary) and subsequent relationships and interactions in space and time. Such spatial data are critical to find solutions or develop applications for emergency management, environmental sustainability, public health, smart city, public safety, business logistics, driverless cars, ecological conservation, and many other problem domains. This course aims to help students develop knowledge and skills to ask spatial questions, find, process and analyze spatial data, solve spatial problems, and communicate their findings. Specifically, the course will introduce spatial data analytics and machine learning methods. Central to the course is learning how to think through spatial problems and formulate solutions in spatial data science frameworks. How can we leverage spatial properties of data to advance our understanding of the roles, functions, and processes of location, space, and place on the society, environment, and their interactions? How does spatiality provide efficient frameworks to organize information, conceptualize real-world problems, and innovate solutions? Technically, we will explore machine learning with ArcGIS and proceed with open-source Python libraries (e.g., pandas, geopandas, scipy, stats, scikitlearn, and if time permits, keras and tensorflow) with cloud technologies, for example, AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. (3-0) Y
GISC 4382 Applied Geographic Information Systems (3 semester credit hours) Further develops hands-on skills, such as spatial analysis, pattern analysis and statistical analysis of GIS data, with industry-standard GIS software for application in a wide variety of areas including urban, transportation, marketing and location analysis, environmental management, geologic and geophysical analysis, and the economic, political and policy sciences. Prerequisite: GEOS 2305 or GISC 2305 or GEOS 2307 or GISC 2307 or GEOG 2309 or GEOS 2309 or GISC 2309. (3-0) Y
GISC 4384 Health and Environmental GIS (3 semester credit hours) This course covers emerging issues in global health and environmental policy, with special emphasis on applications of Geographic Information System (GIS) and spatial analytic tools in identifying and responding to physical and social environmental risk factors that impact the health and well-being of peoples throughout the world. This introductory but interdisciplinary course examines contemporary issues in global health and environmental policy and practices. This course helps students understand various social, economic, political and environmental determinants of health, and consider evidences that inequalities in education, income and accessibility to resources influence health status. Emphasis is placed on issues of global health inequality and environmental justice at various levels. Ample hands-on laboratory experiences will be provided on how to utilize various geospatial methods such as spatial analysis, modeling, simulation and mapping with real-world data using state-of-the-art commercial and open source software. Students will also develop skills in cost-effectiveness analysis and health outcome measurement, using a variety of contemporary global health case studies which focus on content areas such as maternal and child health, environmental health, infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, malaria, diarrheal diseases, etc.) and global healthcare delivery. Students may need some quantitative skills to analyze global public health problems, but the level of the analytical components of the course will be determined by the background of the enrolled students. (Same as IPEC 4384) (3-0) T
GISC 4385 Advanced Applications in GIS (3 semester credit hours) This course covers advanced applications in contemporary geographic information systems and sciences. The course discusses a wide range of GIS principles, concepts, functions, and algorithms and how they can be applied to a specific application area such as real estate, urban planning, crime, and transportation. May be repeated for credit as topics vary (9 semester credit hours maximum). Prerequisite: GEOS 2305 or GISC 2305 or GEOS 2307 or GISC 2307 or GEOG 2309 or GEOS 2309 or GISC 2309. (3-0) Y
GISC 4386 Climate Change and Sustainable Solutions (3 semester credit hours) This course will address the issues related to climate change including the science, impacts, and technical and policy solutions to combat it in the near future. In the beginning of the course, students will examine and evaluate the evidence for human-caused climate change with relevant scientific evidence and uncertainties. They will then understand the impacts of climate change on the well-being of the residents in the urban and rural areas as well as the natural environment. Finally, they will be exposed to the various smart and sustainable solutions that are becoming available and policies that are being implemented at the state, federal, and international levels to adapt, combat, and mitigate the climate change impacts in the near future. (Same as ENVR 4386 and EPPS 4386) (3-0) Y
GISC 4V96 Special Topics in Geospatial Information Science (1-3 semester credit hours) Subject matter will vary from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit (9 semester credit hours maximum). ([1-3]-0) R
GISC 4V97 Independent Study in Geospatial Information Science (1-6 semester credit hours) Independent study under a faculty member's direction. Credit/No Credit only. May be repeated for credit (6 semester credit hours maximum). Instructor consent required. ([1-6]-0) R
GISC 4V98 Internship (1-6 semester credit hours) Credit/No Credit only. May be repeated for credit (6 semester credit hours maximum). Instructor consent required. ([1-6]-0) S
GISC 4V99 Senior Honors in Geospatial Information Science (1-6 semester credit hours) For students conducting independent research for honors thesis or projects. May be repeated for credit (6 semester credit hours maximum). Instructor consent required. ([1-6]-0) S