Print this pageIntroduction to GIS
- Basic hardware and software considerations -
Steve Ramroop, Ph.D.
Course Outline
This is a five hour online course that discusses the basic hardware and software considerations of implementing a GIS. Topics of the course are: hardware and software considerations in the implementation of a GIS; the understanding of the definition of GIS; GIS various architectures; and GIS data categories and acquisition methods.
This course includes
a multiple choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding
of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Be able to understand the need to consider hardware and software to better use GIS;
- Understand the basic components of the computer;
- Relate the computer components to the importance of GIS implementation;
- Recognize the two basic data formats of GIS data;
- Be able to understand the basic GIS architectures;
- Define GIS in their own words;
- Recognize the first recoded use of GIS;
- Understand the various data categories;
- List the general data acquisition methods used in GIS;
- Describe the general characteristics of data acquisition methods;
- Recognized that the highest cost in any GIS implementation is in the data capture;
- Choose suitable data capture methods for the intended GIS application;
- Identify the multitude of GIS applications;
- Recognize that the cost of GIS implementation is influenced with the quality of the data; and
- Understand that GIS implementation is a cyclic process.
Intended
Audience
This course is intended for beginners of GIS.
Benefits for Attendees
This course consists of the first of a series of lectures which provide the necessary foundation needed to understand GIS and its implementation. The course is geared for beginners who have interest in the prospects which GIS has to offer. The contents of the course will be focused on the key principles and elements of GIS. This series of lectures serves as a pre-requisite for the second series of lectures.
Course Content
The course contains following five individual lectures:
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Course Summary
GIS is a fast developing technology that has filtered into many professions. Some use of the GIS is far advanced while other uses are in its infancy stages. This first course from the series of courses presents the basics of understanding the computer hardware and existing software before any GIS implementation is considered. Once the architecture is defined, then the various data sets need to be collected.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:
ESRI Website: What is GIS?
Where is GIS used?
Quiz
Once
you finish studying the
above course content,
you need to
take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
