Section outline

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    Introduction to GIS for Social and Environmental Analysis

    FOR SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

     
     
     
    Instructor: Dirk Kinsey
     
    E-mail: dkinsey@brynmawr.edu
    Tuesday and Thursday: 1:10PM - 2:30PM
    Office Hours:  10:30-12pm Wednesday and 12pm-1:00 Thursday, Old Library (238)
    TA: Judy Xie jxie@haverford.edu
    TA Hours: TBD

    Welcome! This course is designed to introduce the foundations of GIS with emphasis on applications for social and environmental analysis. It deals with basic principles of GIS and its use in spatial analysis and information management. This course is intended as a hands-on introduction to vector GIS using ArcGIS Pro 3.7 software. Vector GIS data are appropriate for modeling geographic objects, such as bounded areas (census tracts or service districts), specific locations (buildings or events such as crimes), and networks (streets). Students will develop skills necessary for carrying out basic GIS projects and for advanced GIS coursework. We will focus on ways that GIS is and could be applied to urban and environmental research, planning and policy. The class also aims to help students develop an understanding of what is spatial, when GIS is appropriate for answering question, and to develop an awareness of the power issues involved in map-making. By the end of this course, you should be familiar enough with ArcGIS Pro to find, map, and analyze data using basic GIS tools and be able to teach yourself additional GIS skills using the help files, online materials, and software manuals.

     

    Course Description

    We will meet in-person (unless otherwise notified) twice a week for 80 minutes. During this time, we will engage in lectures, activities, discussions of course readings, and an introduction to the weekly homework assignment. During our course meetings, the instructor will be available to help walk you through the weekly homework assignment and troubleshoot any issues. This is the best time to ask questions and receive homework help. You are encouraged to help or receive help from your peers, but all submitted work must be your own.