11.520 : A Workshop on Geographic Information Systems  
  11.188 : Urban Planning and Social Science Laboratory
 
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Fall 2010 SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTORS

Prof. Joseph Ferreira, Jr., MIT Room 9-532, jf@mit.edu
    Office hours : Tuesday 2:30 - 4 & Thursday 10:30 - noon
Lulu Xue , Teaching Assistant, luluxue@mit.edu
Shan Jiang , Teaching Assistant, shanjang@mit.edu
    Office hours : Reserve Online
 

COURSE ADMINISTRATION

Sue Delaney, Room 9-530, x3-0779, sld@mit.edu
The class staff collectively can be reached via e-mail at 11.520staff@mit.edu.

MEETINGS

Monday: Lab prep and Lab exercises 2:00-5:00 PM in Room 37-312
[Lab prep and start of exercise are the key parts. Students can leave for other classes beginning at 3:30 or 4 and finish the exercises later on their own.]

Additional supervised lab time (optional) is reseved in Room 37-312 Friday 11 am to 2 pm (and, possibly, other times depending upon demand and TA availability).

Wednesday: Lecture: 2:00- 3:30 PM in Room14E-310

 CREDITS

Undergraduates should enroll in 11.188; this subject will satisfy both the Department and the Institute lab requirement.
Graduate students should enroll in 11.520.

11.520 is a full-semester graduate subject that earns 3-6-3 units of H-level graduate credit.
11.188 is a full-semester undergraduate subject covering essentially the same material as 11.520 that earns 3-6-3 units of undergraduate credit.

NOTE: The subjects 11.520 and 11.188 meet at the same time with nearly identical content.

GOALS

This class uses lab exercises and a workshop setting to help students develop an in-depth understanding of the planning and public management uses of geographic information systems. The goals are to help students:

  • Acquire technical skills in the use of geographic information system (GIS) software and database management tools through
    • lab exercises and homework using small (but real) local datasets, and
    • project work involving the shared use of larger datasets and the mixing and matching of data from different sources.
  • Acquire qualitative methods skills by:
    • gathering data and documentation
    • analyzing information, and
    • presenting results effectively.
  • Investigate the potential and practicality of GIS technologies in a typical planning setting and evaluate possible applications.
  • Understand basic principles underlying the growth of web mapping, geospatial services, and location-aware computing.

The workshop teaches GIS techniques and basic database management at a level that extends somewhat beyond the thematic mapping and data manipulation skills included in the MCP core ( the half-semester GIS and spatial analysis class, 11.205). Both 11.205 and 11.520/11.188 cover basic thematic mapping and the buffering and overlay operations (using vector and raster data) that are involved in basic 'site suitability' assessments. The full-semester 11.520/11.188 class adds a bit more database management (using MS-Access), an introduction to model building tools (Model Builder), and a small, individual project. We try to teach GIS methods and techniques with some attention to open-ended planning questions that invite spatial analysis but will

  • Require judgment and exploration to select relevant data and mapping techniques;
  • Involve mixing and matching new, local data with extracts from official records (such as census data, parcel data and regional employment and population forecasts);
  • Utilize spatial analysis techniques such as buffering, address matching, and overlays;
  • Use other modeling and visualization techniques beyond thematic mapping (e.g., map mashups) ;
  • Raise questions about the skills, strategy, and organizational support needed to sustain such analytic capability within a variety of local and regional planning settings.

PREREQUISITES

The prerequisites for the course are:

  • A working familiarity with personal computing, spreadsheets, and the MIT Athena & CRON computing environments. 
  • A basic familiarity with elementary data analysis that most undergrads acquire via general Institute requirements, and most graduate students have already acquired via undergrad methods and analysis classes. Hence, the Spring class, 11.220 (Quantitative Reasoning I), is not a prerequisite.

REQUIREMENTS

Students will be expected to complete weekly lab exercises plus three homework sets covering readings and basic GIS skills. Students will also complete one in-class test and a small project of the student's choosing that draws on the skills taught in the class. This project will be presented to the class in an oral presentation and a brief written report. The project should require about the same effort as one of the homework sets. Due dates for these requirements are given in the schedule below. The GIS exercises will use ArcGIS software on WinAthena workstations.

GRADING

Lab Exercises (collectively)

25%

Three Homework Sets (collectively)

30%

In-Class, Open-Book Test

23%

Small Project

18%

Class Participation

4%

Please include your name and Athena username on all assignments, tests, etc., including those turned in electronically. We need this information to identify your work easily.

LATENESS POLICY

All assignments with be submitted online using the Stellar website for the class. Turning in assignments promptly is important both for keeping current with the subject matter, which is cumulative, and to keep all students on a level playing field. Hence, we have adopted a strict policy towards credit for assignments that are turned in late. We will consider requests for extensions due to extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis, but please do not count on such requests being granted.

Lab exercises are typically due one week after the corresponding lab. A late lab exercise will be accepted up until one week after the original due date for a loss of one grade (e.g., a "check" becomes a "check-minus"). After that, late assignments will receive no credit and will not be accepted.

Late problem sets will have two points deducted for each day (weekends and holidays count for a single day ) that it is turned in after the due date. Hence, a problem set turned in three days late would lose 6 points. If it would have earned 90 points if turned in on time, it would receive only 84 points under these conditions. Regardless, after two weeks, no problem sets will be accepted if the answers have been posted.

Final project write-ups are due on the last day of classes, Wednesday, December 8. Write-ups turned in after Friday, December 10 will lose 5 points. No project write-ups will be accepted after Monday, December 13.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Plagiarism and cheating are both academic crimes. For this class, it is helpful and okay to discuss lab exercises and problem sets (but not tests) with other classmates, but the results and discussion that you turn in should be your own work and not anything copied from another person or paper. Never (1) turn in an assignment that you did not write yourself, (2) turn in an assignment for this class that you previously turned in for another class, or (3) cheat on an exam. If you do so, it may result in a failing grade for the class, and possibly even suspension from the college. Please see me if you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism. Anyone caught cheating on an exam will be reported to the provost in line with recognized university procedures.

TEXTS

Texts marked with an asterisk (*) will be held on reserve at Rotch Library. Texts and articles marked with a plus (+) will also be available in electronic form on the Stellar website for the class (and restricted only to those in the class). The books may be purchased from online retailers such as borders.com, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com. They may also be available from brick-and-mortar bookstores such as Quantum Books or various used book sites.

  • Ormsby, et al., Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop, Second Edition. ISBN: 1-58948-083-X    2004  (Paper version available at http://esripress.esri.com/display/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&websiteID=177&moduleID=0 this edition is for ArcGIS 9.2; the earlier version from 2001 is adequate also, ISBN: 1-879102-89-7; Online version available at books.google.com)
  • (+) Zeiler, Modeling our world: the ESRI guide to geodatabase design.  ESRI Press. ISBN: 9781879102620 ((The book is available at books.google.com with a preview of Chapter 1).
  • (*+) Monmonier, Mark. How to Lie with Maps. Second Edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. Hardcover: ISBN 0-226-53420-0. Paperback: ISBN 0-226-53421-9. (The 1991 first edition, ISBN 0-226-53415-4, is also fine.)
  • (*+) Longley, Goodchild, Maguire and Rhind, Geographic Information Systems and Science, Second Edition, 2005. ISBN: 978-0-470-87000-6 (available at:http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470870001.html) The earlier edition from 2001 is adequate, ISBN: 0-471-89275-0.
  • (*) Peng and Tsou, Internet GIS: Distributed Geographic Information Services for the Internet and Wireless Networks, John Wiley, New York, 2003, ISBN: 0-471-35923-8. (Paper versionavailable at http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471359238.html; online version available at books.google.com)
  • (*+) O'Sullivan, David, and David Unwin, Geographic Information Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey (2003) ISBN: 0471211761.
  • Arctur, David and Michael Zeiler, Designing Geodatabases: Case Studies in GIS Data Modeling, ESRI Press, Redlands, CA, 2004, ISBN: 1-58948-021-X,

 

SCHEDULE

Lecture

Wed., Sept.8

Introduction to the Class and GIS; GIS Principles & methods,
plus GIS at MIT on WinAthena computers (especially for students who did not do the orientation sessions on GIS and CRON computing).

Reading:

Lab

Fri., Sept. 10

Lab 1: GIS Introduction Exercise: ArcGIS Basics

Reading :

Lab

Mon, Sept. 13

Lab 2: Thematic Mapping in ArcMap (symbolization and exploratory vs. explanatory mapping)

Lab Exercise 1 due

Reading :

Lecture

Wed., Sept. 15

GIS Models, GIS Data Manipulation and Querying

Reading :

  • Ormsby, et al, Chapter 8 & 9
  • Monmonier, Chapter 3: "Map Generalization: Little White Lies and Lots of Them."
  • Longley, et al, Chapter 4: “Georeferencing.
  • Longley, et al, Chapter 3: “Representing Geography”

Lab

Mon., Sept. 20

Lab 3: Database Operations in ArcGIS (spatial selection, query selection, tabular joins, spatial joins)

Lab Exercise 2 due
Homework Set 1 posted online

Reading :

  • Ferreira, J. Jr., 1990. "Database Management Tools for Planning", Journal of the American Planning Association, Winter, pp. 78-84. [on reserve]

 

Lecture

Wed., Sept. 22

Relational Databases (and MS-Access)

Reading :

Lab

Mon., Sept. 27

Lab 4: Database Aggregation, SQL, and Charts

Lab Exercise 3 due

Reading :

Lecture

Wed., Sept. 29

Making Sense of the Census

  Reading :

  • Monmonier, Chapter 10 (Chapter 9 in the first edition): "Data Maps: Making Nonsense of the Census."

Lab

Mon., Oct. 4

Lab 5: Working with 2000 Census Data & MIT Geodata Repository

Lab Exercise 4 due.

Lecture

Wed., Oct.6

Coordinate Systems and Projections

Homework Set 2 distributed

Reading :

Lab

Tue., Oct. 11

Columbus Day Holiday

Lecture

Wed., Oct. 13

Spatial Analysis (Vector Analysis).

Homework Set 1 due

Reading:

  • Ormsby, et al, Chapter 11: “Preparing Data for Analysis.”
  • Ormsby, et al, Chapter 12: “Analyzing Spatial Data."

Lab

Mon., Oct. 18

Lab 6: Vector Spatial Analysis (buffers, polygon overlay, area allocation, using ArcTools)

Lab Exercise 5 due

Reading :

  • Ormsby, et al, Chapter 11: “Preparing Data for Analysis.”
  • Ormsby, et al, Chapter 12: “Analyzing Spatial Data.

Lecture

Wed., Oct. 20

Spatial Data Models and Spatial Analysis II (Raster)

Homework Set 2 part 1 due

Reading : to be distributed

Lab

Mon., Oct 25

 

Lab 7: Raster Spatial Analysis (Interpolation, Raster Operations, Spatial Analyst) and Model Builder

Lab Exercise 6 due

Lecture

Wed., Oct. 27

Intro to Web Services

Reading :

Lab

Mon., Nov. 1

Lab 8: Introduction to Web Services

Lab Exercise 7 due

Homework Set 3 distributed

Reading : to be distributed

Lecture

Wed., Nov.3

GIS Data Creation, Advanced Raster Operations, and Model Building

Homework Set 2 part 2 due

Reading :  

Lab

Mon., Nov. 8

Project Work

Wed., Nov. 10

 

Model Builder and review of labs/homework

Homework Set 3 part 1 due Thursday, Nov. 12, at 10 PM via Stellar

Lab

Mon., Nov. 15

Test (in class, open book)

Lecture

Wed., Nov. 17

Tips on Project Presentation and Writeup, plus Project Work

Project Proposal due
Lab Exercise 8 due

Reading:

  • Notes by Cherie Abbanat, DUSP Writing Specialist, on "Creating Your 11.188/11.520 Presentation and Report"

Lab

Mon., Nov. 22

Project Work

Homework Set 3 part 2 due

Lecture

Wed., Nov. 24

GIS Data Creation, Network Analysis & Interoperable Web Services

Project Proposal Feedback

Lab

Mon., Nov.29

Project Work

Project Work + Project Title and Abstract due

Lecture

Wed., Dec. 1

Project work and test feedback

 

Mon., Dec. 6

Project presentations

Wed., Dec. 8

Project presentations

Last modified on 7 september 2010 [jf]

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