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NR402 Schedule

Sept 2 - 7

Review of GIS concepts, data types, and data management. Introduction to the ArcGIS software interface.
USA.zip
Blackboard Chat hours: 1:30-2:30 pm (pacific time) Mondays and Wednesdays 
Exercise 1 - Due 9/7/08

Sept 8 - 14

This lesson describes the vector data model and analysis techniques used in GIS and introduces a few vector analysis tools available in ArcToolbox.
Xtools.zip
Blackboard Chat hours 1:30-2:30 pm (pacific time) Mondays and Wednesdays
Exercise 2 - Due 9/14/08

Sept 15 - 21

bvb.zip

Blackboard Chat hours 1:30-2:30 pm (pacific time) Mondays and Wednesdays
Nothing due, but the map created here is the starting point for Exercise 4

Sept 22 - 28

The student will be introduced to the concepts of map projections and datums. Map projections and datums commonly used in North America are discussed. The students will also learn how to define and change map projections of data layers using ArcCatalog and ArcToolbox.

Sept 29 - Oct 5

Almost all GIS applications in natural resources involve GPS data collection and integration of the collected GPS data into a current GPS project. In this lesson students will learn how to incorporate tabular GPS coordinates into an ArcMap GIS project. The lesson will also cover how to use imported GPS data as guidelines for creating new shapefiles through digitizing.

Blackboard Chat hours 1:30-2:30 pm (pacific time) Mondays and Wednesdays
Exercise 5 - Due 10/5/08

Oct 6 - 12

A classic wildlife research question revolves around determining a particular species “preference” for a particular habitat. This is often determined through comparing what the species uses with what is actually available to the species. Many research articles have been published on the idea of Use versus Availability and different methods for calculating each. This lesson gives an example of how a very simple resource selection question can be answered using GIS.

Blackboard Chat hours 1:30-2:30 pm (pacific time) Mondays and Wednesdays
Exercise 6 - Due 10/12/08

Oct 9 - 12

Quiz 1 covers lessons 1-6

Quiz 1 - Open from October 9 - Due 10/12/08

Don't open the quiz in Blackboard until you are ready to take it!! 
If you open and then close the quiz Blackboard will assume that you took the quiz without answering any of the questions.

NOTE!! Please note that the quizzes and final project are weighted such that the quizzes count for 20% of your grade and the Final Project counts for 30% of your grade. The remaining 50% of the grade is your homework assignments. 

Oct 13 - 19

Lesson 7 is an overview of the tools in ArcGIS particularly designed for working with raster data.

Blackboard Chat hours 1:30-2:30 pm (pacific time) Mondays and Wednesdays
Exercise 7 - Due 10/19/08

Oct 20 - 26

Spatial models can serve as guides in natural resource planning and decision-making. Lesson 8 takes the students though the process of creating a spatial model using the raster calculator in Spatial Analyst. Models such as wildlife habitat models, risk assessment models and site selection models will be discussed.

Oct 27 - Nov 2

In the previous lessons I have presented GIS as a useful tool for storing, displaying, manipulating, analyzing spatial data. Even universal tools like GIS have limitation and analyses are based on assumptions. It is important for the GIS analyst to be aware of errors associated with GIS analysis and to become familiar with methods for assessment of spatial error.

Oct 31 - Nov 4

Quiz 2 covers lessons 7-9

Quiz 2 - Open from Oct 31 - Due 11/4/08

Don't open the quiz in Blackboard until you are ready to take it!! 
If you open and then close the quiz Blackboard will assume that you took the quiz without answering any of the questions.

Nov 2 - Nov 16

Through this course you have been introduced to a few examples of how GIS can be used to solve problems and answer questions in natural resource applications. The initial exercises were well defined with detailed instructions on how to perform the analysis and interpret the results. In the later exercises you completed exercises with less guidance and began to produce short reports stating your objectives, GIS data, analysis methods and results. The final project will give you an opportunity to apply what you have learned in a project of your own choice using self-selected data.

Grading rubrik for Final Project