Geographic Information Systems

Teaching takes the form of 3 sequences.

Sequence 1: Preparing a naturalistic expertise on GIS

By the end of the sequence, learners will be able to display and convert the main types of GIS data and plan a field survey using handheld GPS units.

Different data types (vector/raster data), most common formats QGIS interface, using Qgis

Symbology for discrete and continuous variables (vector and raster)

Coordinate systems and conversion from one system to another

GPS data acquisition and map layout

-Layer creation and digitization

3 sessions of 3 hours

At the end of Sequence 1, learners will be asked to complete a cartographic exercise (to be used for assessment purposes). Students in initial training will carry out this work in groups using the workshop sites (estimated time: 3 hours of non-classroom time). Work-study students will do it as part of their professional activity.

Sequence 2: using and managing databases

Database design; interest, software...

database querying, SQL language

Table creation, basic SQL queries

2 sessions of 3 hours

Sequence 3: spatial data analysis

By the end of the sequence, learners will be able to perform simple queries and geoprocessing.

Calculation of QGIS fields, use of mathematical and geometric functions, calculation of surfaces and lengths.

Spatial queries and geoprocessing

Home ranges and habitat selection

2 sessions of 3 hours

- Make students autonomous in the use of GPS and GIS in order to master the entire chain from data collection to exploitation.

Understand the organization of databases and queries to interrogate databases

Train students to use open-source GIS (QuantumGIS) for spatialized data and mapping.