GIS Applications

The GIS Practice course consists of training in the use of Geographic Information Systems, covering basic concepts related to geographic information and proficiency in the open-source software QGIS. The majority of the course is devoted to an introduction through a combination of lectures and hands-on exercises. A personalized capstone mapping project allows students, at the end of the course, to apply the concepts they have learned. An introductory lecture by industry professionals provides context for the relevance of GIS approaches in general hydrology.

The objectives of this learning unit are:

• to provide training on the basic concepts of GIS and spatial databases;
• to provide students with basic proficiency in a standard GIS tool: QGIS.

Required prerequisites*:

Basic Computer and Office Skills

Recommended prerequisites*:

NA

Assessment:

The map produced during the project, along with the associated metadata, constitutes the project evaluation.

Course Outline:

The course content is organized primarily into six successive lecture/lab sessions: 

1- Getting Started with a GIS—General GIS Concepts, 

2. Geographic Data 

3- Relational Database 

4- DTM, 

5- Vectors, 

6. Graphic Semiotics.

It continues with a mapping project, either individually or in pairs.