SC 125 - Environmental Mapping Technology

3 Credits

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to

1. Distinguish different kinds of maps and describe the essential elements of a map.
2. Work confidently with geographic, UTM and DLS coordinate systems.
3. Apply the National Topographic System (NTS) of Canada to identifying, organizing, and purchasing maps.
4. Apply digital map and GPS software to trip planning, routing, and waypoint tasks.
5. Transfer waypoints and routes between the GPS and various mapping software.
6. Use GPS to collect precise position data, to create waypoints and tracks, and to project positions.
7. Describe environmental applications of remote sensing and GIS technologies.
8. Recognize important wavelength bands.
9. Understand coordinate systems and map projections.
10. Distinguish applications of raster and vector data.
11. Interpret remote sensing images.
12. Use a GIS for operations such as overlay, buffering, route planning and basic modeling.
13. Integrate field position data from raw coordinate sources (spreadsheets), GPS downloads (DNR Garmin), or textfile sources, within the ArcGIS working environment. 
14. Manage GIS data in a network environment.
15. Access spatial data from on-line (internet) sources.

Bolstad, P. GIS Fundamentals. A First Text on Geographic Information Systems. 6^th Edition. Eider Press. 

White Bear Lake, Minnesota. 764 pp.

Chang, K. 2019. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems. 9^th Edition. McGraw Hill, 

New York, New York. 444 pp. 

Lilesand, T.M., R.W. Keifer and J.W. Chipman.  2015. Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation.  7^th Edition. 

John Wiley & Sons Inc., Danvers, Massachusetts.  720 pp.

Mekercher, R.B., and B. Wolfe. 2011. Understanding Western Canada’s Dominion Land Survey System. 

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.

Optional Resource Materials:
None

Conduct of Course:

The course consists of 3 hours of lecture each week and a bi-weekly 4-hour lab. The instructor discusses this time allocation as it pertains to your timetable and expected hours of homework, etc.

The lecture is a formalized classroom situation where the instructor discusses pertinent topics and students normally take notes. Student questions are encouraged to clarify subject areas. Numerous internet resources are provided, and used to illustrate applications of environmental mapping, GIS, and remote sensing.  D2L is used to distribute assignments and readings, and to facilitate discussion and sharing of the many on-line resources. 

The lab component is comprised of demonstrations and exercises involving the interpretation and use of of NTS maps, aerial photographs, coordinate systems (UTM, latitude/longitude, DLS) and ESRI GIS software. GPS exercises are conducted in the field during lab periods, and during off-hours as required by instrument bookings. Students are required to demonstrate competency with GIS software including but not limited to ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro.

Students are reminded that unless explicitly instructed to the contrary, all written submissions and lab projects must be original work.  See the Environmental Sciences Student Handbook for additional information.  

Content of Course:
Lectures:

1. Environmental Mapping
2. Geographic Information System
3. Remote Sensing

Labs:

Lab 1.   Environmental Mapping: GPS - use in the field and download to GIS software

Lab 2.   Environmental Mapping - NTS maps and coordinate systems

Lab 3.   Introduction to ESRI ArcGIS software (ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro)

Lab 4.   Working with ArcGIS Online - Vector data and processing

Lab 5.   Working with ArcGIS Online - Raster data and processing (or ArcGIS Pro)

Lab 6.   Working with ArcGIS Online - applications in the Environmental Industry

Course Assessments:
Lecture exams contain discussion-type, short answer, matching, true false justify, and multiple-choice questions.  The final grade for the course is weighted according to the following schedule: