Textbook Introduction and Description​

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), cartography, remote sensing, and spatial analysis. Readers will learn how to utilize geospatial technology to address social and environmental issues. This course is designed to be used as a stand-alone course to complement other disciplines or as an entry-level course in a geospatial program. Course content is based upon the United States Department of Labor’s Geospatial Technology Competency Model for entry-level geospatial occupations including Geospatial or GIS Technicians and Technologists.

  • The student will describe the fundamental concepts of Geographic Information Science and Technology.
  • The student will demonstrate proficiency in the basic functions of geospatial software and hardware.
  • The student will demonstrate awareness of fundamental remote sensing and spatial analysis techniques.
  • The student will demonstrate basic proficiency in map creation and design principles, including thematic map display, employment of map projections, and cartographic design.
  • The student will demonstrate proficiency in the creation and acquisition of spatial data including the use of the Global Position System.
  • The student will demonstrate how to access different sources of data, demonstrate the process of creating data, and discuss the fundamental concepts of data quality.

Author’s Notes

This textbook is a composite of multiple geographic information systems resources, along with additions by the author. The textbook is meant to be mobile, interactive, and multimodal. Special thanks to the authors of the GTCM Model Courses from the National Geospatial Technology Center for Excellence (GeoTech Center), and the authors of the Essentials to Geographic Information Systems textbook. Both of these resources and the images used are openly licensed as Creative Commons. All videos are embedded and not downloaded into the textbook in order to not violate any copyright privileges.

License

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Geographic Information Systems and Cartography Copyright © 2022 by adamdastrup is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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