Principles of Geographic Information Systems Syllabus

Unit	Details
I	A Gentle Introduction to GIS The nature of GIS: Some fundamental observations, Defining GIS, GISystems, GIScience and GIApplications, Spatial data and Geoinformation. The real world and representations of it: Models and modelling, Maps, Databases, Spatial databases and spatial analysis Geographic Information and Spatial Database Models and Representations of the real world Geographic Phenomena: Defining geographic phenomena, types of geographic phenomena, Geographic fields, Geographic objects, Boundaries Computer Representations of Geographic Information: Regular tessellations, irregular tessellations, Vector representations, Topology and Spatial relationships, Scale and Resolution, Representation of Geographic fields, Representation of Geographic objects Organizing and Managing Spatial Data The Temporal Dimension
II	Data Management and Processing Systems Hardware and Software Trends Geographic Information Systems: GIS Software, GIS Architecture and functionality, Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) Stages of Spatial Data handling: Spatial data handling and preparation, Spatial Data Storage and maintenance, Spatial Query and Analysis, Spatial Data Presentation. Database management Systems: Reasons for using a DBMS, Alternatives for data management, The relational data model, Querying the relational database. GIS and Spatial Databases: Linking GIS and DBMS, Spatial database functionality.
III	Spatial Referencing and Positioning Spatial Referencing: Reference surfaces for mapping, Coordinate Systems, Map Projections, Coordinate Transformations Satellite-based Positioning: SAbsolute positioning, Errors in absolute positioning, Relative positioning, Network positioning, code versus phase measurements, Positioning technology. Data Entry and Preparation Spatial Data Input: Direct spatial data capture, Indirect spatial data captiure, Obtaining spatial data elsewhere. Data Quality: Accuracy and Positioning, Positional accuracy, Attribute accuracy, Temporal accuracy, Lineage, Completeness, Logical consistency Data Preparation: Data checks and repairs, Combining data from multiple sources Point Data Transformation: Interpolating discrete data, Interpolating continuous data
IV	Spatial Data Analysis: Classification of analytical GIS Capabilities Retrieval, classification and measurement: Measurement, Spatial selection queries, Classification Overlay functions: Vector overlay operators,Raster overlay operators Neighbourhood functions: Proximity computations, Computation of diffusion, Flow computation, Raster based surface analysis Analysis: Network analysis, interpolation, terrain modeling GIS and Application models: GPS, Open GIS Standards, GIS Applications and Advances Error Propagation in spatial data processing: How Errors propagate, Quantifying error propagation
V	Data Visualization: GIS and Maps, The Visualization Process Visualization Strategies: Present or explore? The cartographic toolbox: What kind of data do I have?, How can I map my data? How to map?: How to map qualitative data, How to map quantitative data, How to map the terrain elevation, How to map time series Map Cosmetics, Map Dissemination

Principles of Geographic Information Systems Practicals

Practical No	Details
0	Familiarizing Quantum GIS: Installation of QGIS, datasets for both Vector and Raster data, Maps.
1	Creating and Managing Vector Data: Adding vector layers, setting properties, formatting, calculating line lengths and statistics
2	Exploring and Managing Raster data: Adding raster layers, raster styling and analysis, raster mosaicking and clipping
3	Making a Map, Working with Attributes, Importing Spreadsheets or CSV files Using Plugins, Searching and Downloading OpenStreetMap Data
4	Working with attributes, terrain Data
5	Working with Projections and WMS Data
6	Georeferencing Topo Sheets and Scanned Maps Georeferencing Aerial Imagery Digitizing Map Data
7	Managing Data Tables and Saptial data Sets: Table joins, spatial joins, points in polygon analysis, performing spatial queries
8	Advanced GIS Operations 1: Nearest Neighbor Analysis, Sampling Raster Data using Points or Polygons, Interpolating Point Data
9	Advance GIS Operations 2: Batch Processing using Processing Framework Automating Complex Workflows using Processing Modeler Automating Map Creation with Print Composer Atlas
10	Validating Map data

Principles of Geographic Information Systems Reference Books