GES 668 - Building Spatial Datasets

Credits: [3]

Description: In this course, students will learn how to find, understand, and work with spatial data for research and practice. This course leverages open-source tools, online educational resources, and real-world data from urban environments to help students build a methodological framework for academic and professional work with spatial data now and in the future. The course explores the process of building and maintaining data sets about local places and prepares students to navigate critical issues including open data licensing, location accuracy, data “cleaning,” and privacy considerations. Assignments and readings will introduce students to the range of practical uses for spatial data in planning, public policy, and advocacy around housing, health, transportation, the environment, and more. Students in the course will learn to work with common file formats (e.g. GeoJSON, GeoPackage) and web services (e.g. FeatureServer, APis) and how to read, write, document, and share data using GIS applications (QGIS), web applications (Mapbox or ArcGIS Online), and programming languages (R or Python). This course does not require any prior experience with desktop GIS software or R programming. Assignments will require students to use R, RStudio, and QGIS during the course. Optional resources on working with spatial data using ArcGIS Online or Python will be provided where feasible. Students will be required to use GitHub in order to share completed assignments and develop their professional portfolios.
Course ID: 103037
Components: Lecture
Grading Method: A-F