Course syllabus

ARK500 - PM

Geographical information management and processing

 

Contact details

Examiner:

Marco Adelfio

e-mail: adelfio@chalmers.se

phone: +46 733032076

 

Teachers:

Flavia Lopes

e-mail: flavia.lopes@chalmers.se

Jorge Gil

e-mail: jorge.gil@chalmers.se

Jonathan Cohen

e-mail: jonathan.cohen@chalmers.se

Ahmed Eldesoky

e-mail: ahmed.eldesoky@chalmers.se

 

Guest lecturers:

Álvaro Bernabeu Bautista

e-mail: bernabeu444@gmail.com

 

Course purpose

The course will provide a basis of knowledge within the area of Geographical information management and processing, its use and application applied to the built environment (mostly focusing on the urban environment). The students will be able to carry out the management of geographical data through simple analysis and presentation forms, in order to describe and visualize different types of applications related to an urban environment.

This course creates a basic understanding of how to use geographic data sources and geographical information from different databases. Databases mostly belong to municipalities and governmental authorities and can be used to geographically describe the built environment and socio-demographic data. The course will introduce different types of geographical data, different applications and simpler analyzes, as well as visualization methods and presentation forms via software (QGIS) and is specifically focused on the management of geographical data.

 

Schedule

The course runs during study period 3. A calendar overview for the entire course can be found on TimeEdit. During the weeks preceding the start of the course, more information will be made available also on ARK 500 Canvas page. Students get access to the course material at Canvas, after admission and respective course registration. The daily schedule for booked events is generally between 8:00-17:00 (aiming for short breaks within every 1 hour working session).

 

Course literature

When necessary, the literature will be provided during the lectures.

 

Course design

The course encompasses mandatory lectures and exercises that delve into different topics associated with the analysis of population and built environment. The topics are organized into distinct modules. Attendance at lectures is compulsory, requiring an 80% attendance rate. The exercises aim to reinforce theoretical concepts practicing quantitative analysis, map creation, and data visualization. Moreover, these exercises serve as the foundation for the assignments and the evaluation process. Students have the option to work individually or in pairs. The course will be conducted in English.

Module A

This module is an introductory component, encompassing teacher introductions, lectures that offer foundational content on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and explanations concerning to the course schedule and assignments.

Content	Description	Lecturer
Lecture 01	Ice-breaking	Marco Adelfio and  Flavia Lopes
Lecture 02 and Lecture 03	Introduction to Geographic Information System	Alvaro Bernabeu
Lecture 04	Introduction to the QGIS, the content of the course and assignments.	Flavia Lopes

 

Module B

This module provides a practical introduction to GIS. Using QGIS, skills are developed in assembling, managing, editing, analyzing, and visualizing populational and property geographic databases with descriptive texts and diagrams. All materials of this phase need to be delivered in the Assignment 01. Submission is through a poster in A1 format, digitally saved, and then uploaded via the course website.

Content	Description	Lecturer
Exercise 1.0	Introduction to QGIS in practice, how to manage data and create maps	Flavia Lopes and Jorge Gil
Exercise 1.1	Manage population data and learn to calculate different population indexes	Flavia Lopes and Jorge Gil
Exercise 1.2	Manage property and buildings data and learn to calculate different spatial indexes	Flavia Lopes and Jorge Gil
Conclusion and Feedback	Conclusion and feedback about the outcomes of the exercise 1	Flavia Lopes and Jorge Gil

 

Module C

Expanding upon the preceding module, this phase involves conducting additional analyses and incorporating more property-specific geographic data. All materials for this stage must be submitted as part of Assignment 02. Submission requires a digitally saved poster in A1 format, to be uploaded via the course website.

Content	Description	Lecturer
Lecture 05	Introductory lecture on economic aspects of the built environment, focusing on the relationship between land use and land prices	Jonathan Cohen
Exercise 2	Manage land-price data and relate it with accessibility and the previous learned indexes	Jonathan Cohen and Flavia Lopes
Conclusion and Feedback	Conclusion and feedback about the outcomes of the exercise 2	Jonathan Cohen and Flavia Lopes

 

Module D

In this phase, students will conduct additional analyses by integrating the built environment with natural phenomena, specifically investigating the impact of flooding on both infrastructure and property values in the central part of Gothenburg. All materials for Assignment 03 should comprehensively address these aspects. Submission requires a digitally saved poster in A1 format, to be uploaded through the course website.

Content	Description	Lecturer
Lecture 06	Introductory lecture to the potential of GIS in addressing climate adaptation, with a specific focus on flood risk assessment	Ahmed Eldesoky
Exercise 3	Manage flood data and learn how to map the potential effects of flooding in the central part of Gothenburg	Ahmed Eldesoky and Flavia Lopes
Conclusion and Feedback	Conclusion and feedback about the outcomes of the exercise 3	Ahmed Eldesoky and Flavia Lopes

To support and assist with the above tasks, there will be comprehensive documentation and describing the tasks step by step.

 

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

1. Describe different data models for digital spatial data (raster and vector) and be able to indicate how spatial data is typically organized, stored and administered in a computer-based environment.
2. Identify different types of geographical information and be able to describe data that is relevant in urban planning and the built environment, both from a governmental (municipality) and social perspective.
3. Describe different types of subject-specific models regarding spatial phenomena linked to the built environment.
4. Use a selection of basic geographical analysis methods.
5. Describe a selection of basic cartographic methods and explain the meaning of different map projections, geodetic reference systems and coordinate systems.
6. Independently and in group conduct basic analysis of property-relevant geographical data in raster and vector formats using standard software for GIS.
7. Be able to present workflow and results from the collection and analysis of geographical data.
8. Perform and present simple statistical evaluations of spatial data in both oral and written form including images, diagrams, descriptive text and maps.

 Link to Syllabus on Chalmers Webpage

 

Integrated learning

Connections to other courses such as BOM210 Urban Functions and Design, etc. Implementation of a subject-specific project related to the analysis of property information and property development.

 

Examination form

This course utilizes individual grading, meaning that it necessitates the compulsory submission of the three assignments, which are graded on a maximum scale of 5. Furthermore, the compulsory attendance of the lectures that must be fulfilled to 80%.