Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

Class Syllabus (Adobe Acrobat Format)

Class Syllabus: December 9-20, 2019

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Welcome to Introduction to Geographic Information Systems with Dr. Taylor

Class Notes

The class notes are organized according to their order of occurrence throughout the week. They are available in Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF) Format.

  • 1. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  • 2. Map Basics and Topographic Maps
  • 3. Glossary of GIS Terms
  • 4. Vector Data Structures
  • 5. Raster Data Structures
  • 6. Map Projections and Coordinates
  • 7. Introduction to Database Structures
  • 8. Raster Analysis and Map Algebra
  • 9. Metadata
  • 10. Introduction to LIDAR Elevation Models

    Textbook Readings

  • Chapter 1. Introduction to GIS
  • Chapter 2. Cartography, Map Projections and Coordinates
  • Chapter 3. Data Structures
  • Chapter 4. Data Entry
  • Chapter 5. Databases
  • Chapter 6. Spatial Analysis
  • Chapter 7. Making Maps
  • Chapter 8. GIS Platforms
  • Chapter 9. Case Studies
  • Glossary of Terms

    Class Powerpoint Slides

  • 1. Introduction to GIS
  • 2. Map Elements
  • 2A. Mapping and Surveying Principles
  • 3. Vector-Raster Data Models
  • 4. Map Layout and Cartography
  • 5. Map Projections
  • 6/ Data Analysis
  • 6A. Data Errors
  • 7. Imagery and Remote Sensing
  • 8. GPS and GIS Integration
  • 9. LIDAR Overview
  • 10. Oregon Lidar Consortium
  • Case Study: GIS of Fingerprints

    Lab Exercises, Data and Tutorials

    Discover QGIS Data (*.zip compressed files)

    Learn QGIS Data (*.zip compressed files)
  • Learn QGIS Data Readme (*.doc)

    Unit Conversion Tables
    1. Introduction to Topographic Maps
    2. Map Scaling and Ratios
    3. Classroom Mapping Exercise
    4. Learn QGIS Getting Started
    5. Map Coordinates and Distance
    6. Introduction to Contouring and Digital Elevation Models
    7. Spatial Data Models
    8. Displaying Geospatial Data
    9. Introduction to Vector and Raster Data Strutures
    10. Data Creation and Editing
    11. Visualizing Data
    12. Creating Maps
    13. Coordinates and Projections
    14. Vector Data Analysis and Geoprocessing
    15. Introduction to Raster Data Analysis
    16. Raster Data Analysis and Topography
    17. Raster Geoprocessing

    QGIS Software

    QGIS Ver 3.4 Install (*.exe set up)

  • QGIS 3.4 User Guide (English)
  • QGIS 3.4 Training Manual (English)
  • QGIS Mumbai Training Manual

    Link to QGIS Homepage

    Video Resources

  • Overview of Geographic Information Systems (1 hr 20 min)
  • Introduction to GIS for Landscape Analysis(1 hr 20 min)
  • QGIS for Beginners (20 min)

    Related Web Links and Resources

    Oregon Data

    Oregon Imagery Explorer (Updated Spring 2013)

    BLM GIS Data for Oregon
    Mosaiced 10 Meter DEMs for Oregon (9 tiles for the entire state)
    Oregon Geospatial Enterprise Office Data Library
    Oregon Geospatial Enterprise Office Home

    ODOT Dept. of Transportation GIS Data
    Oregon Explorer Spatial Data Library
    University of Oregon - 1:24000 DRGs, DEMs, DOQs for Oregon. Search graphically, by name, or by Ohio code
    University of Oregon - Downloadable GIS Data Resource Page

    USGS National Map Viewer and Data Download

    Oregon 10 Meter Digital Elevation Models - 9 large ArcInfo Grids
    Oregon Imagery Explorer - Streaming Imagery in ArcMap through a Web Map Service (WMS)
    Oregon Explorer Spatial Data Library
    Oregon USGS Digital Raster Graphics (DRG) Index - Libre Map Project
    Merged 24K DRGs of Oregon
    Oregon BLM GIS Data
    Oregon DOQ Index at OSU
    Oregon Geologic Map Data
    Willamette River Bathymetric Survey

    Soil Data Downloads - Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Instructions for Joining NRCS Soil Tables to Feature Classes
    NRCS Geospatial Data Gateway

    Oregon Digital Orthophoto Quads (DOQs)
    Oregon Imagery Explorer - 2005 imagery downloadable
    Precipitation Data - Oregon State PRISM

    Oregon Coastal Atlas (Wright et al., 2011)

    Polk County Web Map (Gumtow et al.)

    Pacific Northwest Streamnet Hydrology and Fish Data (Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission)

    Oregon Spatial Data Library (updated links / new imagery Dec. 2009)
    Oregon Geospatial Data by County (Geocommunity.com)

    NRCS Soil Data Mart (soil surveys)
    NRCS Geospatial Gateway (soil surveys)

    State Geologic Maps from the USGS
    Oregon USGS DRGs from the Libre Map Project
    Oregon Imagery Explorer (OSU Natural Resources Digital Library)

    Oregon Lidar Consortium
    WebGIS Resource (7.5 Min DEMs available)

    Pacific Northwest Regional Ecosystem Office GIS Data (Northwest Forest Plan *.e00 files)

    UO Library GIS: Oregon 10-m DEM/DRG Quad Download Link
    USGS GIS Data for Willamette Basin
    OSU Digital Orthophoto Quad Library Index System
    CLAMS GIS Data (Oregon Coastal Landscape Analysis and Modeling Study) Library Index System
    OSU Research Forest GIS Data
    Oregon Dept. of Forestry GIS Data, Maps, and Tools

    University of Oregon Mallard GIS Spatial Library - Data Download
    University of Oregon - Oregon GIS Data

    Oregon Climate Service
    Oregon DOQ Photo Index (OSU Libraries)
    Corvallis FTP GIS Data
    NRCS Geospatial Gateway (soils data)
    University of Oregon 1:250,000 DEM Data

    GIS Data Depot - Oregon GIS Data
    GIS Data Depot - Main Page

    BLM - Oregon-Washington GIS Data
    BLM FTP - Oregon-Washington GIS Data Download Information Sheet with Links
    BLM FTP - Oregon 7.5-Minute DRG's Merged into 1-Degree Sheets
    BLM FTP - Oregon 10-m DEM's Merged into 1-Degree Sheets

    Oregon Seamless DEM FTP Site (Geodatabase)

    National Data

    Open Topography Lidar Data

    US Fish and Wildlife Geospatial Data

    U.S. Census Bureau - Shapefiles
    2010 US Census Shapefile Pre-joined with Demographic Data

    NOAA National Weather Service Data (KML and Shapefile formats)
    NOAA Coastal Geospatial Data
    NOAA Coastal Data
    NOAA Coastal Lidar Data
    NOAA Natural Hazards: Tsunami, Earthquake, Volcano, Geothermal
    NOAA Geomagnetism, Magnetic Models, Declination Calculators
    NOAA Gravity
    NOAA Topography
    NOAA World Data Center for Solid Earth Geophysics
    NOAA Ecosystems Informatics, Soils, Groundcover

    USDA Web Soil Survey
    NRCS Soil Data Mart (soil surveys)
    NRCS Geospatial Gateway (soil surveys)

    U.S. Geological Survey LandSAT Program (free data archives)

    U.S. Geological Survey EROS Data Center

    State Geologic Maps from the USGS

    Federal Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
    WebGIS Resource (7.5 Min DEMs available)
    The National Map Geospatial Clearinghouse
    Cal State Northridge Electronic Map Library
    Cal State Northridge Electronic Map Library - Animation Download Links

    University of Oregon Library - State Link Listings of Downloadable Data
    USGS National Hydrography Spatial Dataset
    ArcView Tools for National Hydrography Dataset (USGS)

    NASA Space Shuttle Radar Topography
  • NASA Space Shuttle Radar Topography FTP Download Site

    U.S. EPA Geospatial Data
    ESRI GIS ArcData Online

    ESRI Geography Network

    GIS Community Data Depot
    Center For Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST) - **Excellent Website**
    GISDataDepot Free Data Download Home Page
    GISDataDepot US - Statewide Data
    GISDataDepot United States - Nationwide Data

    GIS Lounge
    Open Source GIS Data Blog
    GeoCommunity GIS Data Source

    General GIS-Related Links

    National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping
    Oregon and Southwest Washington URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems Association)
    Willamette Valley GIS Users Group
    Oregon Geographic Information Council
    Federal Geographic Data Committee (Federal GIS Coordination)
    Online Course Materials: Environmental Remote Sensing (Richard Beck, Univ. of Cincinnati)