Mt. San Jacinto College – Menifee Valley Campus

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

Spring 2006

 

8-week session:  March 23 – May 30

Thursdays, 6:00 PM – 9:35 PM Room 1010 and

Saturdays, 9:00 AM – 11:50 PM Room 652

Course Code: GIS 298A/4938, 3 units

 

Instructor:                    Thomas Boring                                  Internet: www.msjc.edu/gis

Phone:                        (951) 378 - 1592                               Email: tboring@msjc.edu

Office Hours: Available before class on Saturdays in room 652

                                    Available by email at tboring@msjc.edu

                                    * Please allow 24 hours for replies to email

 

Required Text:        (1)       Getting to Know ArcObjects First Edition, ESRI Press

Required Materials:                       Scantron Forms 882-ES

Recommended Preparation:      Introduction to Computer Information Systems and Data Processing (CSIS 101), or Introduction to GIS (GIS 115).

 

Recommended Concurrent Course Enrollment: GIS 080 Geographic Information Systems Practicum is a 0.5 unit open lab course.  For dates and times, refer to “Open Lab” schedule for room 652.  If you do not have a computer at home for doing the tutorial exercises, or feel you may need more time on the practical exercises, you may choose to enroll in the GIS lab course to complete your GIS assignments.

 

Course Description: This course prepares students with the geographic concepts necessary for technical application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).  Topics include data structure, acquisition, integration and manipulation.  Through practical applications in GIS students will use scientific and technical methods of inquiry to analyze tabular and spatial data for geographic trends, patterns and relationships.

 

Course Objectives:  Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

1.                  Identify the strengths and weaknesses of customizing ArcMap map documents using VBA.

2.                  Analyze various approaches to similar applications in GIS relevant to GIS programming using ArcObjects.

3.                  Combine strategies for spatial problem solving using ArcObjects.

4.                  Assess procedures necessary to achieve a desired outcome through implementation of the method or tool.


Course Structure:  The course consists of 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of lab each week.  In general, the first three hours of each week consist of lecture, and demonstration.  And the second three hours of each week involve hands-on applications and demonstrations.  The first half of the 4-week semester introduces students to the basics of GIS programming relative to ArcObjects & VBA.  The second half of the 4-week session involves a more in-depth study of programming and using ArcObjects.

 

Attendance/Participation: Roll will be taken each class session.  Students are responsible for their attendance and for requesting from fellow students or me any information presented during their absence.  Experience demonstrates that absence and tardiness contribute to academic failure.  The withdrawal date (“W” on transcript) is posted in the Enrollment Office.  After the withdrawal date poor class performance will result in failure (“F” on transcript).  Students enrolled in the course are expected to attend all class meetings, from beginning to end.

            If you arrive late, or leave early, please do so in a quiet, and considerate manner. If you leave class during lecture to go to the snack machines, or sleep in class, you will be marked absent.  If you are absent for three or more class meetings, two consecutive class meetings or the first class meeting, I may drop you from the course.  Telephones and pagers are not needed in this class; turn them off or leave them at home.  In a college class, discussion works best when one person speaks at a time.  Whispering to your neighbor is inappropriate.  Please do ask questions and contribute to class discussions.

 

Grading System:  A mid-term and final exam (not cumulative) will test student comprehension of lecture, and practical skills acquired during lab.  The exam format (scantron) consists of true or false decisions, multiple-choice answers, and matching of definitions with terms.  If you know that you are going to miss an exam, please make arrangements with me prior to the exam to take the exam at another time.  If you must miss an exam, you may make it up during my office hours within one week of the exam date.  Without an official excuse for absence on the date of the exam, 10 percent of the make-up test score will be reduced for each week after the original exam date.  No make-up exams will be given two weeks after the original exam date.  The final exam must be taken during finals week at the scheduled time. 

            All assignments are due in class on the date indicated on the following course schedule and no assignment will be accepted late or incomplete. Assignments will not be accepted via email. Final grade for the course will be determined by individual achievement as follows:

 

Total

Two Exams (Midterm & Final)

75 points each

150 points

Getting to Know ArcObjects Exercises (15)

5 points each

75 points

Getting to Know ArcObjects Exercises (15)

5 points each

75 points

Total Possible Points

300 points

 

DIVIDE TOTAL POINTS BY 3 EQUALS

 

STANDARD GRADE SCALE: 90+=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, <60=F

Extra Credit Potential: See me for options, 20 points


GIS Exercises:  Students will turn in a screen capture of the last display on their monitor at the completion of each exercise, as well as a printout of any program code.  Each assignment packet must have a cover page, and assignments must be in the correct order.  The cover page should list the class number and title, the student’s name, and which assignment packet it is for.

 

HOW TO SUCCEED IN THIS COURSE:

·        Going to school is a job: treat it like one; be in class on time, and do not leave early.

·        Ask questions in class, before class, and after class.

·        Participate in class discussions.

·        Take notes on lectures, films, readings, and class discussions.

·        Keep your notes organized.

·        Organize your notes immediately following every class session.

·        Read the chapters that correspond to class topics during the week in which the topic is discussed.

·        Prepare for class review sessions prior to each exam.

·        Keep track of your total accumulation of points.

·        If you are thinking about dropping the course because you are having trouble, please see me!

·        If you are having trouble, please see me!!

·        If you do decide to drop the course, please complete the process through enrollment services.

 

The key to your success as a student is TIME MANAGEMENT!!!

For every unit you are enrolled in you should expect an average of 3 hours per week dedicated to the subject over the 18-week semester.  Thus, a 3-unit course may require 9 hours per week for in class lecture and out of class preparation.   Because this is an 8-week session, you can expect to spend 18 hours per week on this course.

 

 


Classroom Etiquette:  According to the rules and regulation of student conduct (Section 605.04B Board Policy): Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary sanctions.  If you cheat on a test (look at someone else’s paper, make your paper available to someone else, etc.) or if you plagiarize on an assignment, you will receive a zero for that work.  If you do it again, you will be dropped from the course and reported to college administration. 

            In a public place of higher education it is the instructor’s responsibility to maintain a safe and mutually respectful learning environment.  Disruptive or disrespectful behavior towards other students or myself will not be tolerated.  Therefore, the first incident of disruptive or disrespectful behavior will result in dismissal from the class.  The second incident will be referred for disciplinary action by college administration.  The third incident may result in expulsion from the college.

 

College Computer and Internet Access Policy: No downloading of illicit material from the web (such as pornography).  No downloading of limited use software without licensing agreement.  Improper use of data license agreements will be reported to college administration.  Please refer to the Acceptable Use Policy posted in each computer lab.


 

Introduction to GIS COURSE SCHEDULE Spring 2005

 

(1) = GTKArcObjects (applications)

 

Lecture Assignments                                                             Lab Assignments                              


Week 1

Introduction to Programming

(1) Chapter 1: Programming With Objects

 

 

 

(1) Chapter 2: Building a Custom Application

(1) Chapter 3: Creating a Dialog Box

 

 

 

 

 

Week 2

Declaring Variables and Looping in VBA

 

 

 

(1) Chapter 4: Programming with Objects

(1) Chapter 5: Code for Making Decisions

 

 

 

 

 

Week 3

***SCHOOL CLOSED FOR SPRING BREAK***

 

 

 

 

 

Week 4

Declaring Constants & Making Decisions in VBA

 

 

 

(1) Chapter 6: Using Subroutines & Functions

(1) Chapter 7: Looping Your Code

 

 

 

 

 

Week 5

Using Subroutines and Functions

 

 

Midterm Review

 

(1) Chapter 8: Making Maps Quickly

 

 

 

 

 

Week 6

Programming with Class

 

 

MIDTERM EXAM on 4/27

 

(1) Turn in GTKArcObjects Exercises from chapters 2 through 8

 

(1) Chapter 9: Making Your Own Objects

(1) Chapter 10: Programming With Interfaces

 

 

 

 

 

Week 7

Reusable Code

 

 

 

(1) Chapter 11: Navigating Object Model Diagrams

(1) Chapter 12: Making Tools

 

 

 

 

 

Week 8

Advanced Concepts

 

 

Final Review

 

(1) Chapter 13: Executing Commands

(1) Chapter 14: Adding Layers to Maps

(1) Chapter 15: Setting Layer Symbology

 

 

 

 

 

Week 9

 

 

 

 

 

FINAL EXAM on 5/20

 

 

(1) Turn in GTK ArcObjects Exercises from chapters 9 through 14

Turn in Extra-Credit

 

Bring a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the final exam if you would like me to return your exam and course grade in a timely manner. 

 

The contents of this syllabus are subject to change without notice.