Introduction Geo-information Science

The course introduces Geo-Information Science and its scientific and societal interests. The starting point of the introduction is the geo-information cycle. This cycle frames geo data based actions like acquisition and storage, processing and visualization. It is explained that these actions can be used to describe, to analyse, to design and to realize real world phenomena. Thus geo data is always acquired, processed and visualized with a specific purpose. This is illustrated via the conceptual, formal and technical modelling steps.
Important in these modelling steps are the roles of geographical data attributes (thematic, geometric, temporal). Because the acquisition and processing of geo data is purposive, meta data plays an important role to find geo data and geo data processing steps. It also is important to evaluate the (re)usability of geo data and geo data processing steps. Meta data explain important geo data characteristics like (geo)reference, map projection and available attributes. Geo-visualization, especially cartography concepts, is introduced to show how geo data ought to be communicated. After the introduction of the geo data related concepts, the course offers the geo data processing options. The latter is done by the introduction of three data handling classes (query, transform and alter) and the data-action model. The geo data that represent terrain height and processing of these elevation data has given notice. Besides, basic concepts of Remote Sensing (spectral signature, sensor types, visual and quantitative processing) are also introduced. The application of all concepts is practiced during a practical and by a small project using professional software and data according a working procedure.

• Recognize the basic terms of Geo-Information Science as may be encountered in science and society

• Explain the components of the geo-information cycle and the main concepts of Geo-Information Science as needed in a study project

• Practice elementary geo-information science (data & software) skills in a project

• Report the application of geo-information science by an elementary technical report and a basic problem oriented presentation

• Assignment report (40%) Applied GIS project report.
• Written test with closed questions (60%) Three digital multiple choice 'closed book' tests (the average of the three interim examinations needs to be 5.50 or higher); Students have one resit opportunity per year. This means you can take one regular exam during the period you follow the course and one resit per academic year (or two resits when you followed the course in the previous academic year). For this course it is not possible to take a resit during the periods the course is offered. As you can only have the tree interim exams once during the period you do follow the entire course (including the practical part) For this reason, there is a second resit-moment scheduled in February besides the normal resit-moment in May. The re-exam covers all content of the entire course and consists of open and multiple choice questions.

• Chang, K. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, McGraw-Hill, (Latest edition) (optional background reading). Syllabus: Clevers, J. (ed). Introduction remote sensing. (Latest edition). Introduction Geo-Information Science: Practical manual: Bartholomeus H.M., Bergsma A.R., Haaf ten W.Th., Novani M.L. and Ruiz Mendoza F.A. (eds) (Latest edition).