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2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

GEOG3090 GIS for Urban and Regional Planning

20 creditsClass Size: 95

Module manager: Prof John Stillwell
Email: j.c.h.stillwell@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

Planning is an information-rich discipline and geographical information is fundamental to the activity of spatial planning. In recent years, increasing numbers of institutions and agencies involved in planning at different spatial scales have adopted new geotechnology to support a variety of planning tasks. This module aims to provide an understanding of the state of the art together with detailed insights into attribute and geographic data sources, GIS functions and applications. The module introduces students to more sophisticated collaborative planning systems, model-based GIS, decision support systems and planning support systems. In addition, a key objective of the module is for students to learn skills in capturing data from external sources, transferring it into desktop GIS and undertaking some GIS analyses. Students complete a number of practical tutorials using MapInfo Professional before carrying out their own assessed mini-project using census interaction data.

Objectives

On completion of the module, students should be able to demonstrate:
- an understanding of key geographic and attribute information sources relevant to urban and regional planning sources and knowledge of how to extract data from them;
- an awareness of the future of the national census and survey data sets in the UK;
- an understanding of the development and application of GIS in public and private sector organizations engaged in spatial analysis and planning;
- skills in data entry, manipulation, thematic mapping and spatial analysis using the MapInfo desktop GIS package;
- an appreciation of the roles and adoption of proprietary and model-based GIS approaches in problem solving and planning; and
- knowledge of the application of planning support systems in practice.

Skills outcomes
A Knowledge and Understanding
A9 The theory and application of quantitative, visualisation and other spatial techniques across a wide range of geographical contexts
B Cognitive skills
B5 Solving problems and making reasoned decisions
C Practical/professional skills
C1 Plan, design, execute and report geographical research
C3 Employ a variety of technical computing methods for the analysis and presentation of spatial information
C4 Collect, interpret and synthesise different types of quantitative and qualitative geographical data

D Key skills
D3 Apply numerical and computational skills to geographical information
D4 Use information technology effectively (including use of spreadsheet, database and word processing programmes; Internet and e-mail)
D5 Identify, retrieve, sort and exchange geographical information using a wide range of sources


Syllabus

Planning, information and GIS
Data types and key data sources
The 2001 Census and the future of national level data sets
GIS analysis functions
GIS Use in national, regional and local planning
eGovernance and local authority use of spatial data
GIS and urban planning
Model-based GIS for use in planning
Projects
Planning support systems
Project presentations

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Class tests, exams and assessment12.002.00
Lecture112.0022.00
Practical111.0011.00
Private study hours165.00
Total Contact hours35.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

85 hours Reading
15 hours GIS computer-based tutorial and practical work outside practical classes
40 hours preparing Project
5 hours preparing for project presentation
20 hours examination preparation

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress will be monitored through practicals

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
ProjectReport 2,000 words40.00
Practical500 words equivalent10.00
Computer Exercise4 weekly exercises0.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)50.00

Computer exercises are Pass to progress.


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)2 hr 50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 18/03/2009

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