2019/20 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

GEOG5990M Programming for Geographical Information Analysis: Core Skills

15 creditsClass Size: 40

Module manager: Andy Turner
Email: a.g.d.turner@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

Pre-requisite qualifications

None, however, this module needs to replace GEOG5540M Introduction to Programming and Customisation as the pre-requisite for GEOG5080M Web-based GIS.

This module is mutually exclusive with

GEOG5991M	Programming for Geographical Information Analysis (WUN): Cor
GEOG5995M	Programming for Social Science: Core Skills

Module replaces

GEOG5540M Introduction to Programming and Customisation

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module provides foundation level skills in computer programming. It introduces different types of programming and software development practice in general and in a geographical context. It encourages sustainable software development through: the application of software licences; the production of well documented source code; software testing; version control; and the production of user documentation. It is based on the development of software for geographical data processing and visualisation in a series of supported practical exercises.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should have:
- A clear understanding of sustainable software development practice.
- Awareness of common issues in computer programming and in developing software.
- Awareness of useful resources for developing software.
- Practiced developing well tested, well documented source code and delivering a package of software.

Learning outcomes
- Foundation level computer programming.
- Practical skills in sustainable software development.

Skills outcomes
- Abstraction and synthesis of information from a variety of sources.
- Solving problems and making reasoned decisions.
- Plan, design, execute and report research.
- Undertake effective analysis work.
- Employ a variety of technical methods for the analysis and presentation of spatial and environmental information.
- Apply numerical and computational skills to data.
- Use information technology effectively.

Syllabus

- Introduction to computer programming.
- Variables and scripting.
- Flow control and procedures.
- Data input
- Data processing
- Data visualisation
- Interfacing with GIS software.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	2.00	22.00
Practical	11	2.00	22.00
Private study hours			106.00
Total Contact hours			44.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Students are expected to engage with virtual learning resources to learn about Python and general programming in their private study time. Students will be given structured practical exercises and will also be expected to work on these independently between formal
practical support sessions. The students
will be supported through this work via the VLE and with online materials, and by formative assessment tasks

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored through formative practical tasks. The assessment will be individual to each student; students will have the option of designing their own project (within some key limitations - for example, that the software must load and write data, and involve data analysis). Students will have access to assessment-orientated materials, including walk-through discussions of structuring solutions and the coding that might be involved.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Computer Exercise	Independent project (2,500 words equivalent)	70.00
Portfolio	Portfolio of practical work (1,500 word equivalent)	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

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

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 30/04/2019

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