2021/22 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

BLGY5117M Introduction to GIS Skills for Ecologists

10 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Dr Christopher Hassall
Email: C.Hassall@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

GIS is becoming increasingly important as a tool in landscape ecology and conservation, leading to a need for more training in this area. This module will provide an introduction to GIS for ecologists that assumes no prior expertise. It consists of a series of lectures and practicals intended to provide students with the skills and tools that will enable them to answer simple ecological questions through basic modelling and additionally gain the confidence to tackle more complex problems.

Objectives

To introduce the use of GIS, and provide students with a suite of skills and tools that will enable them to answer basic spatial ecology questions.

The GIS course is focused on skills, providing valuable experience of an industry-standard computer package for the analysis and storage of geographical data. In addition to your core work with the package, we encourage you to work together to overcome issues and this allows the development of team skills. Finally, your final project for the module will involve the writing of a report that is modelled on the sort of publication that would be submitted as part of a formal consultancy analysis.

Learning outcomes
On completing the module, students will be able to:
- Understand how GIS can be used to answer relevant ecological questions;
- Apply industry-standard GIS programmes to carry out a range of geostatistical techniques;
- Evaluate and use a range of online sources of spatial data for use in ecological applications;
- Carry out GIS projects culminating in a consultancy-style report;
- Integrate spatial and statistical data analyses.

Skills outcomes
- Understand how GIS can be used to answer relevant ecological questions;
- Apply industry-standard GIS programmes to carry out a range of geostatistical techniques;
- Evaluate and use a range of online sources of spatial data for use in ecological applications;
- Carry out GIS projects culminating in a consultancy-style report;
- Integrate spatial and statistical data analyses.

Syllabus

Linked lecture and practical sessions will cover:
1. The basic theory and concepts of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) including vector and raster data types and map projections.
2. Techniques of interpolation and model building.
3. The origin, suitability and availability of external data sources for use within a GIS.
4. The use of a number of skills that will enable confidence with ArcGIS
5. The different applications available within Arcworkstation with focus on ArcMap, ArcCatalog and ArcToolbox.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Computer Class	8	3.00	24.00
Fieldwork	1	2.00	2.00
Lecture	8	1.00	8.00
Private study hours			66.00
Total Contact hours			34.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Review of lecture and practical material. Background reading and completion of coursework.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Through assessment and contact during practical sessions. Feedback will be initiated in the practicals.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Project	Project Report	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

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

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/06/2021 16:19:37

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