2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

BLGY5119M Introduction to GIS

15 creditsClass Size: 59

Module manager: Dr Chris Hassall
Email: c.hassall@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Module replaces

BLGY5117M Introduction to GIS Skills for Ecologists

This module is not 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 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 completion of the module, students will be able to:-
1. Understand how GIS can be used to answer relevant conservation questions;
2. Apply industry-standard GIS programmes to carry out a range of geostatistical techniques;
3. Evaluate and use a range of online sources of spatial data for use in ecological applications;
4. Carry out GIS projects culminating in a consultancy-style report;
5. 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 ArcGIS with focus on ArcMap, ArcCatalog and ArcToolbox.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lectures	8	1.00	8.00
Practicals	8	3.00	24.00
Private study hours			118.00
Total Contact hours			32.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Private study will include reading of set material before each class and watching of short, pre-recorded videos that outline the techniques to be used in each class. The lectures will then be interactive opportunities to discuss the application of the techniques in a conservation setting. A formative and summative assignment are also completed largely outside of class time, with additional time for the completion of each week’s activities.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The practical sessions involve in-person working with the academic and PhD demonstrators as the students complete computer-based assignments. Throughout that period, students will be free to ask any questions that they may have. A discussion board will be set up on Minerva to facilitate asynchronous discussion and feedback.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	Consultancy report, 4000 words	100.00
Computer Exercise	Formative assessment: map and short discussion (250 words)	0.00
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: 31/07/2024

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