WEB-BASED GIS

Course Outline

Course Number: GEOM050

Sir Sandford Fleming College  
School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences

Summer Semester, 2003  
GIS Cartographic Specialist Program: semester 3

Course Format: On-Campus Delivery Course Hours: 60 hrs

Faculty: Anthony Bonnici (office 219, ext 3241)  
Office Hours: Tue 11-12, Thu 12-1   
E-mail address: tony@webGISdev.com  
Course website: www.webGISdev.com        

Approved by:  ________________________________,  Co-ordinator           Date: __________________

Approved by:  ________________________________, Academic Team Leader          Date: __________________

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Course Description

This course introduces GIS students to the broad possibilities of the single greatest impetus of change for the GIS industry, the Internet. The course will build on Graphics Publishing in the previous trimester and provide a conceptual understanding of existing Web-based technologies for GIS and the innovations that will affect the shape of the industry's future. The planning and development stages for a GIS Website will also be covered, with practical work in preparing, accessing, displaying, querying, and analyzing GIS data over the Internet.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Graphics Publishing (COMP040) and Problem Solving and Programming (COMP078) or equivalents are required for admission to this course.

Vocational Outcomes: Develop skill in design and development of web-based Geographic Information Systems.

 

General Education Goal Area: N/A

Generic Skills Outcomes

Use a variety of computer hardware and software and other technological tools appropriate and necessary to the performance of tasks.

Reframe information, ideas, and concepts using visual and symbolic representations to demonstrate understanding.

Evaluate one's own thinking throughout the steps and processes used in problem solving.

Manage the use of time and other resources to attain project-related goals.

Create innovative strategies that meet identified needs.

Aim

To introduce the student to the emerging technology of web-based GIS, and prepare them to harness this technology for the use and deployment of GIS over the Internet.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes:    type below, in the standard numbered list formatAt the successful conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Explain how the Internet will affect the GIS industry at present and in the future.

2. Use HTML coding to build the foundation for a web site.

3. Understand how JavaScript can add specialized functionality to web sites. 

4. Understand how ColdFusion can be used to dynamic access relational databases through HTML.

5. Utilize Autodesk MapGuide to dynamically publish GIS data over the Internet.

6. Access, analyze, and manipulate GIS data using a web browser.

Learning Sequence

Most of the scheduled class time will be spent on the lecture topics and lab exercises listed below; assignments, the project, and exercises as necessary will be completed outside of class. Since this is a new course, the following schedule should be considered tentative—it will be adjusted as the course progresses to better meet the needs of the class.

Text = relevant chapters from recommended texts:                 L.O. = Learning Outcomes corresponding to topics

A: HTML for the World Wide Web, Fourth Edition by Elizabeth Castro, published by Peachpit Press, 2000 (ISBN 0-201-35493-4)
B: JavaScript Second Edition by Don Gosselin, published by Course Technology, Thomson Learning, 2002 (ISBN 0-619-06334-3)

Assessment Plan

The course evaluation is based on weekly lab exercises, assignments, and quizzes, and a major project. The evaluation components and weightings shown in the table below are tentative and may be revised by the instructor if required.

 

Course Format

This course consists of 15 weeks in one semester. The total class time of 56 hours is scheduled as a 2-hour lecture and a 2-hour lab each week. This time will be used for instructional purposes, lecturing, demonstrations, and hands-on training. Additional time, outside of class (averaging four to six hours per week), will be required for independent study and completion of lab exercises, assignments, and the project.

Learning Resources

Computer Use

Students will have access to a computer in a Geomatics computer lab (room 226) during weekly labs. Access to computer labs will also be available in the evenings and on weekends.

Course References

There are many sources of information related to the topics covered in this course, as follows:

1. The recommended texts for the first half of this course are available in the college bookstore:  
               - HTML for the World Wide Web, Fourth Edition by Elizabeth Castro, Peachpit Press, 2000 (ISBN 0-201-35493-4)
               - JavaScript Second Edition by Don Gosselin, Course Technology, Thomson Learning, 2002 (ISBN 0-619-06334-3)

2. The AutoDesk MapGuide Technical Training Manual, provided courtesy of AutoDesk Canada Inc. A copy of relevant parts of this course guide will be provided to each student for MapGuide labs. 

3. The instructor will provide copies of lecture notes, in paper and/or digital form.

4. The www.webGISdev.com website at contains most of the materials presented in the course, although the site is still in development. There are a tremendous number of other resources available on the World Wide Web dealing with course topics; the addresses for several of these will be provided but students are encouraged to find and study other relevant sites during and after the course.

5. Students should also become familiar with the various help systems for ColdFusion and MapGuide.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

PLAR uses tools to help learners reflect on, identify, articulate and demonstrate past learning acquired through study, work and other life experiences, which is not recognized through formal transfer of credit mechanisms.

Assessment options include authentic assessment activities designed by faculty. Learners may be encouraged and supported to design an individual documentation package to meet the learning requirements of the course.

Exemptions or transfer credits may be granted to a learner who has taken similar or equivalent courses at another educational institution.  The learner must verify this with a transcript and the work must be considered equivalent in content or outcomes to the area of study at Fleming College.

PLAR Options and contact for this course: Please contact the professor for PLAR options regarding this course.

Exemption contact for this course: Please contact the professor for exemptions regarding this course.

Course Policies

Submissions

Assignments will normally be completed on the Internet and the results emailed to the instructor according to the directions specified with each assignment. Any hardcopies of assignments and project components should be stapled, clearly labelled with your name, course name, instructor's name, and exercise number and submitted directly to the instructor. Any digital files should be copied to the specified folder on the Geomatics network.

Deadlines

Each assignment must be submitted to the instructor at the beginning of the class exactly one week after it was assigned. Late submissions will be not be accepted, with the following possible exceptions:

1. An Individual Extension may be granted for a documented situation of a serious nature that is beyond the student's control.  The student is responsible for notifying the instructor as early as possible.

2.   A General Extension may be granted due to schedule adjustments or if a serious problem arises due to unforeseen circumstances (in which case a positive adjustment may be applied to assignments submitted by the original deadline).

Note: it is good practice to start assignments early and speak to the instructor as soon as possible regarding any anticipated difficulties.

Evaluation Results

Results of evaluations will only be distributed to the relevant student. Those students who are not available to receive evaluations in class are required to retrieve their results during the instructor's office hours. Appeals of any term work evaluation must be initiated within a five college business days after the distribution to the class of the evaluation results. Appeals, as with any other academic inquiry or concern, should first be directed to the professor involved; then, failing a satisfactory resolution, the student should express his/ her concern to the Program Co-ordinator, as explained in the Academic Regulations.

Academic Integrity

Each student has the responsibility to support academic integrity. Students are expected to work individually on assignments—no student should have direct input into another student's solution. If group work is permitted, each student in the group is expected to contribute an equitable amount of effort. Breaches of academic integrity (such as cheating, plagiarism, and inappropriate or unapproved collaboration) will normally result in the following: for the first offence, a grade of zero for the test or project; for the second offence, a grade of zero for the course; and, for the third offence, the student is required to withdraw from the college. All breaches of academic integrity will be reported to the Director of Admissions.

Academic Responsibilities

Mutually, professors and learners will support and adhere to College Academic Regulations and Student Rights and Responsibilities. In addition, the following guidelines will support the learning process:

It is important to submit assignments and projects at a specified time and location. The faculty member(s) for this course will provide the details. It should be noted that the Natural resource Services Office. Student Services, Admissions and Records, and the Information Centre will not accept any assignments or projects.

Final grades in this course are assigned based on level of academic achievement, which corresponds to the assessment components cited in this course outline. It is important to note that faculty member(s) will not offer additional evaluation activities beyond those cited in this course outline.

Whatever the reason, missed evaluations and due dates for assignments, including those missed due to illness, will be dealt with by your professor.

Cell phone use is not allowed in the classroom; cell phones must be turned off as they are a distraction to the class.