NCSU GIS/MEA582:
Geospatial Modeling and Analysis

This is an unmaintained course material, please see current material at:

Course logistics

Course web site and Moodle

  • Distance Education material is organized under Schedule
  • Grades are posted on Moodle
  • Get help by posting on the Moodle forum

Lectures

  • Focus of lectures is on principles, theory, concepts, methods and lectures are mostly software independent.
  • Slides and screen captures with audio are available at the lectures page.
  • Reading references and links to on-line material are included on the lectures page.

Software

Install GRASS GIS and ArcGIS software following the instructions bellow. Note that ArcGIS is available to students through the university. GRASS GIS is available to anybody and you can continue using it on your computer after you graduate.

GRASS GIS

ArcGIS

Assignments

In the assignments you will be performing similar geospatial analyses in two different software packages - GRASS GIS and ArcGIS. Both GRASS GIS and ArcGIS solutions are required, described in a single paper (more details see below). Step-by-step instructions are provided, but it is your task to explain what is being done in terms of methods and results, based on the lectures, manual pages and other on-line resources.

Report

  • For each topic (as indicated in the schedule) you will submit a brief paper with min. 800 word text and 2 or more pages of graphics
  • Required paper sections:
    1. Introduction: task, problem, background
    2. Approach: general description of methods and concepts, do not repeat instructions and do not discuss software issues here - this section should be software independent, common for both Arc and GRASS and equations for methods should be included where appropriate. In this section you should demonstrate that for the given step-by-step instructions your were able to explain what methods are being used to solve the given problem
    3. Results: maps, graphs, tables with comments, focus on what is interesting in the data and the derived maps, how does the method used influence the results. Include answers to questions in this section. Post 4-6 images per page.
    4. Discussion: was there anything unexpected or problematic in the results? Were there any issues related to the methdology? Also discuss the software issues, including fixes and suggestions for improvements here.
    5. Conclusion: 1-2 sentences what you have learned
    6. References
  • Sample paper formatting for MS Word and LaTeX (open in Overleaf). Do not use the text from this example, it is for formatting only! Note that the submitted report should be in PDF, use naming convention LastnameFirstname_HW#.pdf.
  • You can find some helpful hints from past semesters in Comments/answers to HW questions.
  • Upload your assignment papers on Moodle site according to the instructions below.
  • Although the HW papers are short they should be in a writing style suitable for scientific publications. You can learn more about scientific publishing in Elsevier instructions. Please also read the first 10 pages on Publishing process which explains a structure of a scientific paper.
  • For additional suggestions, please read detailed Report guide created specifically for this class.

Moodle

To manage your HW reports and project material we will use Moodle. Upload your HW report as PDF file LastnameFirstname_HW#.pdf (for example SmithJohn_HW3.pdf) on Moodle site by 11pm on the due date.

You will also use Moodle to post your project proposal, interim report, presentation and a final paper as well as any additional material that you would like to share (videos, demos, data, google maps).

Project

See Projects page.

Grading and Policies

See Syllabus web page.

Don’t cheat (e.g. use other person’s results), but you are encouraged to collaborate and help each other with advice, for example, through the message board.