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7.58. Geographic Information Systems (Mandatory)

7.58.1. Justification ↑ Back to top

Geographic Information Systems is the geospatial-data-analysis course of the Vialidad, Geomática y Transporte (Roads, Geomatics, and Transportation) track, building on the measurement and positioning fundamentals established in Basic Geomatics and the planning concepts introduced in Transportation Engineering to address the capture, management, analysis, and engineering application of spatial data. The course first develops the data models, spatial database structure, and coordinate reference system handling that underlie a GIS, then covers the spatial analysis and geoprocessing operations (overlay, proximity, network, and terrain analysis, and spatial interpolation) used to derive engineering information from spatial datasets, the methods for acquiring and integrating field, GNSS, and remote-sensing data into a GIS together with the data quality and metadata practices that make that data reliable, and closes with the application of GIS to civil engineering decision-making: infrastructure asset mapping, land use and environmental analysis, web GIS and spatial data infrastructure, and GIS-based decision support, illustrated through tsunami hazard analysis, geotechnical-seismic microzonation mapping, and seismic risk calculation.

7.58.2. Generales Goals ↑ Back to top

1. Distinguish vector from raster spatial data models and build a topologically correct, well-structured GIS database, including coordinate reference system management.
2. Design a spatial database schema and manage attribute data joins for a GIS project.
3. Perform overlay, proximity, network, and terrain analysis geoprocessing operations, and interpolate continuous surfaces from sample data.
4. Capture and integrate field, GNSS, and remote-sensing data into a GIS, and evaluate and document spatial datasets against recognized data quality and metadata standards.
5. Build infrastructure asset inventories and analyze land use and environmental conditions using GIS, and publish datasets through a web GIS or spatial data infrastructure.
6. Support GIS-based decision-making for civil engineering hazard and risk problems – such as tsunami hazard analysis, geotechnical-seismic microzonation mapping, and seismic risk calculation – by designing an end-to-end GIS project workflow.

7.58.3. Contribution to Outcomes ↑ Back to top

ABET-1) An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics. (Usage)

ABET-2) An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors. (Usage)

ABET-6) An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions. (Usage)

7.58.4. Content ↑ Back to top

7.58.4.1. GIS Fundamentals and Data Models (16 hours) [Skills ABET-1] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Longley et al., 2015)

Topics

1. Vector data model: points, lines, and polygons, and topology
2. Raster data model: cell size, resolution, and raster-vector tradeoffs
3. Spatial database structure and spatial indexing
4. Coordinate reference system handling and on-the-fly reprojection in a GIS
5. Attribute data management and relational joins

Learning Outcomes

1. Distinguish vector from raster data models and select the appropriate one for a given dataset [Familiarity]
2. Build a topologically correct vector dataset in a GIS [Usage]
3. Design a spatial database schema for a GIS project [Assessment]
4. Manage coordinate reference systems and reprojection within a GIS project [Usage]
5. Join attribute data to spatial features using relational joins [Usage]

7.58.4.2. Spatial Analysis and Geoprocessing (17 hours) [Skills ABET-2] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Longley et al., 2015; Burrough et al., 2015)

Topics

1. Overlay analysis: intersection, union, and spatial join operations
2. Buffer and proximity analysis
3. Network analysis: shortest path, service areas, and allocation
4. Terrain analysis from a raster DEM: slope, aspect, and watershed delineation
5. Spatial interpolation methods for generating continuous surfaces from sample data

Learning Outcomes

1. Perform overlay analysis to combine multiple spatial datasets [Usage]
2. Conduct a buffer/proximity analysis for a siting or impact study [Assessment]
3. Solve a network analysis problem (shortest path, service area, or allocation) [Usage]
4. Derive slope, aspect, and watershed boundaries from a raster DEM [Assessment]
5. Interpolate a continuous surface from point sample data [Usage]

7.58.4.3. GIS Data Acquisition and Integration (17 hours) [Skills ABET-6] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Longley et al., 2015; Lillesand et al., 2015)

Topics

1. Field data capture methods: digitizing, heads-up capture, and mobile GIS
2. Integration of GNSS-collected data into a GIS
3. Integration of remote sensing imagery and derived products into a GIS
4. Data quality standards: positional accuracy, completeness, and lineage
5. Spatial data metadata documentation standards

Learning Outcomes

1. Capture field data into a GIS using digitizing or mobile GIS tools [Usage]
2. Integrate GNSS-collected data into a GIS dataset [Assessment]
3. Integrate remote sensing-derived products into a GIS analysis [Usage]
4. Evaluate a spatial dataset against applicable data quality standards [Assessment]
5. Document a spatial dataset's metadata following a recognized standard [Familiarity]

7.58.4.4. GIS Applications in Civil Engineering (20 hours) [Skills ABET-2] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Longley et al., 2015; tsung Chang, 2019)

Topics

1. Infrastructure asset mapping and inventory in a GIS
2. Land use and environmental analysis using GIS
3. Web GIS and spatial data infrastructure (SDI) for data sharing
4. GIS-based decision support and multi-criteria site selection
5. Design of a GIS project workflow from data acquisition to final product

Learning Outcomes

1. Build an infrastructure asset inventory in a GIS [Usage]
2. Analyze land use or environmental conditions using GIS layers [Assessment]
3. Publish a dataset through a web GIS or spatial data infrastructure [Usage]
4. Support a site-selection decision using GIS-based multi-criteria analysis [Assessment]
5. Design an end-to-end GIS project workflow for a civil engineering application [Assessment]

7.58.5. Bibliography ↑ Back to top

Longley, P. A., Goodchild, M. F., Maguire, D. J., and Rhind, D. W. (2015). Geographic Information Science and Systems. Wiley, 4th edition.

Burrough, P. A., McDonnell, R. A., and Lloyd, C. D. (2015). Principles of Geographical Information Systems. Oxford University Press, 3rd edition.

Lillesand, T. M., Kiefer, R. W., and Chipman, J. W. (2015). Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation. Wiley, 7th edition.

tsung Chang, K. (2019). Introduction to Geographic Information Systems. McGraw-Hill, 9th edition.