NREM
250 GIS Application in Environmental
Science and Natural Resource Management
02
Online
via Laulima
INSTRUCTOR: Toshi
Ikagawa, Ph.D.
OFFICE: Na’auao
116
OFFICE HOURS: MTWR:
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
TELEPHONE: 236-9216;
ikagawa@hawaii.edu
EFFECTIVE DATE: Spring
2009
Windward Community College is
committed to excellence in the liberal arts and career development; we support
and challenge individuals to develop skills, fulfill their potential, enrich
their lives, and become contributing, culturally aware members of our
community.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
An overview of geographic information
system (GIS) applications in environmental
science and natural resource
management by examining case histories and completion
of a GIS project. Students are also
introduced to the basics of integrating the global
position system (GPS) and remote
sensing (RS) into a GIS to solve problems in
environmental science and natural
resource management. (4 hours lect/lab)
Activities Required at Scheduled Times Other Than Class
Times
None
Upon
completion of this course the student should understand and appreciate:
1. the diversity of ways in which GIS,
GPS and RS can be used to understand and solve environmental science and
natural resource management problems
2. the methodological and practical
aspects of developing a GIS application in environmental science and/or natural
resource management; and
3.
the ways in which GIS may be used to convey environmental information.
REQUIREMENTS
COURSE SATISFIES
At WCC: Meets AA degree Natural Science
laboratory course requirement (DY).
Full fill elective
requirement of Bio-Resources and
Technology Academic Subject Certificate in Bio-Resource Development and Management
(Elective Set I: Technology, Utilization, and Management).
Also partially full
fill the requirements of Certificate of Competence in GIS/GPS
At UHM: Meets Natural Science laboratory course requirement (DY).
PREREQUISITES
GIS 150, equivalent coursework,
working knowledge of GIS software, or consent of the instructor
RECOMMENDED
COURSES
BIOL 124, GEOG 101, NREM 210 or
similar environmental science coursework
RECOMMENDED
BASIC SKILLS LEVEL
Ability
to read and write at a college level; also see “Required previous ArcGIS
experience” and Textbook p. xix
Required
Textbook: Making
Spatial Decisions Using GIS: Our World GIS Education Level 4 by Kathryn
Keranen and Robert Kolvoord, ESRI Press (2008)
Recommended
Textbook: Getting to Know ArcGIS, 2nd
Ed. (Also see Errata
online)
SYTEM
REQUIREMENTS
(1)
Windows XP, 2000 or Vista OS, (2) RAM 1 GB minimum and (3) DVD drive (see p.
181 of the textbook for more details)
COURSE
CONTENTS
WEEK 1:
Introduction:
Orientation meeting
NREM 250: Preparatory exercise (See Textbook
p. xix)
WEEK 2:
Module 1, Project 1:
Group discussion: Reactions/questions
on Module 1
WEEK 3:
Module 1, Project 2:
Group discussion: How to apply Module
1 to NREM
WEEK 4:
Module 2, Project 1:
Group discussion: Reactions/questions
on Module 2
WEEK 5:
Module 2, Project 2:
Group discussion: How to apply Module
2 to NREM
WEEK 6:
Module 3, Project 1:
Group discussion: Reactions/questions
on Module 3
WEEK 7:
Module 3, Project 2:
Group discussion: How to apply Module
3 to NREM
WEEK 8:
Module 4, Project 1:
Group discussion: Reactions/questions
on Module 4
WEEK 9:
Module 4, Project 2:
Group discussion: How to apply Module
4 to NREM
WEEK 10:
Module 5, Project 1:
Group discussion: Reactions/questions
on Module 5
WEEK 11:
Module 5, Project 2:
Group discussion: How to apply Module
5 to NREM
WEEK 12:
GIS Project: Define the problem (see Textbook pp. xxiii-xxv)
Meeting: Identify your GIS project
Group discussion:
WEEK 13:
GIS Project: Prepare for data collection
Group discussion:
WEEK 14:
GIS Project: Data Collection
Group discussion:
WEEK 15:
GIS Project: Data Analysis
Group discussion:
WEEK 16:
GIS Project: Presentation
Poster session
Oral presentation
COURSE
TASKS
Students are expected to attend all lectures and lab sessions, participate
in all activities, and complete all course assignments on time (Note: in case
the class is offered online, all online activities; same hereafter).
Students are expected to be prepared in advance when they arrive to class.
Being prepared includes the following: having already read text materials
(e.g., textbook readings and handouts) assigned for that day's activities; and
bringing required work materials (e.g., textbook, handouts, writing supplies,
etc.).
Any changes in the course schedule, such as examination dates, deadlines,
etc., will be announced ahead of time in class. It is the student's
responsibility to be informed of these changes.
It is the student's responsibility to be informed about deadlines critical
to making registration changes (e.g., last day of erase period and last day for
making an official withdrawal).
Science courses at W.C.C. generally require two to three hours of
independent private study time for each hour in class (depends upon the
student's science background). It is the student's responsibility to allocate
the appropriate time needed for study in an environment conducive to quality study.
The student must budget time efficiently and be realistic about all personal
and professional commitments that consume time.
ASSESSMENT
TASKS AND GRADING
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS. The student will attend and actively participate in all class discussions
and lab activities (50 points). The instructor will evaluate the student in
terms of his or her contribution to the discussions and involvement in the
activities. Students may not miss class sessions except for documented serious
illness or personal or family emergency. The student will receive a 10 point
penalty for each unexcused absence. Students missing more than five sessions
for any reason will not receive credit for the course.
NOTE: In case this course is offered as an online course, the above means
the student will participate in weekly group discussion on Laulima.
LAB EXERCISES. The student will
complete ten laboratory exercises (10 points each; 100 points total). Upload
completed exercises to Laulima using Assignments tool.
GROUP/INDIVIDUAL GIS PROJECT. The class may
be divided into groups of 3-4 students. Each group/individual will identify and
develop a GIS project that addresses an environmental science or natural
resource management issue or research problem. The approved project must employ
the following components integrated with existing GIS datasets:
(1) the field collection of
GPS data; and
(2) remotely sensed digital
imagery (e.g., aerial or satellite imagery of the earth).
The completed GIS (50 points) will be provided on a CD-ROM consisting of
the project and data files (including metadata). For what is expected, refer to
Textbook pp. xxiii-xxv.
Accompanying the GIS (in digital format on the CD-ROM and as a “hard” paper
copy) will be a written report (20 points) that describes the environmental
problem studied, how the GIS was assembled, and the interpretation and
conclusions that may be drawn from the GIS data.
The group/individual will also develop a poster-sized layout that explains
the GIS and conclusions drawn in a way suitable for presentation at a community
meeting (15 points) and will demonstrate the GIS in an oral presentation to the
class (15 points).
NOTE: In case this course is offered online, an oral presentation may be
excused for those students who have an acceptable reason such as not residing
on O‘ahu.
METHOD OF GRADING
The assignment of points will be according to the following protocol:
Attendance
and Participation ................................ 50 points (20%)
Lab
Exercises ..................................................... 100 points (40%)
Group
GIS Project................................................. 50 points (20%)
Group
GIS Written Report..................................... 20 points (
8%)
Group
GIS Poster ................................................. 15 points (
6%)
Group
GIS Oral Presentation................................ 15 points (
6%)
TOTAL
................................................................ 250 points (100%)
Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
A: 90.0-100.0%, B: 80.0-89.9%; C: 70.0-79.9%,
D: 60.0-69.9%, F: 0-59.9%.
For Cr/NC options, Incomplete (“I”
grade), and “W” grade, see the WCC College Catalog.
There is no “N” grade in this class.
Waiver of minimum level of achievement and course requirements may be given
only in unique situations at the instructor's discretion.
Academic
dishonesty: (SERIOUS WARNING!!)
Academic
dishonesty such as cheating and plagiarism that may occur in this class will be
severely punished. It most likely will result, at least, in immediate dismissal
from the class with “F” grade for the course. In other words, “DON’T DO IT”
even if you have noble reasons to do so. It is NOT worth a try it in this
class.
Disabilities Accommodation Statement
If you have a physical, sensory,
health, cognitive, or mental health disability that could limit your
ability to fully participate in this class, you are encouraged
to contact the Disability Specialist Counselor to discuss reasonable
accommodations that will help you succeed in this class. Ann Lemke
can be reached at 235-7448, lemke@hawaii.edu,
or you may stop by
Hale ‘Akoakoa 213 for more information.
Legal assumptions:
It is hereby assumed that you will
strictly follow all and any reasonable procedures/ethics, etc. that are
enforced in this academic institution.