ENVS 196: Intermediate Topics in GIS

Winter 2015, Instructor: Barry Nickel

Course Description: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is recognized as the primary means of dealing with information referenced to location and in recent years a broad range of disciplines have acknowledged the tremendous possibilities it holds for addressing environmental challenges. This senior seminar is intended to explore more advanced training in spatial theory and methods and their application to unique geographic problems. Students will have the opportunity to expand on the skills learned in previous GIS courses through instructor and student-led discussions, literature readings, and labs. Course content will cover intermediate topics on surface analysis, hydrological modeling, spatial interpolation, cost distance modeling, spatial database design, and building advanced geoprocessing models (dynamic, stochastic). The course will also culminate in students analyzing spatial data as part of their own research work through a final project and accompanying paper.

Prerequisite: ENVS 115 or equivalent experience.

In order to effectively plan for this and other ENVS senior exit courses, we ask that you plan ahead. Please answer the following questions so that we can make informed decisions about who may be allowed to enroll.

Name: Student ID:

1. Why do you want to take this course?

2. What courses have you taken (and any other relevant experience) to help prepare you for high- level work and discussion of spatial theory and application?

3. What role do you see geospatial technology plays in the identification and analysis of environmental and geographic problems?

4. What spatial skills do you bring to and are hoping to improve by taking this course?

5. Do you have an idea for a project on a geographic issue that can be addressed using GIS? If so, briefly explain.

6. Are you applying to any of the other Environmental Studies Senior Seminar courses? If so, please rank them in order of preference. You may apply for up to two senior seminars.

Please note that due to space limitations students may only enroll in one senior seminar and must be using that for your exit requirement (i.e. not doing a senior internship or thesis or taking capstone).

Please email the application by TBD to Barry Nickel at bnicke l @ucsc.ed u. Paste the form into your email AND attach it as a Microsoft Word document or PDF. The subject line should read ENVS 196 APP.