OSUN Network Collaborative Course - Fall 2023/24
Introduction to Geospatial Data Visualization
Partner courses:
“Introduction to Geospatial Data Visualization” at Central European University (CEU)
“GIS for Liberal Arts” at American University of Central Asia (AUCA)
OSUN Online course “Civic Engagement and Social Action” at Bard College
Course description:
The ability to work with spatial data has become an essential skill, not only in academic research but also in our daily lives. These skills encompass various aspects, including data collection, storage, visualization, and analysis. The aim of this course is to develop a basic understanding of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) principles, familiarize students with spatially referenced data, and cultivate fundamental skills in geospatial data visualization (mapping). While the course primarily focuses on practical mapping skills for societal and environmental phenomena, it also provides a brief introduction to alternative data collection technologies, such as satellite imagery, crowdsourcing, and expert knowledge.
Participants will learn about the types of data that can be stored in online geospatial datasets, as well as how to obtain, develop, and share them. Additionally, students will gain an understanding of map design considerations for different purposes, including internet-based publications and journal articles. The course will explore both desktop and online mapping solutions, including Google Earth Pro, Google Maps, and QuantumGIS (QGIS). QGIS, the most popular and widely used open-source GIS package, will serve as the primary software for illustrating geospatial data collection, generation, and visualization techniques. Through practical individual and group online exercises using qGIS, participants will acquire the foundations of working with a typical GIS package and learn essential mapping principles. To successfully complete the course, students will be required to develop their own mapping project on a topic of their interest. Please note that no audit option is available for this course.
The focus of the course will be on practical skills in geospatial data visualization (mapping) and will consist of:
- Theoretical sessions on alternative methods in geospatial data visualization, cartography, and GIS features;
- Practicals to learn GIS methods and develop mapping skills using free open-source packages.
- Supervised and independent work on course projects.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Acquire geospatial information from different internet sources.
- Create simple maps using basic mapping packages (GEPro, QGIS) and online mapping tools (ArcGIS Online).
- Understand the variety of data mapping approaches, their principles, and the benefits of their usage.
- Develop their own datasets based on different data sources.
- Create detailed topical maps using advanced features of QGIS.
- Consider alternative ways of collecting geospatial data, including online data mining and participatory science (geospatial data crowdsourcing).
OSUN Collaborative Courses
OSUN Network Collaborative Courses are co-designed and taught simultaneously across partner institutions. Students enroll in and receive credit for these courses at their own institution. The courses may differ by institution but share key assignments and bring students at different campuses together to have class discussions and collaborate online. More information can be found at https://opensocietyuniversitynetwork.org/education/courses/network-collaborative-courses/