Course Information

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Course Despcriptions
CORE COURSES (18 CREDIT HOURS)

ELECTIVE COURSES (12 CREDIT HOURS)

CORE COURSES (18 CREDIT HOURS)
GES 670 Advanced Seminar in GIS [3]

This course provides a geographic foundation vital to effective spatial systems development and an introduction to common geospatial tools including ESRI’s ArcGIS and Google Earth. A range of topics are introduced and discussed through student projects, presentations, and guest lecturers.

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GES 671 Spatial Database and System Design [3]

Students are introduced to the process of spatial database development from data modeling to database implementation in an enterprise environment. Students also learn about database diagramming techniques (e.g., UML), spatial data formats and storage options, database query languages (e.g., SQL), and installation of spatial database software.

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GES 673 Geoprocessing and Spatial Analysis [3]

This course covers the manipulation and analysis of geospatial data, and focuses on automated approaches to geographic feature overlay, feature selection and analysis, topology processing, raster processing, and data conversion. This course also addresses the role of geoprocessing and spatial analysis in the definition, management, and analysis of information used to form decisions.

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GES 675 GIS Application Development I [3]

This course provides a working knowledge of desktop GIS application development to help students understand the logic and structures of programming languages, most notably Visual Basic .NET. A feature of this course is students’ ability to conduct applications needs assessments, diagram application logic, develop basic applications, and deploy desktop applications within an enterprise GIS.

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GES 678 Project Management of the Enterprise GIS [3]

This capstone course involves advanced study and application of structured analysis and design methods throughout the GIS life cycle. The course stresses common approaches forgathering requirements, modeling, analyzing and designing geographic information systems. The course employs the case method of instruction.

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GES 679 Professional Seminar on the Geospatial Technologies [1]

These professional seminars expose students to the diversity of issues, applications, and developments in the industry. Seminars focus on a specific topic or issue of import to the geospatial industry or professional practice. Each student enrolls in three Professional Seminars over the course of their program.

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ELECTIVE COURSES (12 CREDIT HOURS)
GES 770 Special Topics in Enterprise GIS [3]

This course is reserved for topics that are not otherwise covered in the set of courses listed in the graduate catalogue. May be repeated for credit (as long as the topic is different) and may be offered in multiple sections concurrently.

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GES 771 Advanced Spatial Data Management [3]

This course extends students’ engagement with spatial database development and covers best practices for managing vector and raster data, complex data production workflows, spatial database maintenance, and enterprise integration. Prerequisite: Spatial Database and System Design.

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GES 772 Geospatial Web Services and Interoperability [3]

This course focuses on the key web technologies used for publishing and orchestrating web services. Topics covered include proprietary and open-source tools, network communications protocols, industry standardization efforts, and the overarching system design principle of services-oriented architecture (SOA). Students will develop a number of web-delivered data, visualization, analysis, and application services over the course of the semester using ArcGIS Server, SOAP, XML, GML, Google Earth/KML, Microsoft Virtual Earth, and IBM WebSphere. Issues of data interoperability are examined via case-method learning.

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GES 773 GIS Modeling Techniques [3]

This course addresses the concepts, tools, and techniques of GIS modeling, and presents modeling concepts and theory as well as provides opportunities for hands-on model design, construction, and application. The focus is given to model calibration and validation.

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GES 774 Spatial Statistics [3]

This course investigates statistical techniques for exploring and characterizing spatial phenomena. The course covers local/global cluster analysis, spatial autocorrelation, interpolation, kriging, as well as exposure to prominent GIS statistical packages. An emphasis is placed on exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) to develop spatial cognition and analytical skills with practical applications to modeling spatial phenomena in computer environments.

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GES 775 Advanced GIS Application Development [3]

The course enables students to understand the logic and structures of coding languages, most notably JAVA. A feature of the course is students’ ability to conduct applications needs assessments, diagram application logic, develop basic applications, and deploy Web-based applications with an enterprise GIS.

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GES 776 GIS Data Sources, Tasking, and Acquisition [3]

In this course, the myriad sources of spatially-referenced and non-spatially-referenced data are examined. Raster, vector, and socio-economic data sources are explored including sensor networks, aerial and satellite-based collection systems, GPS, and data conversion planning. Particular attention is paid to the development of a framework within which students may judge the value of third-party geospatial data to the enterprise GIS.

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GES 777 Advanced Data Modeling and Editing Techniques

This course provides students with the concepts and skills required to automate and maintain GIS feature data. It focuses on the automation of data workflow, editing processes, coordinate system reconciliation, the maintenance of topology, and the creation and maintenance of metadata. Advanced data modeling is investigated including feature-based and rule-base topology, and custom object development.

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GES 778 Advanced Visualization and Presentation

Web technologies are providing increasingly sophisticated environments for visualization of spatial data. This course explores advanced techniques for visualizing multivariate and multidimensional data. Topics include advanced cartographic techniques, 3D and virtual environment development, dynamic data update, and temporal modeling.