About this course: Apply your GIS knowledge in this course on geospatial analysis, focusing on analysis tools, 3D data, working with rasters, projections, and environment variables. Through all four weeks of this course, we'll work through a project together - something unique to this course - from project conception, through data retrieval, initial data management and processing, and finally to our analysis products. In this class you will learn the fundamentals of geospatial and environmental analysis during four week-long modules: Week 1: Tour ArcToolbox and learn how to use common geospatial analysis tools built into ArcGIS Week 2: Gain a working understanding of raster data models: symbolize, reproject, overlay, and assess rasters. Take a detour into 3D data models, and interpolation of observations into 3D surfaces and rasters Week 3: Go in-depth on projections and coordinate systems, which are foundational to all GIS. Learn how to use environment variables to constrain your analyses and get better quality data products. Week 4: Expand your knowledge of symbology. Learn how to visually display your data by classifying it in logical groupings and then symbolizing it on your map. Take Geospatial and Environmental Analysis as a standalone course or as part of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialization. You should have equivalent experience to completing the first and second courses in this specialization, "Fundamentals of GIS" and "GIS Data Formats, Design, and Quality", before taking this course. By completing this third class in the Specialization you will gain the skills needed to succeed in the full program.
Who is this class for: This course is targeted at those who have taken the first two courses in the GIS specialization, or who have equivalent foundational GIS experience. We encourage you to audit or enroll in those courses before taking this course.
Created by: University of California, Davis
Taught by: Nick Santos, Geospatial Applications Researcher
Center for Watershed Sciences
| Basic Info | Course 3 of 5 in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialization |
| Commitment | 4 weeks of study, 3-4 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Course Overview & Geospatial Analysis
In the first module of Geospatial and Environmental Analysis, we will be learning about a plethora of common tools used with vector data in ArcGIS for geospatial analysis projects. By the end of the module, you will be able to use: the clip tool, erase tool, identity tool, near tool, point distance tool, merge tool, dissolve tool, tabulate area tool, buffers, and conversion tools. In addition, you will also begin work on a geospatial analysis project that we will be using throughout this course.
16 videos, 3 readings
- Video: Course Overview
- Video: Module 1 Overview
- Reading: Getting Started in this Course
- Video: Clip Tool
- Video: Erase and Identity Tools
- Video: Buffers and Multiple Ring Buffer
- Video: Near and Generate Near Table Tools
- Video: Merge Tool
- Video: Dissolve Tool
- Video: Behind the Scenes: Preparing the Dissolve Tool Lecture Data
- Video: Tabulate Area
- Video: Conversion Tools
- Video: Making Charts and Graphs in ArcMap
- Video: Geospatial Analysis Assignment Intro
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion - Obtaining the Data
- Video: Data Acquisition for Our Project
- Video: Getting the Crop Data
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion - Data Organization
- Video: Module 1 Summary
- Reading: Tutorial Assignment 1: Generating Streamlines from Elevation Models
- Reading: Extra Practice: Use Geoprocessing Tools on New Data
- Discussion Prompt: What did you do in your extra practice?
Graded: Lesson 1: Geospatial Analysis
WEEK 2
Rasters and Surfaces
In this second module, we're going to cover raster data in depth and how to create 3-dimensional surfaces from our rasters. After completing this module you should be able to: describe different raster data formats and how they're used, use comparison and swipe tools, resample and retroject rasters, describe how fishnets and Thiessen polygons are used, create TINs, and convert your rasters to 3D data using ArcScene. In addition, you will continue your geospatial analysis project as you begin to plan your approach.
18 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Module 2 Overview
- Video: Raster Data Formats
- Video: Raster Display Options
- Video: Comparison/Swipe Tools
- Video: Resampling and Cell Assignment
- Video: Reprojecting Rasters
- Video: Clipping Rasters and Extract by Mask
- Video: Raster Mosaics
- Video: Surfaces and Interpolation
- Video: Rasters as 3D Data
- Video: Thiessen Polygons and Fishnets
- Video: TINs
- Video: TINs in Action
- Video: Z Values and 3D Data
- Video: 3D Scenes
- Video: Setting Up the Data, Part 1
- Video: Setting Up the Data, Part 2
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion - Analyzing Data
- Video: Module 2 Summary
- Reading: Tutorial Assignment 2: Creating and Assessing DEMs from Points and Raster Data
- Reading: Extra Practice 2: Working with New Tools
- Discussion Prompt: What data did you find?
Graded: Lesson 3: Working with Rasters
Graded: Lesson 4: Surfaces and the Third Dimension
WEEK 3
Classifying and Viewing Data
In this third module, we're going to start off with talking all about projections. If you've taking the specialization with us, you may recall that we discussed this in the first course, but this will be an in-depth, more technical overview of projections and coordinate systems. In the second half of the module we'll learn about environment variables. By the end of this module, you will be able to describe coordinate systems, projected coordinate systems, compare the pros and cons of different projections, and define what environment variables are and what they are used for. You will also have the opportunity to actually begin to analyze your data in the course project.
13 videos, 1 reading
- Video: Module 3 Overview
- Video: Overview of Projections and Coordinate Systems
- Video: Datums
- Video: Geographic Coordinate Systems
- Video: Preserving Properties of Data with Projections
- Video: Common Projected Coordinate Systems
- Video: Projections in Action
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion - Projections
- Video: What are Environment Variables?
- Video: Output Coordinate System Environment Variable
- Video: Extent Environment Variable
- Video: Cell Size, Mask, and Snap Raster Environment Settings
- Video: Project Data Analysis
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion - Analysis
- Video: Module 3 Summary
- Reading: Tutorial Assignment 3: Spawning Redds and Timber Harvests - A Watershed-based Analysis
Graded: Lesson 6: Projections and Coordinate Systems
Graded: Lesson 7: Environment Variables
WEEK 4
Working Through a Project
In the final module of this course, we're going to devote some time to discussing symbology. We've talked about symbology use a little bit in some of the other courses of the specialization, but this module provides a much more in-depth look at symbology use in ArcGIS. After viewing the videos in this module, you'll be able to design color ramps for your data, bin or classify your data appropriately, stretch raster boundaries, and copy and reuse symbology on multiple layers. Finally, we'll wrap up the geospatial analysis project before you begin work on the final (peer-reviewed) assignment for this course.
8 videos, 1 reading
- Video: Module 4 Overview
- Video: Color Ramps
- Video: Binning/Classifying Data
- Video: Stretching Rasters
- Video: Copying Symbology
- Video: Project Data Analysis and Wrapup
- Video: Module 4 Summary
- Reading: Extra Practice: Maplex Labeling
- Video: Course Summary
Graded: Lesson 9: Symbology
Graded: Final Assignment: Geospatial and Environmental Analysis
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University of California, Davis
UC Davis, one of the nation’s top-ranked research universities, is a global leader in agriculture, veterinary medicine, sustainability, environmental and biological sciences, and technology. With four colleges and six professional schools, UC Davis and its students and alumni are known for their academic excellence, meaningful public service and profound international impact.
Pricing
| Audit | Purchase Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Not available | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Not available | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Not available | Available |
Ratings and Reviews
This course offered a range of topics to learn more about GIS, however, I found that it jumped quite randomly between them, so that for me the sense of direction was a bit missing. Anyway, I have learned a lot more and think that all topics included of the course have helped me to get better at using GIS.
What I liked most about the course is the gradual progression is so great! Great deal of efforts invested for making this course so awesome. I had a great time leaning.
I want to take the software to practice even if I finish the course
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Amazing course and improve my skills