Essentials of Geographic Information Systems integrates key concepts behind the technology with practical concerns and real-world applications. Recognizing that many potential GIS users are nonspecialists or may only need a few maps, this book is designed to be accessible, pragmatic, and concise. Essentials of Geographic Information Systems also illustrates how GIS is used to ask questions, inform choices, and guide policy. From the melting of the polar ice caps to privacy issues associated with mapping, this book provides a gentle, yet substantive, introduction to the use and application of digital maps, mapping, and GIS.

Geography 431 is designed to further understanding of the natural processes of aquatic ecosystems, management of water resources, and threats to sustaining water quantity. Develop awareness and appreciation of the perspectives about water as a precious resource, commodity, and sometimes hazard. Learn how and why water is distributed unevenly around the Earth. Examine how resource management decisions are strongly related to water availability, quantity, and quality. The course examines water resources management; dams and dam removal; provision of safe potable water; threats to water quantity and quality; land use changes; the water economy; water laws and policy; institutions for water management at the global, national, regional, and local scale; and issues of water security and climate change.

Geo-information has proven to be extremely helpful in many aspects of risk and disaster management: locational and situational awareness, monitoring of hazards, damage detection, sharing of information, defining vulnerability areas, etc. This course aims to provide knowledge on risk and disaster management activities, demonstrate use of geo-information technologies in emergency response, outline current challenges and motivate young geo-specialist to seek for advanced solutions. The course is organised as lectures and practicals. The practicals will be in the form of group assignments. Some excursions and guest lectures will be organised as well.

Geographic Intelligence (GEOINT) is more than people working with computers in a secure intelligence facility. Join us for this exciting journey to learn about GEOINT's application in business, law enforcement, and defense. Advances in satellites, GPS, unmanned aerial systems, wireless communications, handheld computing, and the ability to automate laborious map analysis processes has transformed what used to be called geographic intelligence, or GEOINT, and the nature of the insights provided to managers and leaders. We have gone from mountains of hardcopy maps to amazing automated systems that provide previously unavailable understanding. GEOINT combines geographic information science and technologies with an analytic tradecraft. You will experience the value of GEOINT. We welcome you to the Revolution.

Geospatial System Analysis and Design surveys the process of GIS design through critical reading/writing and collaborative discussion. Key topics in the course outline the broad range of current GIS systems, how they are designed and evaluated, and how emerging technologies may impact their design and implementation in the near future. In particular, students will develop a term-long project where they propose a realistic problem scenario that requires the skills and understanding required to effectively complete a geospatial system specification, design, and implementation. Students completing this course are able to develop a comprehensive system design plan that takes into account current technologies as well as emerging technology trends.

In GEOG 871, we'll take a critical look at geospatial project management. Project management is a broad discipline that encompasses technical methods such as system design and analysis and also interpersonal factors that affect professional relationships. Project management is also a discipline that has matured outside of, but can be incorporated into, geospatial technology. By the end of this course, you'll have devised a project plan from a scenario built upon a real-life project involving the city of Metropolis geodatabase. We'll work through each of the components in an organized and logical manner and will incorporate constructive peer review to help everyone achieve the best product possible.

GEOG 438W is a writing-intensive course that concentrates on the human-environment interactions involved in contemporary and future global warming. The course comprises two broad topical areas: global warming impacts, which takes place in the first half of the course, and global warming mitigation and policy, which encompasses the second half of the course. Each week highlights a theme, such as the impacts of climate change on human health or greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, that weaves through the course lecture, reading assignment, class discussion, and writing activity.

Independent Study is an opportunity for students to work with individual direction from a faculty member on a topic of mutual interest in geospatial intelligence. Students must have strong professional experience or have taken courses in the subject matter leading up to the chosen topic. Independent Study is reserved for advanced specialties or for intermediate study in areas in which the department does not normally offer course work. Faculty members are under no obligation to accept Independent Study students, but do so as their teaching load permits. This option allows students to complete some of their credit requirements by studying on their own.

This modular collection of readings, videos, tutorials, and other resources about cartography was created under a Round 14 ALG Textbook Transformation Grant uses ArcGIS StoryMaps to create an open web-based interactive experience. Topics covered include an overview of cartography, map design, map types, map data, color and visual variables, geodesy and coordinate systems, typography, and ethics. Exams and a poster assignment are also available for download.

This book describes how Earth's climate is changing, how it has been changing in the recent geological past and how it may change in the future. It covers the physical sciences that build the foundations of our current understanding of global climate change such as radiation, Earth's energy balance, the greenhouse effect and the carbon cycle. Both natural and human causes for climate change are discussed. Impacts of climate change on natural and human systems are summarized. Ethical and economical aspects of human-caused climate change and solutions are presented.

The following is a series of guides for exercises to be used in an Introduction to GIS class.

Essentials of Geographic Information Systems integrates key concepts behind the technology with practical concerns and real-world applications. Recognizing that many potential GIS users are nonspecialists or may only need a few maps, this book is designed to be accessible, pragmatic, and concise. Essentials of Geographic Information Systems also illustrates how GIS is used to ask questions, inform choices, and guide policy.

I. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
1.1: Geography - The Science of Where and Why
1.2 The Geographic Perspective
1.3 The Power of Maps
1.4 The Future of GIS
1.5 References

II. Data and Information
2.1 Data and Information
2.2 Metadata
2.3 Researching Data
2.4 References

III. Cartographic Principles
3.1 Color
3.2 Symbology
3.3 Cartographic Principles
3.4 Cartography - Past and Future
3.5: References

IV. Chapter 4: Representing Earth
4.1 Understanding Maps
4.2: Datums, Coordinate Systems, and Map Projections
4.3 Representing Geographic Features

V. Chapter 6: GIS Data Models
6.1: Vector Data Models
6.2: Raster Data Models
6.3: Satellite Imagery and Aerial Photography

The intent of this textbook is to update and build upon the body of knowledge that exists within the geographic discipline.

Chapter 1: Introduction to World Regional Geography
1.1 Geography as a Science
1.2 Location and Regions on Earth
1.3 Human Population and Culture
1.4 Globalization and Development
1.5 Careers in Geography
1.6 Summary
1.7 Attribution and References

Chapter 2: Europe
2.1 Physical Geography of the Region
2.2 History and Culture of the Region
2.3 Regions of Western Europe
2.4 Regions of Eastern Europe
2.5 Summary
2.6 Attributions and References

Chapter 3: Russia
3.1 Physical Geography of the Region
3.2 History and Culture of the Region
3.3 Regions of Russia
3.4 Summary
3.5 Attributions and References

Chapter 4: North America
4.1 Physical Geography of the Region
4.2 History and Culture of the Region
4.3 Regions of North America
4.4 Canada
4.5 United States of America
4.6 Summary
4.7 Attributions and References

Chapter 5: Middle America
5.1 Physical Geography of the Region
5.2 History and Culture of the Region
5.3 Mexico
5.4 Central America
5.5 The Caribbean
5.6: Summary
5.7 Attributions and References

Chapter 6: South America
6.1 Physical Geography of the Region
6.2 History and Culture of the Region
6.3 Urban North and Andean West
6.4 Brazil
6.5 The Southern Core
6.6 Summary
6.7 Attributions and References

Chapter 7: Subsaharan Africa
7.1 Physical Geography of the Region
7.2 History and Culture of the Region
7.3 West Africa
7.4 Central Africa
7.5 East Africa
7.6 Southern Africa
7.7 Attributions and References

Chapter 8: North Africa and Southwest Asia
8.1 Physical Geography of the Region
8.2 History and Culture of the Region
8.3 North Africa and the African Transition Zone
8.4 Israel and Its Neighbors
8.5 Arabian Peninsula
8.6 Iraq, Turkey, and Iran
8.7 Central Asia
8.8 Attributions and References

Chapter 9: South Asia
9.1 Peripheral States of South Asia
9.2 Pakistan and Bangladesh
9.3 India
9.4 Chapter Summary
9.5 Attributions and References

Chapter 10: East Asia
10.1 Physical Geography of the Region
10.2 History and Culture of the Region
10.3 China
10.4 China’s Periphery
10.5 Japan
10.6 North and South Korea
10.7 Attributions and References

Chapter 11: Southeast Asia
11.1 Physical Geography of the Region
11.2 History and Culture of the Region
11.3 Mainland Countries
11.4 The Insular Region
11.5 Chapter Summary
11.6 Attributions and References

Physical geography lab exercises tend to be crafted for internal institutional use only. In light of the need to have online laboratory material for remote instruction, a group of geography instructors from across British Columbia (BC), Canada came together for this collaborative project with the goal of producing a cross-institutional open education resource (OER) laboratory manual for first-year post-secondary physical geography courses. The lab manual consists of 22 labs that cover an introduction to physical geography, weather and climate, biogeography, map and geospatial skills, hydrology, geomorphology, and landform identification. The majority of the labs have a BC focus; however, they are useable across Canada and further abroad. The majority of the labs have been developed so that they can be done in any order to increase instructor flexibility and promote adaptability to differing course structures and durations. Many of the labs have students using live data, or built-in flexibility with datasets for instructors in order to prevent the lab exercises becoming static over time. The lab manual is licenced under creative commons (refer to licensing information) so that the lab modules can be modified as needed by instructors to meet the learning outcomes of their students.

Lab Exercises
Tutorial: Using Spreadsheets in Geography
Lab 01: Earth Systems and Earth's Four Spheres
Lab 02: Earth-Sun Relationships and Earth's Energy Budget
Lab 03: Atmospheric Structure and Pressure Systems
Lab 04: Weather Forecasting
Lab 05: Local Climate Data Analysis
Lab 06: Climate Analysis with Virtual Globes
Lab 07: Atmospheric Moisture and Stability
Lab 08: Surface Water Balance
Lab 09: BC Soils and Relationships to Vegetation and Climate
Lab 10: Environmental Controls on Biogeography
Lab 11: Coastal Forest Virtual Field Trip
Lab 12A: Map Skills I
Lab 12B: Map Skills I
Lab 13A: Map Skills II
Lab 13B: Map Skills II
Lab 14: GPS Orienting
Lab 15: BC's Geology and Geologic Structures
Lab 16: Earthquakes and Volcanoes
Lab 17: Measuring and Analyzing Slope
Lab 18: Water Cycle and Water Resources
Lab 19: Fluvial Geomorphology and Landforms
Lab 20: Alpine Glacial Processes
Lab 21: Coastal Geomorphology
Lab 22: Geomorphology Virtual Field Trip
Instructor Notes

The Nature of Geographic Information is an orientation to the properties of geographic data and the practice of distance learning. The purpose of this course is to promote understanding of the Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIS&T) enterprise. GIS&T is the intersection of professions, institutions, and technologies that produce geographic data and render information from it. It is a rapidly growing and evolving field. Learning is a way of life for all GIS&T professionals. With this in mind, I hope that this text may contribute to your lifelong exploration of how geospatial technologies can be used to improve the quality of life-yours and your neighbors', locally and globally, now and in the future.

Whether you realize it or not, when you carry a smart phone, use a navigation system in your car, or look up the nearest coffee shop on your computer, you are using geographic information. Geographic data and technologies are embedded in almost all aspects of our lives. GEOG 160, Mapping Our Changing World, explores what geographic information and data are, what makes them unique, how they are created, and how we use them. You'll explore how geographic technologies like geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing from satellites, and global positioning systems (GPS) work together to provide us with information we rely on. You'll also become an informed consumer of the geographic content in your life.

The past decade has seen an explosion of new mechanisms for understanding and using location information in widely-accessible technologies. This Geospatial Revolution has resulted in the development of consumer GPS tools, interactive web maps, and location-aware mobile devices. This course brings together core concepts in cartography, geographic information systems, and spatial thinking with real-world examples to provide the fundamentals necessary to engage with Geographic Information Science. We explore what makes spatial information special, how spatial data is created, how spatial analysis is conducted, and how to design maps so that they're effective at telling the stories we wish to share. To gain experience using this knowledge, we work with the latest mapping and analysis software to explore geographic problems.

Exploration of contemporary politics in the Middle East, examining the salient geographical, historical, and religious features of the area. Analyzes the role of political elites, the Arab-Israeli conflict, gender politics, and factors that have inhibited the growth of democracy.

The Nature of Geographic Information is an orientation to the properties of geographic data and the practice of distance learning. The purpose of this course is to promote an understanding of the Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIS&T) enterprise. GIS&T is the intersection of professions, institutions, and technologies that produce geographic data and render information from it. It is a rapidly growing and evolving field. Learning is a way of life for all GIS&T professionals. With this in mind, I hope that this text may contribute to your lifelong exploration of how geospatial technologies can be used to improve the quality of life-yours and your neighbors', locally and globally, now and in the future.

Chapters
Chapter 1: Data and Information
Chapter 2: Scales and Transformations
Chapter 3: Census Data and Thematic Maps
Chapter 4: TIGER, Topology and Geocoding
Chapter 5: Land Surveying and GPS
Chapter 6: National Spatial Data Infrastructure I
Chapter 7: National Spatial Data Infrastructure II
Chapter 8: Remotely Sensed Image Data
Chapter 9: Integrating Geographic Data

Also available here: https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/nature-of-geographic-information-systems

The purpose of this text is to promote understanding of the Geographic Information Science and Technology enterprise (GIS&T, also known as “geospatial”).