ERTH 5520
GIS Applications
Geographic information systems (GIS) provide a rich set of new tools to the geologist and environmental scientist, not only to solve conventional problems, but also to explore questions not readily answered by other means. This course builds on the fundamentals of GIS taught in ERTH 3500.03 to explore analytical tools that aid in decision-making processes encountered in mineral exploration, hydrogeology, site selection, environmental assessment, and global change analysis. The course concentrates on case studies and problem solving, including those requiring multi-criteria and multi-objective decision making processes.
Sections
From the syllabus
From the Winter 2026 syllabus by Christopher Greene. Open the PDF
Grading
Textbooks
- Spatial Statistics Illustrated, Bennett & Vale
- Principles of Geographical Information Systems, 3rd ed., Burrough, McDonnell & Lloyd (optional)
Course rules
- Attendance
- There is no direct attendance penalty, but in-class exercises and tests require synchronous attendance.
- Missed tests
- A missed test is made up during the final exam period.
- Late projects
- Larger lab projects lose 20% per calendar day late.
- Workshops
- Workshop submissions have no late window and receive a 100% penalty if submitted late.
- Extensions
- Students have five discretionary 24-hour extensions for applied assessments and must notify staff before the deadline.
- Missed small deliverables
- The lowest active-learning exercise and workshop scores are dropped.
- Course pass requirement
- Students must earn at least 300 of 400 theory points and 420 of 600 applied points.
- Generative AI
- Generative AI products are not permitted in assessment submissions unless the instructor says otherwise.
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