GEOG 4520
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 transdisciplinary questions not readily answered by other means. This class 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 class 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
- Passing threshold
- Students must earn at least 275 of 550 theory points and 225 of 450 applied points to pass.
- Late projects
- Independent lab projects lose 20% per calendar day after the deadline.
- Late workshops
- Workshop deliverables have no late penalty before the deadline; afterward, the penalty is 100%.
- Extensions
- Each student starts with five 24-hour extensions for applied assessments and must notify staff before the deadline.
- Missed tests
- A missed test is made up during the final exam period.
- Missed small deliverables
- The lowest active-learning exercise and lowest structured workshop score are dropped.
- Attendance
- There is no direct attendance penalty, but in-class exercises and tests require synchronous attendance.
- Generative AI
- Generative AI products are not permitted in assessment submissions unless the instructor indicates otherwise.
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