All topics/dates/assignments are subject to revision/change based on instructor decisions and any other force majeur that may take place during the quarter.
All assigned reading is to be completed before the class meeting it is listed under. A short one paragraph written summary of the required readings is to be emailed to tnorris@miami.edu and cmader@med.miami.edu before class instruction begins (one email). While the optional reading is not required, most of these suggestions are not long reads, and the student's understanding of the material will benefit greatly if time is available.
All assignments listed in the week are due the following week unless otherwise noted.
Pre-Class Preparation:
Before the first class meeting all students will receive an invite for an ESRI ArcGIS online account (if they do not already have one). All students should accept the invitation and log in to ArcGIS online at least one time before the first class meeting.
Before the first class meeting all students should also complete the Week 1 reading assignments (below).
Week 1 (Aug. 23): Introduction: What are maps, what is GIS and why are we here?
Introduce the course, the instructors, and the students. Review the entire syllabus. Share the students’ research/production contexts and objectives. Introduce maps and GIS as as tools for storytelling.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand maps as tools for storytelling in the context of urban development and change.
- Able to describe geographic information systems as assemblages of data, humans, machines and code.
- Able to design file system structure for a GIS and geospatial data management.
Practical Objectives:
- Identify and install appropriate software tools on student computers.
Assigned Reading to be Completed Before First Class Meeting:
- Making Maps (Krygier & Wood, 2016)
- front matter of book up to page 17.
- chapter 2: What's Your Map For? pp. 36 - 41.
NOTE: Making Maps (Krygier & Wood, 2016) download through page 31 available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307640488_Making_Maps_A_Visual_Guide_to_Map_Design_for_GIS_3rd_Edition{:target="_blank"}.
Optional Reading (can be completed before first class meeting):
- Making Maps (Krygier & Wood, 2016)
- chapter 1: How to Make a Map. pp 22 - 31.
- chapter 2: What's Your Map For? pp. 34 - 35, 42 - 55.
Assignments:
- Choose one theme in Cartography (Field 2018) and create a two slide presentation for the next class meeting.
- Complete installation of software if not yet done.
- Choose a subject for the final project and design a file system for the project.
- Be ready to present on chosen subject in the next class meeting.
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HW example #1{:target="_blank"}
HW example #2{:target="_blank"}
Week 2 (Aug. 30): Geospatial Data: Sources and structures
Seek to understand data and data structures in terms of geospatial data and geographic information systems. This will include exploring relevant sources of data.
Learning Objectives:
- Know the difference between vector and raster data structures.
- Able to identify sources of geospatial data.
- Able to create geospatial data.
- Able to identify relevant characteristics of geospatial data.
Practical Outcomes:
- Find, download, organize geospatial data for use in the GIS.
- Load data into a GIS and perform basic manipulations on individual layers and data sets.
Assigned Reading:
- Making Maps (Krygier & Wood, 2016)
- chapter 3: Mappable Data. pp. 62 - 69.
- chapter 4: Map Making Tools. pp. 82 - 92.
Optional Reading:
- Making Maps (Krygier & Wood, 2016). All of chapters 2 and 3.
- Sui, Daniel. 2008. "The Wikification of GIS and its Consequences or Angelina Jolie's New Tattoo and the Future of GIS." Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 32:1-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2007.12.001{:target="_blank"}.
- Vernacularology. http://vernacularology.ccs.miami.edu/{:target="_blank"}
Assignments:
- Choose one theme in Cartography (Field 2018) and create a two slide presentation for the next class meeting.
- Obtain at least three data layers and store in correct file system location.
- Be ready to present the data gathering/transformation process and solution in the next class meeting.
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Week 3 (Sept. 6): Geospatial Data: coordinate reference systems and interoperability
Explore how software and data come together in a custom built GIS. This will include putting multiple data layers together in one GIS and exploring relationships between layers in the GIS.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand basic principals of map projections and coordinate reference systems.
- Able to perform basic overlay analysis using GIS.
Practical Objectives:
- Transform all datasets to one chosen coordinate reference system (CRS), if necessary.
- Construct a Geographic Information System (GIS) for the final project.
Assigned Reading:
- Making Maps (Krygier & Wood, 2016)
- chapter 5: Geographic Framework. pp 94-121.
- chapter 8: Map Generalization and Classification. pp. 163 - 183.
Optional Reading:
- Caquard, Sébastien. 2011. "Cartography I." Progress in Human Geography 37 (1):135-144. doi: 10.1177/0309132511423796{:target="_blank"}.
Assignments:
- Complete construction of basic GIS if not complete: all layers correctly loaded in one GIS file.
- Be ready to present the GIS in the next class meeting.
Optional Assignment (extra credit):
- Choose one theme in Cartography (Field 2018) and create a two slide presentation for the next class meeting.
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Week 4 (Sept. 13): Cartography: The art and science of making a map
Apply basic design principals to make a map. This will include using color theory, the application of figure ground, the correct use of fonts, and other cartographic standards to create a map image.
Learning Objectives:
- Able to perform spatial or categorical joins between two geospatial data sets/layers.
- Able to describe classification in terms of geospatial data and cartography.
Practical Objectives:
- Perform a "join" between two sources of geospatial data.
- Symbolize several data layers in the GIS and prepare the maps for export to a design application.
- Create a final publication ready map in a design application of choice to be presented through a medium of choice.
- understand geocoding (locating points on the surface of the earth using address information)
- introduction to georeferencing (locating raster images on the surface of the earth)
Assigned Reading:
- Making Maps (Krygier & Wood, 2016)
- chapter 9: Map Symbolization. pp. 184 - 201.
- chapter 11: Words on Maps. pp. 232 - 251.
Optional Reading:
- Sheppard, Eric. 1995. "GIS and society: towards a research agenda." Cartography and Geographic Information Systems 22 (1):5-16. doi: 10.1559/152304095782540555{:target="_blank"}. [ NOTE: This article is not available with University of Miami subscriptions, and instead will be provided by the instructors. ]
Assignments:
- Construct a fully symbolized GIS and export the resulting map for import into a design application.
- Complete initial sketch by placing the map image in the context of a larger research or design project.
- Be ready to present the export/import work flow and class project in the next class meeting.
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Week 5 (Sept 20): GIS, Cartography, and Urban Development
Explore how maps are woven into political and social contexts of urban development and planning. This will include an analysis of how maps both represent and construct reality through cartographic performances.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand map symbolization and map symbol abstraction for geospatial data.
- Know cartographic standards for the use of fonts in labeling geographic features on a map.
- Understand how cartographic elements come together in a map to tell stories.
Practical Objectives:
- Provide criticism to all class projects produced by the students.
- Use criticism to improve final project within a given time.
Assigned Reading:
- Making Maps (Krygier & Wood, 2016)
- chapter 10: Map Symbol Abstraction. pp. 204 - 231.
Optional Reading:
- Making Maps (Krygier & Wood, 2016)
- chapter 12: Color on Maps. pp. 252 - 277.
- Sieber, Renee. 2006. "Public Participation Geographic Information Systems: A Literature Review and Framework." Annals of the Association of American Geographers 96 (3):491-507. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8306.2006.00702.x{:target="_blank"}.
Assignments:
- Choose one theme in Cartography (Field 2018) and create a two slide presentation for the next class meeting.
- Download ESRI ArcGIS Collector app on your cellphone.
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Part II - Cartography, GIS as a Research Tool, and Maps as Stories (two credits - ten weeks - Part I is prerequisite)
Week 6 (Sept. 27): Collecting and Creating Data
Explore methods for collecting data in the field including ArcGIS Online and the ESRI Collector cellphone app, high precision GPS survey instruments, drones, and sensors. Go through basic processes to create new geospatial data layers and add features to the new layers.
Learning Objectives
- Know basic data design principals for new/empty geospatial data layers
- Know common methods for gathering geospatial data in the field
- Understand database permissions and versioning for editing/creating features
- Describe basic process for moving vector data to a raster format and vice-versa
Practical Objectives
- Implement a new geospatial data layer in ArcGIS online for use with the Collector cellphone app
- Create a new geospatial data layer and create new features
- Transform vector data to a raster layer and vice-versa
- Trace features from a raster layer into a vector layer (heads-up digitizing)
- Potential field survey with drone??
Assigned Reading:
- Making Maps (Krygier & Wood, 2016)
- chapter 3: Mappable Data. pp. 70 - 81.
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Week 7 (Oct. 4): Resilience through Vector Aggregation and Spatial Joins
Brief introduction to resilience thinking across disciplines and what data might be useful for modeling resilience in urban environments. Explore how vector aggregation and spatial joins bring distinct data layers into analytical relationships.
Learning Objectives
- Describe origins of resilience thinking and how it is used in urban planning
- Understand intersect, merge, and dissolve as primary vector aggregation tools
- Describe different approaches for aggregating attribute data linked to spatial features
Practical Objectives
- Obtain vector data with an identified aggregation goal
- Perform one or more vector manipulations
- Visualize and interpret the results
- Spatial join with two or more data layers
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Week 8 (Oct. 11): MIDTERM and Online Mapping
The midterm exam will take no longer than 45 minutes. It will be followed by an introduction to several online mapping platforms with a focus on how they are used to map urban sustainability and resilience. Basic components of an online mapping platform and basic webpage concepts necessary to work with online mapping will be identified.
Learning Objectives
- Understand basic components of online mapping
- Describe several configurations for an online map or map mashup
Practical Objectives
- Create a simple ArcGIS Online Storymap
- Create a simple Knight Labs Storymap
- Create a basic webpage using HTML / css / javascript
- Identify different sources for map tiles
- Demonstrate web based mapping APIs: Leaflet, Mapbox, OpenStreetMap
Assignments:
- Choose one theme in Cartography (Field 2018) and create a two slide presentation for the next class meeting.
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Week 9 (Oct. 18): Data Modeling and GIS in Urban Design
Explore theoretical data modeling and how it can be applied to resilience thinking in urban contexts. Explore the use of GIS in urban planning through guest lecture from Jennifer Posner, Sr. Program Manager of the University of Miami Office for Civic Engagement. Jennifer will provide insight into real estate and planning issues and problems from experience in both New York and Miami.\
Learning Objectives
- Understand basic components of data modeling
- Gain insight from experience with GIS in urban planning
Practical Objectives
- Create a data model for the final project
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Week 10 (Oct. 25): Sea Level Rise and Raster Math in GIS
Determine geographic areas that meet several criteria by using raster math to combine multiple data layers that represent the individual criteria. A sea level rise example in South Florida will be used to illustrate this process.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how scale, resolution, and projection work together in raster data
- Understand basic mathematical operators that can be used on pixel values in raster data
- Know several GIS transformation methods to normalize two raster data layers
- Demo of the Miami Affordability Project
Practical Objectives
- Obtain and normalize several raster data layers to same resolution, scale, and projection
- Obtain at least one data layer from HAZUS
- Perform raster math between two raster layers
- Visualize and interpret the results from the raster math operation
Required Reading
- Explore the online FEMA Flood Map Products (HAZUS Program and National Risk Index)
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Week 11 (Nov. 1): SQL, Environmental Justice, and GIS
Explore GIS for real estate and cadastral mapping: data sources, common issues, and online systems. Use this context for learning about SQL queries. Abigail Flemming from the University of Miami Environmental Justice Clinic will visit as a guest speaker and provide insight into how maps and data can be used to better understand problems of vulnerability, displacement, and social justice.
Learning Objectives
- Explore GIS and Real Estate Mapping
- Introduce historical practices (eg. Sanborn maps)
- Understand common attribute data linked to both parcel and building data
- Know basic syntax for SQL queries
Practical Objectives
- Perform SQL query with geospatial data (select by attributes)
- Create buffers around geospatial features and use for selection
Assigned Reading:
- Making Maps (Krygier & Wood, 2016)
- chapter 6: The Big Picture of Map Design. pp. 122 - 139.
Assignments:
- Continue to refine story ideas for final project
- Schedule meeting with one of the instructors before November 16th
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Week 12 (Nov. 8): Maps as Stories: Urban Sustainability and Resilience
Explore how map images tell stories of urban sustainability and resilience with beginning, middle, and end, and how maps provide indices to elements of the story. Consider the relationships between map and space, map and place, and map and territory; how does one create the other and vice-versa. Consider how maps are a part of broader social contexts and how they cannot stand alone. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a thousand words plus a picture (map) is worth a lot more. We are pleased to welcome Christian Kamrath from the Miami-Dade County to share how the county uses GIS and cartographic data assets in their resilience office.
Learning Objectives
- Understand map design as a metaphor for literal communication
- Understand maps in context of temporal flows
- Identify elements of a map that control the flow of a story
Practical Objectives
- Critique static maps for storytelling effectiveness
- Refine stories for final project presentations
Assigned Reading:
- Be familiar with:
- Planning for Sea Level Rise in the Little River Adaptation Action Area
- Little River Adaptation Action Area (in box folder Readings/ADAPTATION_PLAN_JANUARY_2022.pdf)
- Miami-Dade Flooding Vulnerability Viewer
- Making Maps (Krygier & Wood, 2016)
- chapter 6: The Inner Workings of Map Design. pp. 140 - 155.
Assignments:
- Continue to refine story ideas for final project
- Schedule meeting with one of the instructors before November 16th
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HW example #1{:target="_blank"}
HW example #2{:target="_blank"}
Week 13 (Nov. 15): GIS and Mapping in Oakland CA
Explore how common geospatial data structures can serve in a variety of applications and computing environments. Moving data between applications and formats. Explore how GIS is used by government agencies and urban planners to plan for urban sustainability and resilience. The use of maps in the 2019 Downtown Oakland Specific Plan will be reviewed and critiqued.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the role of GIS in County governance
- Understand the role of GIS in Planning
Practical Objectives
- Critique of Oakland Urban Plan
- Navigation of Local Government Data Sources
Assigned Reading:
- Dover, Kohl & Partners (2019). The Downtown Oakland Preliminary Draft Plan. https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/downtown-oakland-specific-plan [ SKIM THIS - Look at the maps and contextual information - Be prepared to critique the use of maps in the report. ]
Optional Reading:
- Sanders, Brett F., Schubert, Jochen E., Goodrich, Kristen A., Houston, Douglas, Feldman, David L., Basolo, Victoria, . . . Matthew, Richard A. (2020). Collaborative Modeling With Fine-Resolution Data Enhances Flood Awareness, Minimizes Differences in Flood Perception, and Produces Actionable Flood Maps. Earth's Future, 8(1), e2019EF001391. doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2019EF001391
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THANKSGIVING BREAK (Nov. 23 - Nov. 26)
There will be no class this week: students are encouraged to use the time either to meet with the instructors with questions about the final project or to work on the final project.
Week 14 (Nov. 29): Student Project Review
Class will be an opportunity for students to present their course work and receive constructive criticism from the other students and instructors. If time is available, students will have the opportunity to work on final projects with the instructors present. We are pleased to welcome Bertrand Dano from the School of Engineering who will share his use of GIS in 3D modeling with Blender.
Optional Reading:
- Goodchild, Michael F. (2007). Citizens as sensors: the world of volunteered geography. GeoJournal, 69(4), 211-221. doi: 10.1007/s10708-007-9111-y{:target="_blank"}.
Week 15 (Dec. 6): Student Project Review (short week mon-wed)
Class will be an opportunity for students to present their course work and receive constructive criticism from the other students and instructors. If time is available, students will have the opportunity to work on final projects with the instructors present.
Practical Objectives:
- Demonstrate the use of Jupyter notebooks to visualize 3D point clouds derived from drone surveys
- Short presentation on participatory data gathering and auto-documentation in Las Flores, Barranquilla, Colombia
FINAL PRESENTATIONS (Dec. 12 @ 2:00 p.m.): Students will present their final projects
Students will have 10 minutes (strict) to give a formal presentation of their final project as described in the course description above under "Final Project".