99146 - GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will have an overview of the different disciplines involved in the study and representation of the territory and the environment, and of the multidisciplinary systemic approach necessary to select the appropriate tools and techniques to acquire, analyze, record and share spatial data with continuity in digital format, in order to carry out a spatial survey. In addition, students will have the knowledge necessary to read, interpret, and evaluate both basic and thematic cartographies in order to use them in various professional circumstances as a tool for effective communication of environmental information.

Course contents

Review of geodesy: Earth's shape and dimensions, reference surfaces and geodetic datums, coordinate systems. Introduction to basic topographic surveying. Major map projections (Mercator, Transverse Mercator, Gauss-Boaga, and Peters). Base and thematic cartography. Official Italian cartography and Regional Technical Maps. Representation and description of land and territory.

Definition, organization, and major application fields of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). CAD and GIS technologies. Geometric primitives (points, lines, and polygons). Raster and vector data models. Spatial data acquisition techniques and digitization of geometric features. Data acquisition using GNSS/GPS technologies. Remote sensing techniques and acquisition of georeferenced imagery. Integration with external databases. Analysis and reclassification of land cover data. Production of derived maps. Topological overlay operations, spatial queries, and generation of derived information layers. Cartographic layout design and data export.

Readings/Bibliography

Burrough P.A., McDonnell R.A. (3rd. 2015). Principles of geographical information systems. Oxford University Press.

Campbell J, (1989). Introduzione alla cartografia. Zanichelli.

Casagrande L., Cavallini P., Frigeri A., Furieri A., Marchesini I., Neteler M. (2012). GIS Open Source. GRASS GIS, Quantum GIS e SpatiaLite. Elementi di software libero applicato al territorio. Dario Flaccovio Editore.

Fondelli M. (2000). Cartografia numerica I. Pitagora editrice Bologna.

Noti V. (2. ed. 2021). Gis Open Source per geologia e ambiente. Analisi e gestione di dati territoriali e ambientali con QGIS.
Dario Flaccovio Editore.

QGIS Desktop 3.44 About QGIS. Several languages. Download al sito: https://docs.qgis.org/3.44/pdf/.

QGIS Desktop 3.44 Desktop User Guide. Several languages. Download al sito: https://docs.qgis.org/3.44/pdf/.

QGIS Desktop 3.44 Training manual. Several languages. Download al sito: https://docs.qgis.org/3.44/pdf/.

QGIS Desktop 3.44 Gentle GIS Introduction. Several languages. Download al sito: https://docs.qgis.org/3.44/pdf/.

T. Sutton, O. Dassau, M. Sutton. A Gentle Introduction to GIS. Download al sito: https://download.osgeo.org/qgis/doc/manual/qgis-1.0.0_a-gentle-gis-introduction_en.pdf.

Vianello G. (1998). Cartografia e fotointerpretazione. CLUEB.

Teaching methods

The course is delivered through in-person lectures supported by multimedia presentations, practical cartography exercises, and laboratory sessions using GIS software and GPS/GNSS receivers. Field activities involving UAV (drone)-based surveying are also included.

Assessment methods

Student learning is assessed through a practical examination. For the Cartography module, students will be assessed on their ability to read and interpret information contained in different types of maps and to correctly identify the location of mapped features. Students will be provided with a map and required to determine the coordinates of a selected point (both projected and geographic coordinates) in the specified reference systems and to describe its main characteristics through the interpretation of cartographic symbols. For the GIS module, students will be assessed on their ability to manage geospatial information within a Geographic Information System by performing spatial analyses and producing cartographic outputs. Students will be provided with a geospatial database and required to use GIS software to solve specific tasks involving the organization, querying, and analysis of the available spatial information.

The use of artificial intelligence is permitted for further exploration of the topics covered during the course. With regard to the final assessment—which consists of two practical exams—the use of artificial intelligence is irrelevant and therefore not permitted.

Students requiring reasonable accommodations due to disabilities, medical conditions, psychological disorders, or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) may contact the University Service for Students with Disabilities (disabilita@unibo.it) or the Service for Students with Specific Learning Disorders (dsa@unibo.it) to arrange the most appropriate support measures.

Teaching tools

Teaching activities make use of multimedia projectors, GIS software, GPS/GNSS receivers, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), stereoscopes, compasses, and base and thematic cartographic materials. Microsoft Teams, Virtuale, and Panopto are also used to support teaching activities. 

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Buscaroli