93022 - Introduction to Cartography and GIS (1) (LM)

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Geography and Territorial Processes (cod. 0971)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student learns: the classifications of geographical representation; The properties of the main representations; Acquisition of geographic information and the compilation of maps; The management of reference systems and georeferencing of geographic information; The management of geographical information systems (GIS).

Course contents

At the end of the two-year didactic pathway linked to attendance of courses with technological characterisation (Introduction to Cartography and GIS(1), Geomatics, Geostatistical Analysis of Territorial Data, Remote Sensing, Laboratory 2) the student acquires competences to study the territory and environment with regard to a vast multiplicity of aspects (geomorphologic settlements, urban planning, cultural heritage, etc.), through an integrated multidisciplinary systemic approach in order to be able to select the appropriate tools and techniques to acquire, integrate, process, analyse, archive and distribute georeferenced spatial data in digital format.
The topics covered within this course will be:

Fundamentals of Cartography:
- Definition of Geoid and Ellipsoid. Definition and description of Geodetic DATUM concept (local datum and global datum).
- Ellipsoidic and orthometric (or geoidic) elevation definition
- Characteristics of the main geodetic datums used in Italy: WGS84, ED50, Rome40
- Geographical coordinates (or angular geodetic coordinates) and cartographic coordinates (metric) definition
- Description of main cartographic projections (perspective; direct cylinder or Mercator and transverse cylinder or Gauss) and characteristics of main Italian Cartographic Systems (UTM-ED50; UTM-WGS84; Gauss-Boaga)
- Reading of the official Italian cartography of the IGMI (specifically with reference to the IGMI tablets at 1:25000 scale)
- Cartographic linear deformation module definition

Description of characteristics of GIS systems:
- Use of GIS software: QuantumGIS
- Vector data format
- Raster data format
- Definition of problem of georeferencing of raster (and also vector) formats in GIS environment
- Definition and creation of databases associated with vector elements
- Notes on the use of Query
- Development of exercises in Excel and QuantumGIS environment

Readings/Bibliography

The following texts, which are completely equivalent, are recommended and at the student's discretion, to deepen and study course programme.

A specific text will NOT be asked in exam.

- Federica Migliaccio, Daniela Carrion, Territorial Information Systems - Principles and Applications. UTET;

- Carlo Monti, Modern Cartography, Maggioli Editore

- Peter A. Burrough, Rachael A. McDonnell, and Christopher D. Lloyd, Principles of Geographical Information Systems, Third Edition - ISBN: 9780198742845

- Valerio Noti, GIS Open Source for geology and environment, Dario Flaccovio Editore (useful for pratical part of development in QuantumGIS)

Teaching methods

Lectures, practical exercises using software. As nature of course is predominantly application-based, attendance is recommended at least 80% of lessons.

Assessment methods

Examination is oral. During discussion, the teacher will verify the candidate's knowledge and understanding of basic concepts of Cartography, assessing his ability to apply them to concrete cases and discussing results of exercises assigned. He also verifies transversal knowledge of the topics of programme and acquisition of fundamental technical terms that characterise the discipline. Finally, ability to draw conclusions independently will be assessed. Non-attending students must present the same exercises assigned by lecturer (by contacting lecturer in advance) and oral interview will be conducted in same way.

Teaching tools

Geomatics/Computer Science Laboratory with individual PC stations; Open Surce GIS software; Video projector.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Dubbini

SDGs

Quality education

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.