B8129 - Introduction to Cartography and GIS (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

Students learn about: classifications of geographical representation; properties of major forms of representation; information acquisition and map compilation; reference systems for geographic information; Geographic Information System (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, Geography (1) (Prof. Jo Hilaire Agnes De Waele), 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

ATTENDING AND NON ATTENDING STUDENTS

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

ATTENDING AND NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

The exam is oral.

During the interview, the instructor will assess the student's knowledge and understanding of the basic theoretical concepts of cartography, assess their ability to apply them to real-world cases, and discuss the results of the assigned exercises.

Students will also assess their overall knowledge of the topics covered in the program and their understanding of the fundamental technical terms characterizing the subject. Finally, the ability to draw independent conclusions will be assessed.

Non-attending students (like attending students) will be required to submit the projects, complete with exercises, assigned by the instructor, on a computer (either via USB or, if desired, using their own laptop) during the exam.

The evaluation criteria that will contribute to determining the final grade will be:

1) the degree of knowledge, depth and critical understanding of the contents;

2) the ability to argue, to establish relationships between topics and to apply theoretical principles to real cases;

3) the ability to present using appropriate basic technical terminology;

4) the robustness of reasoning in evaluating problems.

The grade will be assigned based on the following grading scale:

18-21: sufficient performance;

22-24: fair performance;

25-27: good performance;

28-29: very good performance;

30: excellent performance;

30 cum laude: very excellent performance.

Throughout the year, the following rounds of examinations are offered: January, February, March, May, July, September, November

Teaching tools

ATTENDING AND NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

Geomatics/Computer Science teaching laboratory with individual PC workstations; Open Source GIS software; Video projector.

For all students, both attending and non-attending, further information on the program, exam procedures, exercise material, and more, can be found in the "Virtual" Teaching Resources section.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible ( https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Dubbini