Instructor: Dr. Clio Andris
Catalog Description
This course supports students as they prepare to do GIS research over the summer for their capstone project. The capstone project is mandatory for completion of the Master of Science in Geographic Information Science and Technology (MS-GIST) degree at Georgia Tech.
Course Overview
The goal of this course is to provide students with training and fundamental knowledge about GIS research. The main objective is for each student to begin planning their capstone project, i.e., ‘scoping’ the topic through literature, data, methods, and results components. Capstone projects are completed over the summer.
Course Objectives
By completing this course you will acquire knowledge and skills in:
- Reciting the main sections and progression of GIS research reports
- Recognizing successful GIS research and types of research questions
- Knowing main types of GIS projects and approaches
- Finding data and literature
- Making decisions about methods and statistics
- Writing clearly and citing other work
- Using a word or LaTeX based template ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- Making clear graphics and tables and referencing these appropriately
Readings (to be added spring 2023)
Bhaduri, Budhendra, Edward Bright, Phillip Coleman, and Marie L. Urban. “LandScan USA: a high-resolution geospatial and temporal modeling approach for population distribution and dynamics.” GeoJournal 69 (2007): 103-117.
Schedule
| Date | Topic | Due on this date |
| 9-Jan | Introduction: Meet and Share | NA |
| 16-Jan | No Class – MLK Day | NA |
| 23-Jan | Components of GIS research + a brainstorming session | 1. Master’s thesis search and response |
| 30-Jan | Share MS Thesis Findings | 2. Strong vs. weak RQs* |
| 6-Feb | GIS Journals + Media; Reviews | 3. Capstone Draft Outline |
| 13-Feb | Literature, Argumentation, References | 4a. Lit Review I |
| 20-Feb | No Class – ‘Free Parking’ | NA |
| 27-Feb | Describing Data | 4b. Lit Review II |
| 6-Mar | Describing GIS Methods | 5. Data: List of data sources with urls |
| 13-Mar | Templates + Formatting | 6. Cookbook-type methods section |
| 20-Mar | No Class – Spring Break | NA |
| 27-Mar | The Sensitivity Test | 7. Descriptive and inferential statistics |
| 3-Apr | Visualization + Cartography | 8. Your permutations |
| 10-Apr | Reporting Results | 9. Good caption/bad caption + references* |
| 17-Apr | 5-minute Presentations | 10. Powerpoint presentation |
| 24-Apr | Class Lunch | NA |