Montgomery College - Department of Applied Technology - Geography

Fall 2006

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GE-252 and 252L - Intro to Computer Cartography    Tuesday 6:00  pm

Philip M. Mobley

Dept phone number : 240-567-7609  (leave message with Secretary)

(571)-236-7580 (home -answering machine )

email address: pmobley@gmu.edu - (Wed evening is my usual reading night)

Office hour: TBD - Usually before or directly following class

Required Text:

Goodes World Atlas  21st ed. or later

Getting Started with Geographic Information Systems 4^rd edition, Keith Clarke, Prentice Hall, NJ, 2003

The following reference books will be provided as needed:

MapInfo Reference Manual  v. 6.0+  (as needed and available for lab exercises)

ArcMap documentation (as needed and available for lab exercises)

Adobe Illustrator (as needed and available for lab exercises)

Required Materials:

1.        Your choice of storage medium – CD-ROM, USB – Flash Drive, Floppy Disk

2.    Project submission folio with pockets - (REQUIRED!!!)

3.    Notebook and pencil or pen

Course Objectives:

This course covers the components of computer cartography and will focus on the following goals:

1.     Understand computer cartography technology in the context of  geographic applications.

2.     Acquire skills in handling spatially referenced data and understand the concepts involved

3.     Understand data and information quality and presentation

4.     Understand basics of algorithms used in processing information for computer cartographic applications

5.     Appreciate the changing nature of computer hardware/software potentials and limitations

6.     Understand “typical” computer cartographic applications and the linkages with geographic information systems

7.     Understand the framework and implications for computer cartography at the managerial and institutional levels.

Grading and Attendance Policy:

                First and foremost, you must be officially registered for this class and appear on the MC- Rockville GE 252 class list.

Final grading policy is determined upon performance in three areas. Fifty percent (50%) is based on project submissions. Forty percent (40%) is based on an average of grades received from examinations. Ten percent (10%) is based on attendance, classroom participation, and discussion. Excessive absenteeism will result in a lowering of the grade. Please do not miss more than three (3) class lectures. Further absences will result in a one grade reduction per absence. After five absences the student will be dropped from the class. Please let me know if you intend to drop this class (send an email or call) so I can note it in my grade book. You are required to contact the registrar to have your name withdrawn from the class list or else a failing grade will be recorded at the end of the semester.

Assignments- Exams- Honor Code:

                Assignments will be expected on the due date assigned. Late acceptance will extend to one class meeting beyond original date with no penalty. Any assignment turned in after this grace period will be subject to grade reduction. Final projects will be required on the assigned due date with no grace period.

Missed exams will need to be scheduled during the week immediately following the original test date.

An Honor Code will be in effect for the student in the performance of class participation, assignments, and examinations. Work groups and research teams are encouraged as long as the individual effort is recognizable and documented in the final product.

Classroom Etiquette:

Although I have been recognized for doing some amazing things, there are two that I have little or no control over; weather and traffic. I will be driving to MC Rockville from Virginia via  I-495, the Cabin John Bridge, and I-270 every Tuesday night. Unless I have made specific arrangements to be absent, please be patient until I arrive. Standard college wait/leave time does not apply in this class. You will receive specific instructions from Karl Reis (Lab Manager) if I will be absent or later than reasonable. In the event of weather or other emergency situation, please use your best judgment/common sense. Please put your own personal safety first.

Please do not eat or drink around the computers or in the lab. Clean up all papers around your desk area before leaving class. Make sure all computer equipment has been turned off and that you have removed your storage device from the computer. Many students will lose hours of work when they forget their storage and find that no one turned it in for lost and found. Be aware that other classes also use the computer lab and that information that you save to the share drive may be copied, moved, or even erased. You are encouraged to ensure that your information is fully backed-up.

 If you have a computer system at home or at the office please be especially aware of computer viruses. The lab can be particularly susceptible to viruses which could easily be carried by diskette/jump drive to other systems. If  you encounter a virus DO NOT use the disk  or the computer until it is checked by a lab assistant or class instructor.

Course Procedures:

1. Lectures by instructors and or guests.

2. Laboratory projects using application software packages.

3. Selected visual presentations - slides, video tapes, and movies.

4. Demonstration of computer mapping application software.

5. Two major exams (midterm and final)and several quizzes.

6. Reading assignments from the required text and other outside articles.

Disability Support Services:

Any student who may need an accommodation due to a disability, please make an appointment to see me during my office hour. A letter from Disability Support Services (R-CB122; G-SA175; or TP-ST120) authorizing your accommodations will be needed. Any student who may need assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation must identify to the Disability Support Services Office; guidelines for emergency evacuations for individuals with disabilities are found at:

www.montgomerycollege.edu/dss/tbl-cnt.htm

GE 252-252L Intro to Computer Cartography                                                                 Montgomery College -  Fall 2006

COURSE OUTLINE AS OF 25 Aug 2006                  v1.0     

Montgomery College

GE-252 252L   Introduction to Computer Cartography

Fall Semester 2006

Final Project:

This class will provide some of the basics for understanding the elements of computer mapping. The final project should reflect on these elements and incorporate them (hopefully most) to create a presentation that includes some aspect of geographic study. This presentation should include digital maps and may use charts, graphs, text, animation sequences, and or brief digital video clips to emphasize your topic.

The way in which you present your project is up to you. You will learn some of the basics of presentation tools (such as PowerPoint) but a manual rendition of the topic is fine too (poster boards, slides and video clips are all options). The idea is to incorporate the computer mapping output as an integrated part of the story.

Just to get your creative juices flowing I have provided some examples of topics to consider and will also show some digital examples of what I consider to be the “standard” for this kind of final project.  You may want to begin formulating your idea early and as the semester continues you can refine the topic and incorporate the class content with your idea. I will accept an abstract (see section below for requirements) on your presentation any time during the first half of the semester.

The abstract is officially due no later than October 31. Earlier is Better!

Examples

1.  The importance of understanding projections when considering digital-mapping techniques can be easily over-looked in the process of creating maps. As a final project you may select several projections as drawn in one of the digital mapping programs and demonstrate the utility of each.

2. The development of digital cartographic databases from various sources has many challenges. Using the digitizing and scanning capabilities of the mapping programs, you can show how to create a small digital database that would support a map requirement for a report that you have already completed or one that is in process for the end of this semester.

3. Many geographic issues may also be considered including your own special area of interest or pick from the following sample of issues such as; Low Water in the High Plains, The Coming Anarchy – The West Africa Case, The Global Electric Grid, Geography of Diversity, Raising the Dead Sea. Alternatively, pick a topic such as ’Are Abundant Resources and an Improved Environment Likely Future Prospects for the World People?’ and take a stand and make your case (cartographically speaking… of course). The sky’s the limit – come to think of it, that reminds me of another topic on the Club of Rome report titled The Limits of Growth and the subsequent reports; Mankind at the Turning Point and Beyond the Limits.

The abstract for the final project is due no later than 31 October.

The abstract must include the title of your presentation, a two paragraph, hand written, synopsis and a general outline for the topics or main points that you will be making or covering. The synopsis should tell me what you are going to do and the outline tells me how you intend to approach and develop the topic

You must also include how you will be making the presentation and an estimate of how large (number of pages, size of briefing board, number of bytes etc…) it will be.

You will have 10 minutes to give your presentation during one of the last two classes during the semester.

It is highly likely that you will need a considerable amount of time to put this presentation together (estimate several hours prep time for every minute of presentation). Don’t wait until the last week of class to put it together even though you did a masterful job of developing the abstract. If you do, it is also highly likely that the quality of the presentation will be less than optimal.

Good Luck and I’ll be looking forward to your well-thought-out topic and presentation!!!

Montgomery College

GE-252- 252L  Introduction to Computer Cartography

Fall 2006

Project Outline for Fall Semester 2006  (version 1.0 – subject to change)

Assignment 1:     Assign Date: __12 Sept__    Due date: __19 Sept__

   Maps on Internet

Project 1:              Assign Date: __19 Sept__     Due Date:__26 Sept___

Hurricane  Mapping  –  Converting text to a meaningful computer map

Project 2:              Assign Date: __26 Sept__     Due Date:__3 Oct___

Projection Basics – Understanding how projections change the shape of the map

QUIZ ON MATERIALS TO DATE   10 OCTOBER

Project 3:              Assign Date: __3 Oct__     Due Date:__17 Oct___

Presentation Basics – Moving digital map data into and out of PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator, ArcExplorer.

Focus on file formats and utility of each.

MID TERM EXAM:   24 OCTOBER

Final Project Abstract:    Assign Date: __12 Sept__          Due Date: __31 Oct__

Project 4:              Assign Date: __17 Oct__        Due Date:__7 Nov___

MapInfo: Scanning and database creation – Scan of basemap and heads-up digitizing technique for vector file 

creation from raster image.

Project 5:              Assign Date: __ 31 Oct__     Due Date:__7 Nov____

MapInfo: File transformation and attribution – Database selection for creation of country database, creating

polygons, point and line symbology.

Project 6:              Assign Date: __14 Nov__       Due Date:__21 Nov____

Map Animation  – Putting map images in motion

Project 7:              Assign Date: __28 Nov__    Due Date:__5 Dec____

Thematic Mapping – Production of statistical maps using MapInfo and ArcView.

Final Project:       Assign Date: __12 Sept__      Due Date:_12 Dec or 19 Dec____

Final Project – 10 minute student presentation using computer mapping application techniques.

FINAL EXAM:  19 DECEMBER
Montgomery College

Department of Applied Technology

GE-252-252L - Introduction to Computer Cartography

Fall 2006 Semester

Philip M. Mobley – Instructor

As a student of Montgomery College attending the class GE-252 Introduction to Computer Cartography for the Fall semester 2006, I have read the syllabus and understand the requirements and policies associated with this class including grading, attendance, and projects. I intend to do my best and will abide by the student code of conduct as outlined in the Montgomery College Student Handbook.

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Send mail to karl.reis@montgomerycollege.edu with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: September 21, 2006