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Overview |
Courses |
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Course Descriptions
Courses represent a mix of lecture, demonstration, discussion, and hands-on exercises, with an emphasis on applications, case studies and group projects. The program consists of two courses per quarter and two evening class meetings per week on the UW campus in Seattle.
Interested in taking a single class? Some courses (designated by a  below) may be open on a space-available basis to professionals who are not seeking the certificate. See Single-Course Enrollment for details.
Autumn Courses
Geospatial Information and Technologies
Schedule: (10 sessions) Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m., October 8 - December 17, 2008 (no class on November 26); $569; 3 CEUs
Instructor: Matthew Wilson
Develops conceptual foundations in spatial concepts, spatial thinking, and mapping to prepare students for advanced study of geographic information systems and management. The course addresses the cartographic legacy and key concepts that underlie geographic information science and provides an overview of geospatial information and technologies, including the global positioning system, land surveys, aerial surveys and photogrammetry, topographic mapping, censuses and other social surveys, and satellite imagery. Upon completion, students are able to specify data requirements for basic GIS tasks, research data availability and formats, identify the technologies necessary to produce data for particular tasks and understand the following:
- Uses and limitations of maps
- Map analysis and interpretation
- Map content, design and evaluation
- Data discovery and evaluation
- Software, data and service sectors of the GIS industry
Requires use of ESRI's ArcGIS Desktop 9 software package.
How to sign up for individual enrollment in this course
GIS Data and Database Design
Schedule: (10 sessions) Mondays, 6-9 p.m., October 6 - December 15, 2008 (no class on October 6 & November 10); $569; 3 CEUs
Instructor: Harvey Arnone
Begins with a review of the basics of spatial modeling and the vector and raster spatial data models, followed by consideration of attribute data, relational and object-oriented databases, and their links to the spatial models. Data acquisition, the basics of data-gathering instrumentation, data sources, data quality, and sources of errors and their management are covered. Lab sessions, hands-on exercises and discussions consider how GIS software can be used to create and maintain geographic databases and to integrate geographic data compiled from varied sources.
Requires use of ESRI's ArcGIS Desktop 9 software packages.
How to sign up for individual enrollment in this course
Winter Courses
GIS Project Planning and Implementation
Schedule: (10 sessions) Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m., January 7 - March 11, 2009; $569; 3 CEUs
Instructor: Tom Nolan
Lectures focus on GIS project management, metadata documentation, impact of the internet and web on geographic information, operational aspects of GIS implementation, and management case studies. Participants examine project team formation and GIS project development and design, the specification of needs, defining project scope and data requirements. Selection and procurement of tools, project estimating, planning, budgeting, tracking and reporting, skill development and operation of the GIS team are also covered. The course explores GIS and the growth of knowledge industries, GIS as a business and the drivers that shape business decisions, and operational aspects of GIS. Upon completion, participants will understand:
- Steps and considerations involved in GIS project management
- Business drivers for GIS solutions
- Choosing the right GIS
- Key implementation issues
- Why GIS projects fail: pitfalls to avoid and tips for success
- Roles of staff members in a GIS project
Requires use of ESRI's ArcGIS Desktop 9 software and ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension.
How to sign up for individual enrollment in this course
GIS Modeling and Analysis
Schedule: (10 sessions) Mondays, 6-9 p.m., January 5 - March 16, 2009 (no class on January 19 & February 16, 2009); $569; 3 CEUs.
Instructor: Jaime Crawford
Spatial analysis is the application of a variety of sophisticated operations to data that includes both location and attribute (tabular) information. Output is derived from those data and analytical techniques, and interpreting information revealed through the analysis to support a decision-making process. This course focuses study on understanding the application of a number of operations utilized for spatial analysis within geographic information systems. Upon completion, students are able to frame spatial questions for an investigation, acquire and evaluate acquired data sources, apply appropriate spatial operations, and derive, interpret, and present results from these processes. This course concentrates on raster data for geographic modeling and analysis.
Requires use of ESRI's ArcGIS Desktop 9 and the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension.
How to sign up for individual enrollment in this course
Spring Courses
GIS in Practice in the Pacific Northwest
Schedule: (10 sessions) Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m., April 2 - June 4, 2009; $569; 3 CEUs.
Instructor: Tom Nolan
Explores the wide range of professions that utilize GIS through presentations of GIS applications in the Pacific Northwest, and especially the Puget Sound region. Examines management approaches to GIS and the issues faced by managers responsible for implementing GIS projects in fields such as natural resource management, business applications in marketing, and real estate, urban planning, public safety, utility operations, mass transit support, and disaster management. Other topics addressed include protection of innovations, legal constraints on GIS operations, risk management and GIS strategy. Participants use lab sessions to realize the goal of GIS project completion and presentation. Project teams receive instruction and coaching on visualization, analytical summaries and report generation.
Requires use of ESRI's ArcView and ArcEditor 9 and a variety of additional extensions from the ArcGIS suite of products.
How to sign up for individual enrollment in this course
Advanced GIS Analysis and Applications
Schedule: (10 sessions) Mondays, 6-9 p.m., March 30 - June 8, 2009 (no class on May 25, 2009); $569; 3 CEUs.
Instructor: Jaime Crawford
Examines a diverse range of topics that demonstrate the variety of domains to which GIS can be applied, in addition to tools and methods that expand the use of GIS beyond the traditional desktop environment. Topics:
- The use of imagery and remotely sensed data in GIS
- An introduction to applications for 3D data within GIS
- Internet- and intranet-based browser GIS and the incorporation of remotely-served spatial data
- The use of GPS and mobile GIS products in collecting and integrating field data
- An introduction to the development and customization of GIS interfaces and applications
- Considerations regarding the potential integration of GIS into the broader business enterprise.
Upon completion, students are able to incorporate imagery, remote sensing data, 3D spatial data, and data collected through field methods into GIS projects and analysis. In addition, they have a foundation from which to consider the design and implementation of custom GIS desktop and web-based applications and are able to address the integration of GIS data and methods in an enterprise environment.
Requires use of ESRI's ArcView and ArcEditor 9 and a variety of additional extensions from the ArcGIS suite of products.
How to sign up for individual enrollment in this course
Related GIS Courses
If you have questions about the following courses, please call 206-685-8936 in the greater Seattle area, or 888-469-6499, or e-mail us.
Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals *
Introduces the concepts and skills essential to using a GIS for spatial analysis and problem solving. Covers the use, design, and construction of maps. Components of a GIS, spatial and tabular data, raster and vector data, types of spatial analysis, and database management within a GIS framework are also discussed. Students gain experience in planning, implementation and management of GIS projects using desktop GIS technology, metadata documentation, and management case studies to demonstrate the breadth of GIS applications. A series of projects provide the student with opportunities to apply capabilities and skills to a variety of GIS tasks.
For information on how to register for this class, please see the UW Extension Classes section.
*Open admission: Familiarity with concepts and formats of spatial data is desirable.
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