CS195/GEOG196
CS for Geospatial Technologies
Spring 2010

Course Description:  
Today's GIS jobs often require CS (computer sciences) and/or IT (information technologies) expertise.

CS4GST is a lecture-lab-seminar hybrid designed to survey the technologies used to analyze, integrate, present and share geospatially-referenced data. 
This course is most suitable for students with a background in GIS and/or CS.
Early in the course, CS students will be given the opportunity to learn ArcGIS Desktop.

Students will explore a variety of topics, including those of particular interest to the students themselves. 
Topics include electronic storage and handling of various data types; databases, MS Access and SQL; an introduction to Visual Basic, javascript, Matlab, python, HTML, XML and KML programming/scripting; open-source and proprietary GIS; Google Earth and Maps APIs; static and dynamic dedicated websites and mashups; ArcGIS Server, and more.

Exercises and a final project will further serve to develop practical skills and depth in an area new to each individual.


Instructor:  Alison Pechenick, Senior Lecturer, Department of Computer Science

Contact Info:  319 Votey Hall        (802) 656-2547        alison.pechenick@uvm.edu

Office Hours:  M 10-11:30 a.m.    T 1:30-2:45 p.m.    Th 2:00-3:30 p.m.                   
Hours also available by appointment:  See schedule at  www.cems.uvm.edu/~apecheni

TA:  Saeed Abdullah <sabdulla@cems.uvm.edu>
Office hours TBA

Logistics:
Course meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00-4:15 p.m.  
Tuesdays in 367 Votey, Thursdays in 246 Votey

Required Materials:  
There is no textbook for this course.  We will be using readily available, free materials from the web.  
Please refer to our Blackboard space (bb.uvm.edu) for ongoing details.

Responsibilities:
You must stay informed about all materials and deadlines for this course.  
Please check Blackboard daily for announcements, discussion postings, assignments, etc.

Academic Honesty:
It is imperative that you read, understand, and abide by all that is written in UVM's Code of Academic Integrity:  http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/acadintegrity.pdf.  Failure to do so may result in receiving a specially flagged F in the course, tagged as such on your transcript.

Please be careful to work alone unless otherwise permitted by instructor, to always cite your references, and to respect the intellectual integrity of others.  If you have any questions about this, feel free to ask at any time.

Class Format:
Class meetings will be organized with discussion and/or lectures on Tuesdays, lab activities on Thursdays. 
We will work together to define, assign and research topics of interest.
Every student or group will be responsible in turn for leading a discussion and instructing the rest of us.
Note:  You will NOT be asked to master something for which you have no background whatsoever, so please do not be daunted by this.
Expectations will be clearly articulated in advance, so students understand what is expected, and how they will be graded.

Grading:

Class participation and attendance: 10%
A seminar cannot succeed without the goodwill, focus and energy of its members. 
When you are absent, you miss things not easily reprised, and we miss you! 
Please e-mail in advance if you are unable to attend, and do all those good things we know to stay healthy.

Regular group and individual presentations, discussion leads, knowledge shares, current events (new applications, new contexts, etc.):  15%
This category includes any practice problems assigned by student leader(s) and/or instructor in conjunction with the material.

Labs and homework assignments:  35%

Tests and quizzes:  20%
Tests scheduled in advance with material clearly delineated; quizzes announced or not.

Final project:  20%
Group or individual, student-defined, with approval of instructor.

Special Accommodations:

If you require any accommodation due to religious holiday observance or documented special circumstance, please let the instructor know during the first week of the semester.