CS 1 S 02 Introduction to GIS and

CS 1 S 02: Introduction to GIS and its Applications Coursework 5: Essay: GIS Applications and Implementation

General Information • This assignment will be marked out of 100% • This assignment contributes to 30% of the total module marks • Submission Date: 24 th April 2008 • Return Date: 8 th May 2008

Problems • Mitigating Circumstances: If there any exceptional circumstances which may have affected your ability to undertake or submit this assignment, please make sure you contact the Faculty Advice Shop on 01443 482540 (G 221).

Aims • This assignment addresses the following learning outcome(s) of the module: • LO 1. Understand the basic principles of GIS and its importance in a range of application areas • Should take c. 20 hours

ASSESSMENT- DETAILED REQUIREMENTS • The purpose of this assignment is to provide an opportunity to investigate the use of GIS in a physical or human geography application area • The objective is to write an essay, of between 2000 and 3000 words, which describes and critically evaluates the use of relevant spatial modelling and spatial analytical techniques in ONE chosen application area of GIS.

ASSESSMENT- DETAILED REQUIREMENTS • Aims is for you to gain an appreciation of the principles and application of GIS techniques in more depth than is possible in the lectured element of the course. • You can use the lecture presentations to provide a context for a more detailed analysis of the use of GIS in your chosen area but you will need to critically evaluate in far more depth the use of GIS in your chosen application area.

The selected application area could, for example, relate to one of the following fields: Environmental monitoring /conservation Site selection for commercial development Planning in local or regional government Estates/property management Archaeology Crime Applications Local Government Emergency Services/Disaster management Retailing /marketing Utilities / transport Education Hydrology Health studies Cultural heritage. Geology Military SOME but not ALL of the above covered in the lectures!!

• The essay should describe the way in which GIS can be used in the context of the selected application, • Making clear how GIS may be of benefit. • The types of modelling and analytical methods that might be examined will depend upon the application area.

• You should submit an essay of no more than 3000 words in length. Credit will be given for: · Clarity of exposition (purpose/discussion) of your essay and depth of understanding of the selected subject · Ability to synthesise information and highlight the important issues · Critical evaluation of the described methods and evidence of consulting a variety of sources • Advantages as well as the limitations

Sources • LRC (Library): OPAC and Find. It • Web of Science (some link directly to the full text of the papers) accessed through FINDit using your UNI account • Go to e-Databases > Web of Sciences • Type in keywords e. g. GIS and Retail, GIS and Environment • Science Direct • Other web sources: e. g. Google Scholar, NOT Wikipedia

Sources: Links • Blackboard/Glamlife/LRC – Find. It/e-Databases • Web of Science • Science Direct – OPAC (Glam Library) – OPAC – Inter Library Loans (£ 1 per article – 5 max per week) – E-Journals (see following slide) • Internet (caution!) – Google and Google Scholar – GIS industry magazines • • Geoplace Geoconnexion GIS Lounge GIS Development

Journals – GIS Journals • International Journal of Geographic Information Science • Transactions in GIS • Computers, Environment and Urban Systems • All these can be accessed on-line in e-Journals part of FINDit and searched for GIS articles Trade Magazines such as Geo. Connexion, Geo. World are also on the web

Other journals with GIS articles • Other geographical journals: AAG, Transactions of the RGS-IBG, Applied Geography, Geographical Journal • Other examples: • Environment and Planning A, B, and C; Regional Studies; Area; Professional Geographer; Journal of Rural Studies; Town Planning Review; International Planning Studies; Journal of Environmental Planning and Management; Health and Place; Social Science and Medicine; Land Use Policy, International Journal of Health Geographics;

ALL MATERIAL FULLY CITED AND REFERENCED - ALL REFERENCES MUST BE INCLUDED • EG Referencing style in essay • This paper should be quoted as Corcoran et al (2007) in your essay • In bibliography at the end of the essay, types as: • CORCORAN, J. , HIGGS, G. , BRUNSDON, C. , WARE, A. and NORMAN, P. (2007) ‘The use of spatial analytical techniques to explore patterns of fire incidence: A South Wales case study’, Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 31(6), 623 -647

Citing work in an essay • Example: • “a choropleth map represents a spatially filtered map using a non-overlapping, variable-size, spatial filter with filter shapes selected from available political or administrative regions” (Rushton, 1998; p. 67).

Citing other sources • EG – Web Pages • Reference in Essay: RSPB (2005) • In Bibliography at the end of the essay: RSPB (ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS) (2005) ‘Wind farms. ’ Royal Society for the Protection of Birds: Web page retrieved 22 nd August 2008, from http: //www. rspb. org. uk/ourwork/policy/windfarms /index. asp, last updated (if applicable).

Citing other sources Reference images if they are not your own, or are your own but copied/based on someone else’s work. EG: Figure 3. 1 Principles of viewshed analysis using a raster DEM. Green cells are visible from the red point, pink cells are not visible (ESRI, 2006) ESRI (ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH INSTITUTE) (2006) ‘How viewshed works (ESRI Arc. GIS 8 x software help file). ’ ESRI Electronic software help file retrieved 21 st June, 2006.

Further information on citing and essay writing • • LRC – OPAC search “essay writing” Glamlife search “essay” “citing” University bookshop Online – Other university web pages – Retailers - Amazon etc.

• Please note that, as indicated above, the assignment builds upon the lecture material! • Plagiarism! “Turnitin” detection software now used

Submission of coursework • Work should also be submitted to the member of academic staff responsible for setting your work. • Work not submitted to the lecturer responsible maybe submitted to the reception of the Faculty of Advanced Technology which is on the 2 nd Floor of the Rhondda Building (G 221) where a receipt will be issued (not HESAS office). • An electronic copy of your work should be deposited in the ‘Drop Box’ within the relevant module in Blackboard. This provides you with an electronic receipt of the submission. THIS IS MANDATORY

LECTURES up to Easter (all will be placed on Blackboard) • • • Next Week: Environmental Applications of GIS in Crime Analysis GIS in Disaster Management GIS in Health Applications GIS in Planning GIS in Retail Geography

Further lecture material for other GIS application areas placed on Blackboard: • GIS in Transport Geography • GIS in Local Government • GIS and the 2001 Census