Vector Geomatics I
AKA GIS in the Social Sciences
AKA Intro to Vector GIS
ANTH/GEOG 4553
Welcome to the Vector Geomatics Class web page. The syllabus for the course can be located here (Class syllabus)
The course is designed as an advanced introduction (mixed message - right) to the concepts and principles that underlie modern vector based geographic information systems. The class focuses on basic principles in topology, computational geometry, database management and information technologies. There is also an applied lab (using Intergraph's new product - GeoMedia 3.0 and the Oracle 8.x Spatial cartridge). This is the first course in a two course sequence. The second course (Vector Geomatics II aka Advanced Vector GIS) will focus more on the computations issues underlying vector data and its analysis, particularly on the design and use of Object-relational database, as well as object and relational modeling. The primary texts for this course is GIS: an Introduction by Tor Bernhardsen, Inside GeoMedia by yours truly and Debbie Harmon, the Multipurpose Land Information Systems Guide BooK by the FGDC and lots of readings - largely from the WWW.
Note that the authors of Inside GeoMedia do not receive any royalties from the book now or ever. The benefits have gone to improvement of CAST's facilities.
A third key text is the Oracle Corporations documentation for their
Oracle 8.x and particularly the Spatial Cartridge. It is on-line at
http://kes.cast.uark.edu/oracledocs/
One additional set of readings is the TIGER 1997 documentation in PDF format. Access it on the CAST web site or at www.census.gov
Bulletin board and message area
There is a bulleting board/list serve for the class. These have been
developed using the WebCT software and can be found at http://cavern.uark.edu:8900/SCRIPT/ANTH4563/scripts/serve_home.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You will/may be asked to enter your login and password. This is vgis# (where the # is "your" number) and the password you have been given with the login. You can access the pages (though not for "official" purposes) using a login of guest and a password of guest.
Once you are there click on the bulletin board icon to post or read messages.
Exercises
There will be a number of exercises due. The first semester's
focus on the use of GeoMedia 3.0. The due dates for the exercises are listed
in the syllabus. The tasks for the exercises are provided on the Exercise
page. The second semester's exercises will utilize Arc 8 and Oracle
8i.
You can view the student exercises here (click for exercises)
NOTE: there are many good guides for the design and structure of web pages - one highly recommended source is the Yale C/AIM Web Style Guide
On line quizzes
Anyone accessing these pages may access the on-line quizzes. The quizzes
and many parts of the class utilize the WebCT software. The quizzes can
be accessed here http://cavern.uark.edu:8900/SCRIPT/ANTH4563/scripts/serve_home.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You will/may be asked to enter your login and password. This is vgis# (where the # is "your" number) and the password you have been given with the login. You can access the pages (though not for "official" purposes) using a login of guest and a password of guest.
Once you are there click on the quiz icon to access the quizzes.
Project
The description of the project is found at this location: Project
Worksheet
Quizzes
See the discussion above!
http://cavern.uark.edu:8900/SCRIPT/ANTH4563/scripts/serve_home
Class notes
The overheads used in various lectures are available at these links
On Line study guide
In addition to the quizzes there is an additional study guide with
questions that are not suitable for the on line system. The study guides
are found by following the links here.
Note that both the guide and quizzes need to be reviewed to prepare for
the tests.