This course prepares you to read, understand, interpret, and create maps and other products from maps for geoscientific purposes. This is the only QGIS certified course in Norway.
10
Bachelor
Online
15.02.2024
01.01.2024
NOK 9.500,- + semester fee Includes an official QGIS certificate
I find mapping to be a powerful tool for decision-making, and this course is a first step in preparing you for using maps and spatial analysis. This course is self-paced so that it can be flexible with your schedule.
Content
This course aims to prepare students to read, understand, interpret, and create maps for geoscientific purposes using geographic information systems. Students will learn to create new data through digitization, synthesis, combination, and analysis methods. At the end of the semester, students should have an understanding of what it means to create a map and be able to make their own map with unique data (i.e. use geographic information systems). This course is intended to be beneficial for basic cartographic applications. The course uses the open-source geographic information software QGIS. Successful graduates of the course are issued an official QGIS training certification. This is the only course in Norway that provides official QGIS training certification.
Specific objectives
- Be able to read, understand, and interpret maps;
- Be able to read and understand basic scientific text;
- Be able to write a scientific summary of work;
- Have a basic understanding of and be able to use geographic information systems;
- Have the ability to use and understand the basics of GPS;
- Be able to solve basic spatial problems using Python; and
- Be able to present work in a scientific manner.
Work methods
- This is a project-based learning course. The course is a self-paced, where the student learns from reading, watching short videos, answering progress questions, and working through practical exercises. A weekly voluntary online meeting will be scheduled to suit the majority of class participant schedules. All of the course activities build on each other so the student has the skills to combine all of the semester learning into a GIS mapping project.
Course dates
- Course start: 15.02.2024 at 15:00.
- Online meeting: Weekly meetings
- The portfolio can be delivered in Norwegian.
- Teaching language: English
Required materials:
- Course reading and labs loaded on Canvas as pdf
- E-lectures via Canvas Studio
- QGIS open source and free software
QGIS Certification
After successful completion (completing all lessons and passing the assignments) of the course you will receive the official QGIS certificate.
Course Policies
- The course load is equivalent to approximately 10 hours per week.
- Readings and e-lectures provide appropriate background for exercises.
- A weekly virtual meeting via Zoom will be held in order to provide support and answer questions.
- Course communications will be via email and Canvas. It’s up to you to make sure your email is set up correctly with the University.
- The course follows a self-paced format. All assignments can be handed in early; feedback will be given as appropriate throughout the semester.
Exam
- The course is evaluated with a project based in the GIS is due by the course end. It is weighted at 100%. Duration: 1 month. The purpose of the mapping project is to evaluate the understanding of applying GIS to a mapping problem. Learning outcomes i-vii above and to award the QGIS certification. Resubmission of project follows offering of course; re-enrollment not required.
- Grading: A-F
Schedule
GIS and mapping for geoscience (i.e. What is this course about?)
- E-lecture
- Course information
- Assign cartography report
- Group project assignment explained
- Groups assigned
History of mapping
- E-lecture
- Reading: “Basic concepts, parts 1, 2, and 3”
Geodesy and Projections, Coordinate reference systems, datums, and map scales
- E-lecture o Reading: “Basic concepts, parts 4, 5, 6, and 7”
- Lab: Projections, CRS, and scales
Data organization and structure
- E-lecture
- Reading: “Organization, parts 1, 2, and 3”
- Lab: Organizing data and understanding data structures
Remote sensing
- E-lecture
- Reading: “Organization, part 4”
- Lab: Import lidar data to GIS
GPS
- E-lecture
- Reading: “Organization, part 5”
- Lab: Geocaching and importing GPS data to GIS
- Downloading data
- E-lecture
- Reading: “Organization, parts 6”
- Lab: Find and evaluate online data
Georeferencing
- E-lecture
- Reading: “Organization, part 7”
- Lab: Georeferencing
Shapefiles and geodatabases, contours and hillshades
- E-lecture
- Reading: “Organization, parts 8 and 9”
- Lab: Creating data
Visualisation: Basics to reading a map
- E-lecture
- Reading: “Visualisation, parts 1, 2, 3, and 4”
- Lab: Visualisation and map reading
Visualisation: Symbology
- E-lecture
- Reading: “Visualisation, part 5”
- Lab: Understanding symbology and map reading
Plan and create a map
- E-lecture
- Reading: “Visualisation, part 6”
- Lab: Map creation
Using Python to solve basic spatial problems
- E-lecture
- Reading: “Python in GIS”
- Lab: Solving basic spatial problems programmatically
Spatial query o E-lecture
- Reading: “Spatial Query”
- Lab: Spatial query
Combining data
- E-lecture
- Reading: “Combination”
- Lab: Combination
Analysis
- E-lecture
- Reading: “Analysis”
- Lab: Analyzing data
Prediction
- E-lecture
- Reading: “Prediction”
- Lab: Using GIS for prediction
Admission requirements
- General study competence (Generell studiekompetanse) Admission based on working experience can be considered (Opptak med bakgrunn i realkompetanse, kan bli vurdert).
- Foreign applicants must also document education and English skills in accordance with NOKUT's regulations. Read more about the English language requirements here: English Language Requirements for International Applicants | University of Stavanger (uis.no). If you do not meet the English requirements, but you are working in an English speaking work environment, you can upload a CV + a certificate from your workplace that states this, as this may substitute the requirement..
- We practice the first-come, first-served principle when registering this course, as long as you qualify for admission based on the admission requirements and the prerequisite knowledge
The course will be set up as long as there is a sufficient amount of applicants
Lecturer
Department of Energy Resources
Contact persons
