Program Overview

OPERATIVE GIS TOOLS

Course Description

The class illustrates the characteristics of digital cartography, where to find it, and how to display, query, integrate it with the currently available geo-services and analyze it using GIS (Geographic Information System) free and open source software. The approach is very operational, with computer exercises dedicated to the natural (terrestrial and marine) and built environments, in different interdisciplinary areas of study.

Aims and Content

Learning Outcomes

The class provides the operational GIS (Geographic Information System) tools to search, visualize, query, and manage digital cartography and the most widely used geo-referenced data and to carry out spatial analyses in the various fields of study of the urban and natural environments.

Aims and Learning Outcomes

At the end of the class, the students will have acquired the theoretical and practical techniques to manage and analyze geo-referenced spatial data. Students will then be able to:

• use GIS software, with particular reference to free and open source software, to solve practical and interdisciplinary applications in different areas of study: land and environmental management, decision support, urban planning, geotechnic, hydrology, hydraulics, and transports, as well as management of surveys on digital cartographic support;
• find, visualize, process, integrate, and analyze cartographic data from various sources;
• identify the most suitable cartographic data and the necessary elaborations to obtain the expected result;
• evaluate the obtained results as a function of the metric resolution of the cartographical data and the expected accuracy.

Prerequisites

None.

Teaching Methods

Frontal theoretical lessons followed by lessons in the computer room to put into practice the concepts learned during the theoretical lessons.

Syllabus/Content

Introduction to GIS Tools

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS): operating logic and basic functionality, overview of application areas, existing software (mainly free and open source)
• Numerical Cartography: conceptual and logical data models (raster and vector, fields and entities), nominal scale and resolution, topology, metadata, and the INSPIRE European Directive

Recalls of Reference Systems and Most Used Cartographic Projections

• Reference systems and cartographic projections: characteristics, international EPSG codes, process of georeferencing

GIS Data Sources

• The official Italian cartography: features and availability
• Digital Terrain Models (DTM): characteristics, data structures, interpolation methods
• Photos and Orthophotos: notes on optical characteristics, acquisition procedures, storage formats; characteristics of orthophotos and satellite images
• LiDAR and GNSS data: hints
• Introduction to GeoWebServices: availability of geographic data and their use via web
• Introduction to GeoDataBases: their structure and SQL queries

Introduction to QGIS

• Project setup and data import into QGIS
• Visualization and integration of multiple data sources
• Importing WMS services and OpenStreetMap data
• Management and simple analysis of DTMs in QGIS
• Image management and georeferencing

Operational Exercises

• Morphological analysis of a DTM
• Analysis of basins
• Management and analysis of river sections and/or flood areas
• Analysis of landslide susceptibility of a territory starting from geomorphologic, environmental, and human factors predisposing to landslides
• Analysis of cartography of hydro-geological risk propensity and impact on built areas and/or population (ISTAT data)
• Analysis of the built area of a residential center from the point of view of age, type of structure, architectural constraints, ...
• Analysis of land transformations through comparison of technical and thematic cartography or georeferenced historical images
• Analysis of transport network for the territorial planning or the management of an emergency or the tourist fruition
• Spatial analysis of observed data for environmental monitoring
• Management of data from field surveys (GPS tracks and images)
• Example of publishing GIS maps on the web

Recommended Reading/Bibliography

Class notes and materials provided to students. Texts for further study:

• C. Cambursano, 1997. "Numerical Cartography." Ed. Progetto Leonardo, Bologna.
• F. Migliaccio, D. Carrion, 2016. "Spatial information systems. Principles and applications." UTET University. ISBN -0

Teachers and Exam Board

• ILARIA FERRANDO
• PAOLA SALMONA

Exam Description

Oral exam (in Italian or in English), with the presentation and discussion on an application realized by the students in small groups (2-4 components) and verification of the knowledge of the theoretical concepts of the class.

Assessment Methods

The exam consists in an oral test in which students present (via slides) and discuss an application made in small group (2-4 components). The application is typically inspired to the guided exercises carried out during the lectures, with appropriate insights, but can be agreed with the teachers on the basis of specific interests of students, for example, a GIS analysis to be carried out as part of other classes or preparatory for the final thesis.

During the exam, the theoretical knowledge of the fundamental concepts for a correct management of geographic data is also ascertained (reference systems and cartographic projections, resolutions and precisions, basic processing techniques).

The final grade takes into account the quality of the presented application (originality, type of application, employed processing techniques and analysis, strategies for solving any problems encountered), the critical discussion of the obtained results, the expositive capacity, and the knowledge of theoretical concepts.

Soft Skills

The class will thus enable Open Badges related to the previously mentioned soft-skills:

• Functional literacy - advanced level
• Personal competence - advanced level
• Social competence - advanced level
• Learning to learn competence - advanced level
• Project creation competence - advanced level

Agenda 2030 - Sustainable Development Goals

• Quality education
• Gender equality
• Reduce inequality
• Sustainable cities and communities
• Life on land