Course - Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - BM6301
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
New from the academic year 2026/2027
About
About the course
Course content
The course introduces geographic information systems (GIS). Participants will learn about basic theories and concepts within GIS and gain practical experience in the use of GIS software.
The course covers topics such as how GIS can be used to collect data, the national spatial data infrastructure and how to retrieve data from there (such as from the National Road Data Bank, NVDB), how the environment around us is represented in GIS, georeferencing, characteristics of geographic data, data structures for spatial data, map design, and basic GIS functions.
Practical exercises familiarize the students with basic functionalities in GIS such as queries, distance calculations, overlay and buffer analyses, geoprocessing, as well as facilitation and editing of data. Through exercises based on tools such as ArcGIS Pro, students learn how to create good maps.
Learning outcome
A course participant who has completed the course is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:
Knowledge:
- has a basic understanding of GIS, and theoretical concepts related to GIS.
- has basic knowledge of the characteristics of GIS data.
Skills:
- can use basic functions of GIS software to collect, process, analyze and visualize geographic data.
General competence:
- can relate critically to and explain what GIS is.
- can see opportunities by using GIS for different types of problem solving.
Learning methods and activities
The course has two gatherings with lectures and practice exercises. Use of GIS software packages for analysis and presentation of geographic information.
Further on evaluation
(the information may be changed until June 15th)
The exam in the course consists of a portfolio, where the content is assessed and given a single letter grade from A-F. Several assignments must be submitted throughout the course. All assignments must be submitted and approved in order to receive a final assessment in the course. It is mandatory to submit all assignments and to attend the sessions.
Recommended previous knowledge
It is desirable that the students have basic knowledge in the use of word processing (such as MS Word), spreadsheets (such as MS Excel), Adobe Acrobat and WinZip and can manage files and folders.
Required previous knowledge
None
Course materials
Participants will have access to slides used on lectures, exercise materials, short videos (1-5 min.) demonstrating how to use certain GIS-tools, and medium short video lectures (about 15 min.) participants may watch to repeat what they learned during lectures at campus. Participants should also buy or borrow a GIS text book.
Subject areas
- Applied Information and Communication Technology
- Geodesy