2024
Design & Management of Geographic Information Systems
Name: Design & Management of Geographic Information Systems
Code: GES12432D
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/162 hours
Scientific Area:
Agricultura e Silvicultura
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
There are two principal intended learning outcomes of this CU:
- To provide an introduction to the development of GIS, the use of correct terminology and the key areas of
application of Geographic Information Systems.
- To present the steps involved in setting up a GIS project, as well as the subsequent phases related to
updating, management and information structure.
By the end of the CU, students should have acquired the skills to design a GIS, to define the variables to be
used, identify the sources of information, build the project using an appropriate set of GIS applications
(software) and to use the GIS project to solve problems and create solutions, autonomously and
independently.
- To provide an introduction to the development of GIS, the use of correct terminology and the key areas of
application of Geographic Information Systems.
- To present the steps involved in setting up a GIS project, as well as the subsequent phases related to
updating, management and information structure.
By the end of the CU, students should have acquired the skills to design a GIS, to define the variables to be
used, identify the sources of information, build the project using an appropriate set of GIS applications
(software) and to use the GIS project to solve problems and create solutions, autonomously and
independently.
Contents
Topics and fundamentals in GIS. Historical evolution and current status. Types of GIS. Areas of GIS
application. Cartography and scales of application. The institutional framework in Portugal. GIS products.
Components of a GIS. Organization, workflow and structure definition. Working with directories and
subdirectories on each project. Stages of Building a GIS. Structure of Information. Project and Budget.
Update and Information Management. Source of Information. Coordinate systems and transformation
between systems. Topological rules and information vectorization. Databases creation and manipulation.
Processing data about altimetry (altitude, slope and aspect). Spatial data analysis and cartographic
algebra. Shortest path and ideal path according to cost surfaces.
application. Cartography and scales of application. The institutional framework in Portugal. GIS products.
Components of a GIS. Organization, workflow and structure definition. Working with directories and
subdirectories on each project. Stages of Building a GIS. Structure of Information. Project and Budget.
Update and Information Management. Source of Information. Coordinate systems and transformation
between systems. Topological rules and information vectorization. Databases creation and manipulation.
Processing data about altimetry (altitude, slope and aspect). Spatial data analysis and cartographic
algebra. Shortest path and ideal path according to cost surfaces.
Teaching Methods
GIS concepts and applications are presented via theoretical and practical, also used for training in
software use and corresponding exercises on solving GIS issues.
The assessment will consist on the resolution of 6 practical projects, of which 3 require a written report.
software use and corresponding exercises on solving GIS issues.
The assessment will consist on the resolution of 6 practical projects, of which 3 require a written report.
