School: Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Please note that there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for Semester 1 2023 Units. All assessment changes will be published by 20th February 2023. All students are reminded to check the handbook at the beginning of semester to ensure they have the correct outline.

  • Unit Title

    Geographical Information Systems
  • Unit Code

    SCM2104
  • Year

    2023
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr David John BLAKE

Description

This unit introduces the fundamental concepts and methods of geographical information systems (GIS) and outlines their roles in environmental science.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe the fundamental attributes of a geographical information system (GIS) and the roles played by GIS in environmental science.
  2. Research and evaluate suitable methods for spatial analyses.
  3. Source and validate relevant spatial data.
  4. Use GIS and RS generated data to aid environmental management, analysis and decision-making.
  5. Work collaboratively to implement relevant spatial thinking in environmental problem solving.

Unit Content

  1. Applications of spatial information systems in environmental and resource management situations with examples drawn from areas such as forestry, agriculture, land use planning, environmental monitoring, and coastal zone management.
  2. Basic GIS operations: file formats, data formats and conversions, digital map production, map projections and rectification.
  3. Fundamental structure and function of a GIS: hardware, software, peripherals, data sources, formats, communication, input, manipulation, databases, Internet systems, case studies involving the application of GIS to environmental sciences.
  4. GIS functionalities: spatial overlay, topology, buffering, network analysis.
  5. Methods for presentation of spatial data types and sources: basic cartographic principles, map-projections; map types and their production, rectification, interpretation and function; relationship of remotely sensed data to geographical information systems; data resolution, error and accuracy.
  6. Spatial information system selection; user needs assessment, system requirement analysis, benchmarking.
  7. Systems for managing data: data considerations, data custodianship, data security, copyright, metadata.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot Offered13 x 2 hour lecture
Semester 12 x 2 hour tutorialNot Offered2 x 2 hour tutorial
Semester 111 x 2 hour workshopNot Offered11 x 2 hour workshop

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit uses technology-enhanced learning with a mix of lectures and tutorials. Students build practical spatial skills by participating in tutorials and computer laboratory workshops. As part of the assessment schema, students write reports and make oral presentation. Students develop these reports in a group situation and produce graphical representations of spatial information using research, numeracy, and spatials skills. The assessment tasks link theory to practical skills.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Laboratory WorkWeekly Tutorial Quiz25%
AssignmentSpatial analysis exercises35%
ReportGroup report (written and oral presentation)40%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

SCM2104|2|1

School: Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Geographical Information Systems
  • Unit Code

    SCM2104
  • Year

    2023
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr David John BLAKE

Description

This unit introduces the fundamental concepts and methods of geographical information systems (GIS) and outlines their roles in environmental science.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe the fundamental attributes of a geographical information system (GIS) and the roles played by GIS in environmental science.
  2. Research and evaluate suitable methods for spatial analyses.
  3. Source and validate relevant spatial data.
  4. Use GIS and RS generated data to aid environmental management, analysis and decision-making.
  5. Work collaboratively to implement relevant spatial thinking in environmental problem solving.

Unit Content

  1. Applications of spatial information systems in environmental and resource management situations with examples drawn from areas such as forestry, agriculture, land use planning, environmental monitoring, and coastal zone management.
  2. Basic GIS operations: file formats, data formats and conversions, digital map production, map projections and rectification.
  3. Fundamental structure and function of a GIS: hardware, software, peripherals, data sources, formats, communication, input, manipulation, databases, Internet systems, case studies involving the application of GIS to environmental sciences.
  4. GIS functionalities: spatial overlay, topology, buffering, network analysis.
  5. Methods for presentation of spatial data types and sources: basic cartographic principles, map-projections; map types and their production, rectification, interpretation and function; relationship of remotely sensed data to geographical information systems; data resolution, error and accuracy.
  6. Spatial information system selection; user needs assessment, system requirement analysis, benchmarking.
  7. Systems for managing data: data considerations, data custodianship, data security, copyright, metadata.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot Offered13 x 2 hour lecture
Semester 12 x 2 hour tutorialNot Offered2 x 2 hour tutorial
Semester 111 x 2 hour workshopNot Offered11 x 2 hour workshop

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit uses technology-enhanced learning with a mix of lectures and tutorials. Students build practical spatial skills by participating in tutorials and computer laboratory workshops. As part of the assessment schema, students write reports and make oral presentation. Students develop these reports in a group situation and produce graphical representations of spatial information using research, numeracy, and spatials skills. The assessment tasks link theory to practical skills.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Laboratory WorkWeekly Tutorial Quiz25%
AssignmentSpatial analysis exercises35%
ReportGroup report (written and oral presentation)40%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

SCM2104|2|2