Modelling and Anlysis of Geographical Data

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

The theoretical concepts are presented in the theoretical and theoretical-practical classes and are followed by the execution of practical exercises using Geographic Information Systems. The students develop two mandatory projects, one vector data and the other raster data. The several parts of the projects are started and explained during the practical classes and are finished outside them. The students submit a report of each project and make an oral defense, both subject to evaluation.  

Learning Outcomes

The aim of this curricular unit is that the students are able to create and use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and assess the quality of the geographical information. Thus, thy must: 1) know the several methods to model geographic information and their capabilities and limitations; 2) be able to identify the most appropriate method to model and structure the data to insert in a GIS; 3) know the main algorithms used to process spatial and alphanumeric data, being able to perform analysis operations in GIS; 4) know the sources of error and uncertainty inherent to the use of GIS and some methods that allow the quality assessment of geographic information.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Modeling geographical phenomena

1.1. Modeling with objects

1.2. Modeling with surfaces

1.3. Types of attributes

2. Spatial data models

2.1. Vector model

2.1.1 Representation of objects and surfaces

2.1.2 Data structures

2.1.3 Topology

2.2. Raster model

2.2.1 Representation of objects and surfaces

2.2.2 Data structures

2.2.3 Compression methods

2.3. Conversion between vector and raster models

3. Analysis operations in GIS

3.1. In the vector model

3.2. In the raster model

4. Digital terrain models

4.1. Data structures

4.2. Interpolation methods

4.3. Analysis operations

5. Quality in GIS

5.1. Errors and uncertainty

5.2. Quality assessment

Head Lecturer(s)

Cidália Maria Parreira da Costa Fonte

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Project: 40.0%
Exam: 60.0%

Bibliography

Longley, P, et al. , 2005, Geographic Information Systems and Science. John Wiley and Sons, Ltd., Chichester, England.

Worboys, M. Duckham, M., 2004, GIS: A computing perspective. CRC Press. Boca Raton, USA.

Bailey, T., Gatrell, A., 1995, Interactive Spatial Data Analysis. Longman Scientific & Technical, Essex.

Wilson, J. P., 2000, Terrain analysis: principles and applications. John Wiley, New York.

Zhilin, L., 2005, Digital terrain modeling : principles and methodology, CRC Press, Boca Raton.

Giles M. Foody and Peter M. Atkinson (ed), 2002, Uncertainty in remote sensing and GIS. John Wiley, Chichester.

Zhang, Jingxiong, 2003, Uncertainty in geographical information. Taylor & Francis, London.    

Guptill, S., Morrison, J., 1995, Elements of spatial data quality. Elsevier Science.