GIS and Spatial Modeling

Recommended Prerequisites

Fundmentals of GIS

Teaching Methods

Lectures involving also discussion of issues with students and practical classes with exercises and individual monitoring of students’ work.
Methods of assessment:
i) Exercises and individual work which will focus on the design and implementation of a project of geographic modeling of linear networks (Network Dataset), based on data collection in the field.
ii) Examination (option).

Learning Outcomes

Geographic modeling, be it phenomenological reconstitution or prospecting (creating scenarios, demographic projections, modeling routes or itineraries, among others), implies the need to integrate data in a GIS and requires basic but solid knowledge in programming and numerical analysis. The goal of this course is to enable students to
- Distinguish between the various models of spatial representation;
- Develop skills in network analysis (analysis of cost-benefit matrices, routing tasks);
- Acquire skills in modeling and managing of finite physical networks associated with transport networks;
- Interconnect data from different sources to construct a GIS project for modeling linear finite physical networks.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Spatial data models and infrastructures: Conceptual framework and terminology;
2. Raster data model vs. vector data model;
3. Rule-based modeling and conditions; the use of conditional operators as a means to obtain new data
from the existing information on a database; the example of SQL language;
4. Linear spaces and finite physical network analysis in GIS (Routing).
4.1. Uncertainty in spatial modeling;
4.2. Simple network modeling;
4.3. Multimodal network modeling;
4.4. Fieldwork for organizing a modeling project using the concept of "Network Dataset".

Head Lecturer(s)

Rui Ferreira de Figueiredo

Assessment Methods

Assessment
In accordance with the Rules of Assessement of the Faculty of Arts for Master’s programs (Regulamento de Avaliação de Conhecimentos do 2º ciclo): 100.0%

Bibliography

ABDUL-RAHMAN, A. & PILOUK, Morakot (2008), Spatial Data Modelling for 3D GIS. Springer
Verlag, Berlin, 289 p.
DeMERS, Michael N. (2001), GIS Modeling in Raster, Wiley & Sons, New York, 208 p.
DeMERS, Michael N. (2004), Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems, 3rd ed., Wiley Intern.
ed., 480 p.
FISHER, M., (2003), “GIS and Network Analysis”, in HANSER, D., BUTTON, K., HAYES, K., &
STOPHER, P. (eds), Handbook5: Transport Geography and Spatial Systems, Pergamon, 1-16.
GOODCHILD, Michael; PARKS, Bradley O., & STEYAERT, Louis T. (2005), Environmental Modeling
with GIS, Oxford University Press, 488p.
OKABASE, Atsuyuki (2006), GIS-based Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Taylor &
Francis, New York, 328 p.
ESRI (2010), ArcGIS Network Analyst Tutorial.