Geospatial Science, Minor
Program Requirements
Students majoring in other academic fields who wish to earn a minor in Geospatial Science must complete the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| GISC 1336 | Digital Drafting and Design | 3 |
| GISC 1470 | Geospatial Systems I | 4 |
| GISC 2301 | Geospatial Systems II | 3 |
| GISC 2470 | Geospatial Plane Measurement I 1 | 4 |
| GISC 3421 | Visualization for GIS | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 1-5 | |
| Legal Aspects of Spatial Information | ||
| Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry 1 | ||
| Selected Topics (Approved by GIS faculty) 1 | ||
| Total Hours | 19-23 | |
- 1
It is assumed that the student has completed all prerequisites and corequisites for the required courses.
Courses
The goal of this course is to encourage you to think geographically, examining the interactions between physical systems and human activities. Introduction to topics covered include elements of Physical Geography (studies of atmosphere, ocean and land surface environments), Geographic Information Systems (computer systems that capture, analysis, and display of geographic information), and human environmental interactions. Cross listed with GEOG 1301.
An introduction to graphic and drafting principles and practices in surveying and mapping science. This course includes the development of the basic drafting skills needed to produce surveying plats and graphical presentations. The elements of descriptive geometry are addressed. A major component of the course is an introduction to the fundamentals of computer-aided drafting and design (CADD). Spring.
Introduction to geographic information systems (GIS) and its theoretical foundations. Topics covered include vector and raster data models, acquisition and manipulation of data, cartography, current topics, data quality, and basic spatial analysis. Principles and uses of GIS software also covered. Fall and Spring.
A one-week field camp with intensive field data collection and computations. Traversing between control points. Digital contour data and leveling control. Detail spatial data by total station. Construction set out using total station and steel band. Taken during the sophomore or junior year. Spring.
Prerequisite: GISC 2470.
An intermediate level course in the concepts and applications of geographic information systems (GIS). Topics covered include spatial database design and management, raster analysis, terrain mapping, analysis, and applications. Spring.
Prerequisite: (GISC 1470).
Introduction to the design and development of GIS software to solve spatial problems. Topics covered include programming basics, with design and implementation of common tasks in GIS applications. Fall.
Historical introduction to field measurement and mapping; distance measurement using electronic distance meters; calibration and reduction. Leveling instruments; principles, construction, testing and adjustment; ancillary equipment. Optical and electronic theodolites. Traverse computations and adjustment. Coordinate systems. Map projections. Fall.
Characteristics of geographic/spatial information; overview of relevant sections of numbers, algebra and geometry, plane and spherical trigonometry, matrices, determinants and vectors, curves and surfaces, integral and differential calculus, partial derivatives, with an emphasis on geospatial applications. Concepts of geospatial coordinate systems and geospatial coordinate transformations; overview of spatial statistics and best-fit solutions with geospatial applications.
History of geodetic measurement. Description of the geodetic model of the earth. Relationship between the ellipsoid, geoid, and earth's surface. Measurement of long baselines. Gravity and the geoid. Relationship between terrestrial observations and grid coordinates. Fall.
Prerequisite: GISC 2470.
Principles and reduction of observations and errors in spatial measurement. Techniques of horizontal and vertical angle measurement for precise positioning. Trigonometric heighting and vertical staff tacheometry. Setting out of structures. Design and computation of horizontal and vertical curves. Spring.
The course focuses on the design and implementation of GIS scripts and GIS applications. Topics covered included GIS programming (i.e. automate GIS tasks using scripting language), GIS tool creation, and advanced user interface design and implementation. This course dedicates time to programming fundamentals so that the skills learned can be applied to languages other than Python.
Basic elements of thematic cartography, cartographic theory, and cartographic projections. Integration of cartographic principles with GIS visualization. Principles of map design with GIS data. Spring.
Prerequisite: GISC 2301.
Internship education requires work with approved Geospatial Systems related industry employer. Students provide weekly written reports and final presentation to program at the end of internship. Must have completed 60 semester hours before attempting. Fall, Spring, and Summer.
Legal ownership of spatial data and information collected in the public sector. Public access to large digital databases. Copyright law as applied to spatial data. Legal issues related to property boundaries, statutory boundaries, voter district boundaries, and jurisdictional boundaries. Government fees and charges for access to spatial data. Social and economic value of spatial data. Spring.
Prerequisite: GISC 2470.
Global reference systems. Use of satellite for navigation and positioning systems. History and review of satellite positioning systems. Measurement techniques using GPS. Point, differential, and kinetic positioning techniques. Error sources in satellite positioning. Future trends in satellite positioning technology. Fall.
Land ownership recording systems used in Texas and U.S. Investigation and research for artificial and natural boundaries. Title searches at the county courthouse, title plants, and other sources for cadastral research. Riparian and littoral boundaries. Boundary marking and preparation of cadastral plans. Metes and bounds descriptions. Writing field notes. Urban and rural cadastral issues. Use of coordinate systems in cadastral mapping. Fall.
Prerequisite: GISC 3412.
Introduction to offshore and inshore hydrographic mapping. Tidal datums and their computation. Review of hydrographic and nautical charts. Electronic position finding and bathymetric data collection. Echo sounding, side scan sonar. Seafloor mapping and underwater locating. Beach (combined land and hydrographic) mapping. Spring even years.
Advanced spatial analysis and modeling in GIS. Topics covered include exploratory analysis of spatial data, network analysis, spatial point patterns, area objects and spatial autocorrelation, and spatial interpolation. Also covers new approaches to spatial analysis. Fall.
Theory of least squares adjustment of spatial data. Use of matrices for the solution of equations. Propagation of variances and statistical testing of adjustment solutions. Error ellipses and confidence intervals. Spring.
A one-week field camp undertaking projects in cadastral, engineering, hydrographic, and geodetic positioning. Reduction of digital field data to produce final plans and reports. Taken during the senior year. Spring.
This course allows students to employ knowledge attained in other courses to create a project to spatially analyze information of interest to you and your field of study. Students will either undertake a GIS project to manage, analyze, and visualize spatial data, or a survey project in cadastral, topographic, engineering, hydrographic, or geodetic positioning survey. Spring. Students who enroll in the project course will need permission from the instructor.
This course prepares students by providing proper knowledge of how land transferred throughout history and techniques for researching land ownership in the present. Students receive an overview of legal aspects and other topics relative to land issues applicable for Land Surveyors, Civil Engineers, and GIS professionals, among others. Spring.
Prerequisite: GISC 3412.
Provides the foundations to interpret, process, and apply remotely sensed data acquired by satellites and sub-orbital platforms (aircraft, UAVs) for mapping and analysis of our natural and built environment. Principles of electromagnetic energy-matter interaction, remote sensing systems and data characteristics, digital image processing, and informaton extraction methods will be covered. Included is treatment of: aerial photogrammetry; multispectral, thermal, and hyperspectral sensing; earth observation satellites; radar and lidar; emergent topics. Emphasis will be on their use for geospatial and environmental applications. Fall.
May be repeated for credit depending on topic. Variable content.
See College description. Offered on request. May be repeated for credit.
Co-op education allows students to take time off their full-time studies to gain valuable experience-based learning with employers willing to put on students for a semester (14 weeks), six months, or over the summer. The Co-op program allows students to maintain their full-time status as a student (continue health insurance coverage with parents, not effect student loan repayment, access to college activities, etc.) while undertaking work in their field of interest. The Co-op program is a partnership between the employer, the student, and the university.