Iowa State University offers Analytical Planning with GIS online during summer 2011.
(updated 4-12-2011 -- Check back often for updates to the FAQ's at the bottom of the page)
In addition to providing single/multiday (non-credit) geospatial short courses and workshops, Iowa State University Department of Community and Regional Planning (CRP) offers a 3-credit Analytical Planning with GIS course online during the summer semester.The course runs May 16h - July 31st. The course will be taught by Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Christopher J. Seeger, GISP. cjseeger@iastate.edu
This course focuses on visual, exploratory, participatory, and predictive spatial analyses as part of the planning process. GIS tools and techniques are used to automate decision analysis
and facilitate future planning in analyzing and visualizing planning actions. Software discussed includes: Community Viz's Scenario 360, ESRI ArcGIS 3D Analyst/Spatial/Network/Tracking Analysis extensions, Google's SketchUp, Google Maps and Google Earth.
Students will conduct a GIS analysis on a final project that they develop and present the project online to the class as a Power Point presentation and PDF poster at the end of the course. The class can be used towards the ISU Graduate Certificate in GIS. The course is very intensive, however, it is designed to allow students to schedule their study time around their work, family or other summer activities. Students do not need to be in Ames to take the class. They do however need to have a good internet connection as the course utilizes video tutorials and lectures as well as online collaboration, peer learning techniques and 'virtual office hours' with the instructor. Students enrolled in the course will receive a educational copy of Community Viz and ESRI ArcGIS 10 software to install on their computer prior to the start of the course in May.
It is recommend that students have some experience building a web page prior to the start of the course. ISU has a site license to Lynda.com training and the instructor can provide you with access info once you are registered for this course. Additional time spent reviewing the capabilities of Network Analyst, and Model Builder prior to the course will be beneficial.
| Minimum Computer Requirements |
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| Platform |
PC-Intel (Mac's with Intel Processors are OK) |
| Operating System |
Windows 7, Vista (Ultimate, Enterprise, Business, Home Premium), Windows 2000, or Windows XP (Home Edition and Professional) |
| Memory |
1 GB RAM |
| Processor |
1.6 GHz |
Software
(free) |
Firefox or IE web browser
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe Flash Player |
| Textbooks for 2011 haveNOT been selected yet but will be by May 1st. Please wait to order books until after May 1st to ensure that the course enrollment numbers are sufficient for the course to be offered. |
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| FAQ's |
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I plan to go on vacation for a week in June - will I be able to miss the course for this amount of time?
The short answers is yes. With that said, it is best to try and stay on track as the discussions and help sessions will focus on the topic of the week. The last week of July is reserved for work on the final projects. You will need to participate and review the presentations of your class during this period. I have also set the course up so that week 6 is a mild week allowing you time to 'catch-up' if necessary.
I will miss the first 2 days, will that be a problem?
It should be fine, however you will want to get caught up ASAP as things move fast in this course and once you are more than a week behind, it is very difficult to catch up unless you plan to take time off of work or spend some late nights doing GIS!
When will the course be available?
Monday, May 16th. I will email all who are registered for class the Friday before.
Do you have recommendations for doing well in the class?
Try and stay on schedule with your classmates so that you can benefit from the discussions. Typically I see three groups, a few that are working a week ahead, the majority that runs about one exercise (2 - 3 days) behind and then a few stragglers. If you watch NASCAR then you now that if you fall out of the draft it is hard to catch up - same holds true here.
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