Geography 1004

Department of Geography

Virginia Tech

email lgrossmn@vt.edu

Graduate Student:
Mindy Butterworth, email mkbutter@vt.edu
Office: 112 Major Williams Hall; Phone: 231-3798

 

Course Description:

To enhance the learning experience, students will be exposed to the basics of computer-based Geographic Information Systems analysis (GIS). You will learn to use the GIS program ArcView, a tool widely employed in education, government, and business; ArcView helps you interpret spatial data and make informed decisions on a wide variety of spatial topics. The relevance and utility of understanding the fundamentals of GIS expand far beyond this course because GIS is increasingly important and integral to a wide variety of disciplines and because it provides crucial skills valuable for today's highly competitive workplace.

You do not have to have an advanced knowledge of computers to be successful in this class, but it is essential for students to know how to use Windows at a very basic level for the GIS program. For those who have very limited experience using computers, it is imperative that they receive the needed basic training.

Any student who feels that he or she may need an accommodation because of a disability (learning disability, attention deficit disorder, psychological, physical, etc.) should feel free to make an appointment to see me during office hours.

This course carries credit for Area 3 (but not for Area 7) of the Core Curriculum.

You will need to access this home page regularly to learn about required readings on the WWW. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can obtain from the student software window at 3220 TORG. A listserv that will distribute information electronically to the class members.

NOTE: When you want to contact me using your computer, be sure to use my email address lgrossmn@vt.edu If you try to send me a message through the listserv, everyone else in the class will also be able to read it!

Grading:

The honor code will be in effect during this class. All students are expected to follow the Honor Code. Students must do all GIS assignments independently. Working together on GIS projects is a violation of the honor code.

NOTE CONCERNING USE OF COMMERCIALLY PURCHASED NOTES:

ArcView Tutorial

There will be three required projects in ArcView in which you will apply GIS techniques to real world problems.

Required text:

Getis, Getis, and Fellmann, INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY 11th Edition (2007)--noted as GGF below.

Required readings on the World Wide Web are listed below as underlined links. Double click on the underlined blue text to read the assigned WWW readings. After opening and reading the specified home pages, you should also open and read the materials linked to them that are specified below under Readings and Topics.

Readings and Lecture Topics:

Be sure to do the readings before coming to class. Films will be shown at times to be announced. All WWW references listed are required readings, except for those listed as FYI.

Date	Readings and Topics
Aug 20	Introduction On the Association of American Geographers home page, read What is Geography? , click on the links on the page Examples of Geographic Fields to read the information on the various fields of geography, and also read additional information about jobs and careers in geography on the page Example Geographic Fields: Sample Jobs and Careers.
22	A Geographer's View of Australia; GGF - Chpt. 1 Compare the map on rainfall in December 1997 with the map on rainfall in March 1998. Which month appears to have less rainfall? What is the significance of both maps for the spatial distribution of agriculture and population? Also, read "History of the European wild rabbit in Australia," "Impact of the Rabbit in Australia," "Invasive species in Australia" , and "Australia: European Settlement". Compare these two images from the readings on Australia about the distribution of rabbits with the map of extinction intensity in Australia. What does your comparison tell you?
24	Basic Concepts in Geography
27	Basic Concepts in Geography (cont.)
29	Maps; GGF - Chpt. 2. Read "Brief History of Maps and Cartography" and "The Role of Maps in Robert E. Lee's Gettysburg Campaign" FYI: Here are some useful links for geographers: FYI: Here is a link for topographic maps . FYI: Here is a link for remote imagery: terraserver .
31	Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Read "What Is GIS?", "What Can You Do with GIS?", Using GIS to Understand Grizzly Bears, and "American Red Cross Uses GIS for Hurricane Katrina and Rita Efforts."
Sept 3	GIS basics I - computer exercises
5	GIS basics II - computer exercises
7	Human Impacts on the Environment: Invasive Species, Deforestation, and the Greenhouse Effect; GGF - Chpt. 12. Read "Southern Ocean current faces slowdown threat," "Insects in Alaska," "How Global Warming is Changing the Wild Kingdom," "Cogon Grass Becoming Scourge of the South," "Climate change pushes diseases north," "Deforestation effects depend on location"
10	GIS basics III - computer exercises Click here for instructions for Project #1, which is due September 17 .
12	Human Impacts on the Environment: Toxic Waste Read "Much toxic computer waste lands in Third World" and "Ivorians Seek Justice for Illegal Toxic Waste Dumping"
14	Human Impacts on the Environment: Acid Rain Read "Forests fall silent with acid rain"
17	Natural Hazards Read "Experts: Future of Big Hurricanes Looms," "Disasters in Numbers," "Asians Invent Ways to Survive Disasters," and "Human activities contributed to tsunami's ravages: environmental expert"
19	EXAM
21	Population Geography; GGF - Chpt. 6. To find out what the current population of the world is, click here: World POPClock; for the population of the United States, click here US Population . Read "U.S. population to top 300 million this month," "China's Population," "World population growth 'falling' " "China facing major gender imbalance" The Population Reference Bureau had data on world population patterns.
24	GIS basics IV - computer exercises Click here for instructions for Project #2, which is due October 1
26	Population Geography (cont.)
28	Cultural Diversity; GGF - Chpt. 7 Read "Deadly twist to PNG's tribal feuds"
Oct 1	GIS basics V - computer exercises Click here for instructions for Project #3, which is due October 12.
3	Culture, Gender, and Spatial Organization Read "Gender roles in agroforestry system in the eastern hills of Nepal Case study of salle village" and "Home kitchen still mainly female territory"
5	Cultural Landscape
8	No class – Fall break
10	Economic Geography: Types of Economic Systems - Hunters and Gatherers; GGF - Chpt. 10. Read "The Mbuti of Zaire," which focuses on the pygmies.
12	Economic Geography: Slash and Burn Agriculture. Read "SLASH AND BURN AGRICULTURE" and "Shifting Cultivation"
15	Economic Geography: Export Agriculture and Pesticides in Developing Countries Read "Dangerous beauty" "Pesticides next frontier in China food safety," "Colombia Flower Farms Rely on Pesticides," and "Pesticide in Soft Drinks in India,"
17	Economic Geography: Industrial Agriculture Read "Lawn Chemicals Linked to Dog Cancer - U.S. Study," "Fight to be 'local' heats up in British food," and "GM food -- myth and reality"
19	EXAM
22	Resource Geography and Energy; GGF-Chpt 5.
24	Resource Geography and Energy: The Chernobyl Disaster Read " Chernobyl's cancer world record," "The Chernobyl Body Count Controversy," and "Wildlife defies Chernobyl radiation"
26	Resource Geography, Oil, and Energy Read the "History of OPEC," "China Barrels Ahead in Oil Market," "U.S. Oil Co. Goes on Trial in Ecuador," " 'BRICs' Overtake U.S. in Energy," and "China, India to Cooperate in Oil Hunt"
29	Political Geography, GGF-Chpt 9. Read "Spotting Bushmanders," "We Want Our Money Back!," and "Islam's Sunni-Shiite split" FYI: For a map of ethnic groups in Afghanistan click here
31	Spatial Patterns: Diffusion; GGF - pp. 268-272, 274-280 Read "If You Move to America, You May Get Fat," "Bedbug boom blamed on increased foreign travel," "and "Deadly Asian bird flu reaches fringes of Europe"
2	Spatial Patterns: Agriculture; GGF - 356-358. See von Thunen diagram.
5	Spatial Patterns: Agriculture (cont.)
7	Urban Geography; GGF - Chpt. 11. Read "Transportation and Urban Growth," "TEN REASONS Why Sprawl Is Hazardous to Your Health," and "Urban living linked to higher rates of bulimia." Here are recent data on the largest cities in the US. How do these data relate to the rank size rule?
9	Urban Geography (cont.) Read "Americans commute longer, farther than ever" , "12 million suburbanites live in poverty," and "Far-flung exurbs hard hit by housing downturn"
12	Urban Problems in the Third World. Read "Women in the Informal Sector in Malaysia," " Bangkok as a Primate City," " Two billion people will live in slums by 2030," "Crowded India Cities Face Conflict on Cows," and "U.N. Projects Historic City Populations by 2007"
14	EXAM
16	Economic Development in the Third World and the New International Division of Labor; GGF - pp. 291-295 Read "Dimensions of a Scandal," "The Causes of Poverty," "A textiles boom gives jobs to India's poor," "Rapid Growth Reducing Asia Poverty," "Report: Free Trade Threatens Small Farmers," and "Ending 'water apartheid' is urged"
26	Economic Development in the Third World and the New International Division of Labor. Read "Gap Between China's Rich, Poor Alarming," "One in 10 U.S. Tech Jobs May Move Overseas," "Call Centers Fuel Social Change in Traditional India," "Donohue Endorses Outsourcing of Jobs," "Nearly 80 percent of India lives on half dollar a day," and "American Made?" Also, view the world maps of GNP and GNP per capita.
28	Problems in Rural Development: Subsistence Agriculture and Cash Cropping in Papua New Guinea Read "Women and sustainable food security" and "Women and land tenure."
30	Problems in Rural Development Read "High-tech cell phones help Africans trade crops"
Dec 3	Impact of the Commercial Economy on Rural Communities--St. Vincent in the Caribbean. The banana industry in the Caribbean is currently threatened by pressure from the United States. Also read: "EU Strikes Landmark Sugar Reform Deal" and "Banana wars"
5	Summary
11	FINAL EXAM: 7:45AM - 9:45AM