| Class Description | GIS is one of the most rapidly-growing fields in the computer industry. GIS is a computer system for collecting, managing, processing, and displaying geosopatial data. GIS has become an essential component of modern information technology, assisting in solving and assessing many real-world phenomena. This demand has necessitated that librarians gain core competencies in GIS theory, GIS technology, and GIS applications. To be able to respond to reference questions, librarians need a basic understanding of GIS. For example, librarians in the sciences might use GIS applications in such fields as engineering, geology, geography, urban planning, forestry, and agriculture; librarians in the social sciences and humanities might use GIS applications in such fields as archaeology, history and culture, and museum; librarians in business might use GIS applications in socio-economics and marketing. This course introduces students to the concepts, techniques, and technology of GIS. The topics covered in the course include geospatial data types, geospatial data sources, geospatial databases, geocoding, techniques for creating maps, and off-the-shelf GIS software packages. |