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Geographic Information System (GIS) Program at the University of Maine at Presque Isle A member of Maine GIS Consortium |
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ABOUT US
GIS program at UMPI is aimed to bring modern GPS and GIS technologies to students of all the majors and to local communities. A two-semester GIS sequence is offered, ENV308-Fundamentals of GIS (GIS I) in the spring, and ENV408-GIS Applications and Advanced Spatial Analyses (GIS II) in the fall.
Students in GIS II work on real-world GIS projects to earn hands-on experience. For example, they collect municipal infrastructural data with Trimble GPS and build GIS geodatabases for the local cities/towns. Some of them work as paid interns in the summer. GPS/GIS technologies help students meet higher academic standards and to achieve successes in their job hunting and their professional careers.
UMPI GIS Program is supported by a state-of-the-art GIS Laboratory funded through a Maine Technology Asset Funds (MTAF) grant. The laboratory is one of the best in Maine with all needed high-end computing, GPS, scanning, and printing facilities. The MTAF grant and funds from other sources have helped development of a community GIS center that aims at fostering geospatial technology applications in northern Maine communities for development and economic growth.
WHAT IS GIS?
GIS (Geographic Information System) is a computing system
designed to capture, store, retrieve, analyze, and display geographic
information/spatial data. GIS is a powerful tool in dealing with geographic
information and in decision making. It is a technological application, which
can be used across various disciplines. With improvements in the capabilities
of GIS technology and the power of GIS map displays, the number and types of
GIS uses have expanded exponentially from purely infrastructure, engineering,
and environmental applications to program planning applications pertaining to
social and public policy issues. |
PERSONNEL
Dr. Chunzeng Wang Earth and Environmental Sciences; GPS/GIS Office: South Hall 306 Phone: (207)769-9412 Email: chunzeng.wang@umpi.edu
Mr. Mark Matson GIS Specialist Office: South Hall 307 Email: mmatson@ainop.com |
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FACILITIES q
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COURSES OFFERED
ENV308 - Fundamentals of GIS (GIS I):
The course introduces students to basic concepts and techniques of digital mapping. Topics include location referencing methods, data collection techniques, spatial data models and structure, geodatabase creation and manipulation, basic spatial queries and problem solving with GIS. Offered in the spring with 4 credits.
The course is divided into: lectures, which introduce basic theories and concepts of mapping science, geographic information science, and GIS technology, and lab exercises, which address hands-on exercises with ArcGIS, covering the whole GIS production process from data modeling and acquisition to data editing, spatial queries, basic spatial analysis, and cartographic design.
The goal is to provide students with experience in the geographic data acquisition, manipulation, query, spatial analysis, and visualization. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to: (1) understand basic concepts used in GIS; (2) demonstrate a working knowledge of ArcGIS, and (3) meet the prerequisite skill requirement for advanced GIS course, GIS II.
ENV408 - GIS Applications and Advanced Spatial Analyses (GIS II):
GIS II focuses on advanced spatial analysis methods and GIS techniques and skills, including geocoding, georeferencing, CAD data conversion, raster- and TIN-based spatial analysis such as digital terrain modeling and visualization, and surface analysis. The major purpose of this course is to extend fundamental theories and concepts in GIS students have learned from introductory GIS course (GIS I) so that they are better knowledgeable in advanced GIS applications. Offered in the fall with 4 credits. Prerequisite: GIS I
The course is divided into: lectures, which address basic theories and methods of advanced spatial analysis and GIS techniques and skills, and applications of GIS skills in fields of students’ interests, and lab exercises, which focus on hands-on experiences in the advanced and critical GIS techniques and skills.
The course is also project-focused: each student is required to work on a real-world project through the semester. The project uses real GIS data and solves a real problem. The project could be integrated into one’s senior thesis project. Students present the completed projects as posters. Students may also present at department seminars, University Day seminars, and professional meetings.
GIS II is aimed to enhance ArcGIS skills for students who have taken GIS I. Upon completion of GIS II, students are expected to be able to independently work on general projects with ArcGIS, and to be able to move further and to be able to explore higher levels of ArcGIS with self study. |