Environmental Site Assessments

Geographic Information Systems (GIS): GIS is a computer-based tool that uses spatial data to analyze and solve real-world problems. This course is designed to introduce the student to the basic principles and techniques of GIS to develop an understanding of geographic space and how maps represent geographic space. A student will be able to read maps and write about and discuss information gleaned from maps. By the end of the GIS module, students will create maps from graphical and tabular data sources using ArcGIS. Students will be able to use GIS to build maps using data they collected during the program. Using PowerPoint presentations, students will present and discuss their mapping work based on data collected from different sources.

GIS data Digitization, processing and geo-referencing:
During this GIS class session, students will learn to digitize the old GIS maps and create layers for the Environmental Site Assessments project. Students will be provided a scanned Map, which refers to the digital, scanned copy of a paper map. Students will perform digitizing, which refers to the process of converting geo-referenced data to digital format (shapefile). Then, geo-referencing will be done, which refers to the process of assigning real-world coordinates to pixels of the scanned map.

Mapping Environmental Assessment Map