GIS for Environmental Modeling

Course Description
This is an intermediate level GIS course designed for senior undergraduate students and graduate students at all levels. Students are expected to have basic knowledge of GIS through either completing an introductory level GIS course or having entry level work experiences with GIS. The course emphasizes GIS applications for environmental modeling, which is loosely defined as any projects that contain environmental elements. The course has a lecture and a lab component. The lecture will focus on Methodology Design by introducing a series of GIS methods and their intended use in order to help students select appropriate GIS methods for a project. These topics are covered under the following sections: Basic GIS Methods, Testing and Validating GIS methods, and integrating GIS with environmental models. The hands-on labs will focus on learning GIS tools in order to implement a GIS project. Advanced topics in GIS research will also be introduced. The course should benefit students specialized in environment, natural resources, and any disciplines that are concerned with environmental issues.

Literature Review
Graduate students are expected to rewrite a short literature review and submit it by the 9th week of the semester.

GIS Project
Students are expected to complete a project that uses GIS to address an environmental issue. The topical area is flexible. Titles of past students' project are listed at the end of this page to provide a reference. Projects related to students' potential thesis or dissertation, current job or RA duties, and students' personal interests are strongly encouraged. Towards the end of the semester, students are expected to report their projects through a classroom presentation and a written project report.

Labs
A series of laboratory exercises will provide students with hands-on experience in GIS application. ArcGIS will be the primary GIS software for the labs. The exercises are designed to support many aspects of environmental modeling and offer students with opportunities to practice the following techniques: spatial data entry and editing, spatial file management and map making, attribute data manipulation and transition, overlay and buffering analysis, topographic analysis, grid modeling, 3-D display, and web GIS.

Textbook
No required textbooks.

Prerequisite
Intro to GIS such as Geog 506/481 or the equivalent, basic statistics, or the consent of the instructor.

Grading

	Under	Grad
Project Report	50%	40%
Lab assignments	30%	30%
Literature Review	10%	20%
Classroom involvement	10%	10%
Total	100%	100%

Grade cutoff

Tentative Schedule
    I. Basic GIS Methods
    1/28  Introduction
    1/30  Environmental modeling and GIS models
             Past student projects 1,2,3,4,5,6,7.1,7.2
    2/04  GIS data sources
    2/06  Basic GIS modeling - suitability index
    2/11  GIS functions for suitbility index
    2/13  Applications of suitability index

    II. Testing and Validating GIS methods
    2/18  Basic testing methods
    2/20  Basic testing methods
    2/25  Basic testing methods
    2/27  Validating GIS methods
    3/03  Testing relevance of GIS layers
    3/05  Weighing GIS layers
    3/10  Weighing GIS layers
    3/12  Projecr report development
    Spring break    
   
    3/24  Weighing GIS layers
    3/26  GIS applications, Greg Coniglio, LaBalla
    3/31  Integration of GIS and models
    4/02  GIS applications, Bill TrasK Fisher Associates (Grad student literture review re-write due)
    4/14  Class presentations
    4/16  UAV and GIS
    4/21  Class presentations
    4/23  GIS applications, Aaron Lee,WiredScore
    4/28  Class presentations
    4/30  Class presentations
    5/05  Class presentations
    5/07  Conclusions

Graduate

Weekly literture review due, each Thursday tarting Feb 27, 2020
Graduate student literature review rewrite due:  April 2
Final paper due:

The schedule and topics may change based on students' research interests
and potential guest speakers' schedule.

Recommended Data Sources
http://cugir.mannlib.cornell.edu/
http://gis.ny.gov
http://nationalmap.gov/viewer.html
http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov/
http://data.buffalony.gov

Map Library
Map Collection curator: Kim Plassche, kf43@buffalo.edu
Map Librarian: Dave Bertuca dbertuca@buffalo.edu

Academic Integrity Policies
Undergraduate Academic Integrity Policy: 
https://catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/academic_integrity_2019-20.html
Graduate Academic Integrity Policy:
https://grad.buffalo.edu/succeed/current-students/policy-library.html#academic-integrity

Critical Campus Resources
Accessibility Resources
http://www.buffalo.edu/studentlife/who-we-are/departments/accessibility.html

Sexual Violence
Title IX Coordinator, 716-645-2266
Crisis Services Campus Advocate, 716-796-4399

Mental Health
Counseling Services:
120 Richmond Quad (North Campus), 716-645-2720
202 Michael Hall (South Campus), 716-829-5800     

Health Services:
Michael Hall (South Campus), 716-829-3316

Health Promotion:
114 Student Union (North Campus), 716-645-2837

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