GTECH 385.01/GTECH 785.01/EES765 Urban GIS

Spring, 2008

Class hours: Tuesday 5:35 -- 8:15 p.m.
Class location: HN1090B
Professor: Hongmian Gong
Office and phone: HN 1050, 212-772-4658
Office hours: Tuesday 4:35 p.m. -- 5:35 p.m., or by appointment.
Email: gong@hunter.cuny.edu
Web page: http://www.geography.hunter.cuny.edu/~hgong
Department office and phone:  HN 1006, 212-772-5265 

Course Objectives

Discussion of data, methodology, and examples of using GIS to solve urban problems in economic, social, planning, and political settings.  Students are expected to conduct small research projects addressing real world issues.  The main software used for the course is ArcGIS 9.x.

Prerequisite

GTECH 201 for GTECH 385.01; GTECH 710 for GTECH 785.01 and EES 765. 

Required Text

Richard P. Greene & James B. Pick, Exploring the Urban Community: A GIS Approach.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006. 

Course Evaluation

Grade will be based on the following Criteria:  

Labs

40%

Exam (May 20, 5:35-7:35 p.m. at HN1090B)

20%

Project paper and presentation

40%

Notes:
1. Each student is required to do an urban-related research project at the end of the semester, using the GIS techniques taught in the course.  The data should be real, not hypothetical (some real data are available from the instructor).  Undergraduate students are expected to hand in a 5-page (double spaced) paper and graduate students a 10-page (double spaced) paper outlining the data, methodology, conclusion, and significance of their projects.

2. Class attendance is mandatory.

3. February 12 (Tuesday): College is closed, no class for this course.

4. April 22 (Tuesday): No class for this course because of Spring Recess.

5. May 13: Last class for this course.

Course Content and Labs

Week 1 Introduction to Urban GIS and Data

Week 2 Dynamics of Metropolitan Areas and Cities

(Labs: Metropolitan change in the U. S.; Rank changes for Chicago and Los Angeles suburbs)

Week 3 Census Geography (Lab: Defining Springfield MSA, Missouri)

              Urban Transportation (Lab: GPS for urban travel survey in New York City)

Week 4 Internal Structure of Cities (Labs: Urban expansion of Chicago and Los Angeles; Squatter settlements in Mexico City)

Week 5 Systems of Cities (Labs: Central place system; Library service area in New York City)

Week 6 Neighborhoods (Labs: Measuring neighborhood change with Markov chains)

Week 7 Lab: Defining urban area in New York metro region using satellite imagery

Week 8 Migration and Residential Mobility (Lab: Gravity model and site selection for an education center)

              Segregation (Lab: Centrographic methods)

Week 9 Industrial Location (Lab: Professional services and manufacturing in Los Angeles)

              Urban Expansion (Labs: Concentric ring analysis of Sprawl in Chicago)

Week 10 Lab: Measuring urban sprawl using nighttime imagery

Week 11 Course Project

Week 12 Urban and Regional Planning (Lab: Forecasting growth impacts of a new plant)

Week 13 Course Project

Week 14 Presentations

Week 15 Exam

Statement on Academic Integrity

Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The College is committed to enforcing CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures.