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Program Requirements

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing Minor program provides B.Sc. students with the fundamentals of geospatial tools and technologies.

Required Courses (6 credits)

• COMP 202 Foundations of Programming (3 credits)

  Offered by: Computer Science (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Computer Science (Sci) : Introduction to computer programming in a high level language: variables, expressions, primitive types, methods, conditionals, loops. Introduction to algorithms, data structures (arrays, strings), modular software design, libraries, file input/output, debugging, exception handling. Selected topics.

  Terms: Fall 2019, Winter 2020, Summer 2020

  Instructors: Patitsas, Elizabeth; Alberini, Giulia (Fall) Alberini, Giulia (Winter) Campbell, Jonathan (Summer)

  • 3 hours

  • Prerequisite: a CEGEP level mathematics course

  • Restrictions: COMP 202 and COMP 208 cannot both be taken for credit. COMP 202 is intended as a general introductory course, while COMP 208 is intended for students interested in scientific computation. COMP 202 cannot be taken for credit with or after COMP 250

• GEOG 201 Introductory Geo-Information Science (3 credits)

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Geography : An introduction to Geographic Information Systems. The systematic management of spatial data. The use and construction of maps. The use of microcomputers and software for mapping and statistical work. Air photo and topographic map analyses.

  Terms: Fall 2019

  Instructors: Sengupta, Raja; Elrick, Tim (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 3 hours and lab

Complementary Courses (12 credits)

3 credits selected from:

• GEOG 306 Raster Geo-Information Science (3 credits)

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Geography : Formal introduction to a computer-based Geographical Information System (GIS). Topics will focus on map analysis and on transforming and displaying spatial data. GIS will be used by students to solve problems in both physical and human geography.

  Terms: Winter 2020

  Instructors: McKenzie, Grant (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 2 hours and laboratory

  • Prerequisite: GEOG 201

• GEOG 307 Socioeconomic Applications of GIS (3 credits)

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Geography : GIS applied to the spatial analysis of socioeconomic and market data. Topics include geographic market segmentation, geodemographics, spatial decision-support systems and modelling applications of GIS. Empirical focus is on analysing spatial patterns of population and consumption characteristics in cities and on facility location problems. Emphasis on visualization and problem solving.

  Terms: Winter 2020

  Instructors: Sengupta, Raja (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 2 hours and laboratory

  • Prerequisites: GEOG 201, MATH 203 or equivalent

6 credits selected from:

• GEOG 308 Principles of Remote Sensing (3 credits)

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Geography : A conceptual view of remote sensing and the underlying physical principles. Covers ground-based, aerial, satellite systems, and the electromagnetic spectrum, from visible to microwave. Emphasis on application of remotely sensed data in geography including land cover change and ecological processes.

  Terms: Fall 2019

  Instructors: Kalacska, Margaret (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 3 hours and laboratory periods

  • Corequisite(s): GEOG 201

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ATOC 308

• GEOG 384 Principles of Geospatial Web (3 credits) *

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Geography : Theory and practice of geospatial web, including examining spatial data accuracy and uncertainty of user generated content; Understanding motivations of contributors of volunteered geographic information for purposes like citizen science and crisis mapping; Critically evaluating political, societal, economic and legal issues in online mapping applications; Developing geospatial applications and identifying basic problem solving requirements for geospatial apps. For proposed 
solutions, evaluating and justifying various existing and emergent geospatial technologies and enabling software stacks; Exploring underlying methods of digital earth architectures; Understanding implications to geospatial analysis and visualization of real time streaming data and mobile sensors

  Terms: Winter 2020

  Instructors: Sieber, Renee (Winter)

  • Prerequisite(s): GEOG 201, COMP 202, or permission of the instructor

• GEOG 506 Advanced Geographic Information Science (3 credits)

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Geography : Critically analyse major themes in geographic information science and draw out the practical ramifications for spatial technologies and research. Topics such as spatial interoperability, data quality, scale, visualization, location based services and ontologies are covered.

  Terms: Fall 2019

  Instructors: Sieber, Renee (Fall)

  • Winter

  • 2 hours and laboratory

  • Prerequisite (Undergraduate): GEOG 201 and GEOG 307 and permission of instructor.

• GEOG 535 Remote Sensing and Interpretation (3 credits)

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Geography : Basic photogrammetry and interpretation procedures for aircraft and space craft photography and imagery.

  Terms: Winter 2020

  Instructors: Kalacska, Margaret (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 3 hours

  • Prerequisite: GEOG 308 and written permission of instructor

3 credits selected from:

• ANTH 511 Computational Approaches to Prehistory (3 credits)

  Offered by: Anthropology (Faculty of Arts)

  Overview

  Anthropology : Covers the application of computational methods to archaeological problems and the modeling and simulation of prehistoric populations.

  Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2019-2020 academic year.

  Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2019-2020 academic year.

  • Winter

  • Prerequisites: ANTH 357 or ANTH 359.

  • Restriction: Restricted to U3 and graduate students in the Anthropology Department.

• ATOC 309 Weather Radars and Satellites (3 credits)

  Offered by: Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Basic notions of radiative transfer and applications of satellite and radar data to mesoscale and synoptic-scale systems are discussed. Emphasis will be put on the contribution of remote sensing to atmospheric and oceanic sciences.

  Terms: Winter 2020

  Instructors: Szejwach, Gerard (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 3 hours lecture

  • Prerequisite: ATOC 215

• COMP 208 Computer Programming for Physical Sciences and Engineering (3 credits)

  Offered by: Computer Science (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Computer Science (Sci) : Programming and problem solving in a high level computer language: variables, expressions, types, functions, conditionals, loops, objects and classes. Introduction to algorithms such as searching and sorting. Modular software design, libraries, file input and output, debugging. Emphasis on applications in Physical Sciences and Engineering, such as root finding, numerical integration, diffusion, Monte Carlo methods.

  Terms: Fall 2019, Winter 2020

  Instructors: Campbell, Jonathan; Parekh, Deven (Fall) Campbell, Jonathan (Winter)

  • 3 hours

  • Prerequisite: MATH 141 or equivalent.

  • Corequisite: MATH 133 or equivalent.

  • Restrictions: Credit can be given only for one of COMP 202, COMP 204, or COMP 208. COMP 208 cannot be taken for credit with or after COMP 250 or COMP 206.

  • COMP 202 is intended as a general introductory course, while COMP 208 is intended for students with sufficient math background and in (non-life) science or engineering fields.

• COMP 250 Introduction to Computer Science (3 credits)

  Offered by: Computer Science (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Computer Science (Sci) : Mathematical tools (binary numbers, induction, recurrence relations, asymptotic complexity, establishing correctness of programs), Data structures (arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, binary trees, binary search trees, heaps, hash tables), Recursive and non-recursive algorithms (searching and sorting, tree and graph traversal). Abstract data types, inheritance. Selected topics.

  Terms: Fall 2019, Winter 2020

  Instructors: Langer, Michael; Alberini, Giulia (Fall) Alberini, Giulia; Sarrazin Gendron, Roman (Winter)

  • 3 hours

  • Prerequisites: Familiarity with a high level programming language and CEGEP level Math.

  • Students with limited programming experience should take COMP 202 or equivalent before COMP 250. See COMP 202 Course Description for a list of topics.

• ESYS 300 Investigating the Earth System (3 credits)

  Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Earth System Science : An understanding of the biological, chemical and physical fundamentals of the Earth system and how the different components interact. The mechanisms controlling interactions between reservoirs are quantitatively investigated. Special emphasis on the development and response of the Earth system to perturbations.

  Terms: Fall 2019

  Instructors: Kalacska, Margaret; Fabry, Frederic (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 3 hours lecture

  • Prerequisite: ESYS 200 or equivalent.

• GEOG 306 Raster Geo-Information Science (3 credits) *

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Geography : Formal introduction to a computer-based Geographical Information System (GIS). Topics will focus on map analysis and on transforming and displaying spatial data. GIS will be used by students to solve problems in both physical and human geography.

  Terms: Winter 2020

  Instructors: McKenzie, Grant (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 2 hours and laboratory

  • Prerequisite: GEOG 201

• GEOG 307 Socioeconomic Applications of GIS (3 credits) *

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Geography : GIS applied to the spatial analysis of socioeconomic and market data. Topics include geographic market segmentation, geodemographics, spatial decision-support systems and modelling applications of GIS. Empirical focus is on analysing spatial patterns of population and consumption characteristics in cities and on facility location problems. Emphasis on visualization and problem solving.

  Terms: Winter 2020

  Instructors: Sengupta, Raja (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 2 hours and laboratory

  • Prerequisites: GEOG 201, MATH 203 or equivalent

• GEOG 308 Principles of Remote Sensing (3 credits) *

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Geography : A conceptual view of remote sensing and the underlying physical principles. Covers ground-based, aerial, satellite systems, and the electromagnetic spectrum, from visible to microwave. Emphasis on application of remotely sensed data in geography including land cover change and ecological processes.

  Terms: Fall 2019

  Instructors: Kalacska, Margaret (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 3 hours and laboratory periods

  • Corequisite(s): GEOG 201

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ATOC 308

• GEOG 384 Principles of Geospatial Web (3 credits) *

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Geography : Theory and practice of geospatial web, including examining spatial data accuracy and uncertainty of user generated content; Understanding motivations of contributors of volunteered geographic information for purposes like citizen science and crisis mapping; Critically evaluating political, societal, economic and legal issues in online mapping applications; Developing geospatial applications and identifying basic problem solving requirements for geospatial apps. For proposed 
solutions, evaluating and justifying various existing and emergent geospatial technologies and enabling software stacks; Exploring underlying methods of digital earth architectures; Understanding implications to geospatial analysis and visualization of real time streaming data and mobile sensors

  Terms: Winter 2020

  Instructors: Sieber, Renee (Winter)

  • Prerequisite(s): GEOG 201, COMP 202, or permission of the instructor

• GEOG 506 Advanced Geographic Information Science (3 credits) *

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Geography : Critically analyse major themes in geographic information science and draw out the practical ramifications for spatial technologies and research. Topics such as spatial interoperability, data quality, scale, visualization, location based services and ontologies are covered.

  Terms: Fall 2019

  Instructors: Sieber, Renee (Fall)

  • Winter

  • 2 hours and laboratory

  • Prerequisite (Undergraduate): GEOG 201 and GEOG 307 and permission of instructor.

• GEOG 535 Remote Sensing and Interpretation (3 credits) *

  Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Geography : Basic photogrammetry and interpretation procedures for aircraft and space craft photography and imagery.

  Terms: Winter 2020

  Instructors: Kalacska, Margaret (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 3 hours

  • Prerequisite: GEOG 308 and written permission of instructor

* may be taken in either list of complementary courses, but credits from one group may not be doubled-counted in the other.