Civil Engineering Applications of GIS Francisco Olivera, Ph.D., P.E. CVEN 658 Civil Engineering Applications of GIS Fall 2009 Instructor: Francisco Olivera, Ph.D., P.E. Wisenbaker Engineering Research Center, Room 205 – F Tel.: 979-845-1404 e-mail: [email protected] Office hours: Wednesdays and Fridays 2:40 pm – 3:40 am Schedule: Lectures: Wednesdays and Fridays 1:50 pm – 2:40 pm at CE 217. Laboratory: Monday 1:50 pm – 3:40 pm at CE 217. Objectives: This course discusses the fundamental concepts of geographic information systems (GIS), the methods and software used to implement them, and their applications to solve civil engineering problems. After taking this course, the students will be able to use GIS tools to address civil engineering problems. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor’s approval. Class web page: http://ceprofs.tamu.edu/folivera/GIS-CE/Fall2009/home.htm The class web page includes an Announcements page in which last-minute information will be posted. Students are expected to access the Announcements page at least each other day. Textbook: None Class notes Class notes in Power Point format and homework exercises will be posted online. Grading: Homework assignments 10% Article summaries 10% GIS database development 10% Class participation 10% Two tests 40% Term project 20% The grade in homework assignments, article summaries, GIS database development, class attendance and participation and term project grades cannot be more than 1.05 times the average test grade.Civil Engineering Applications of GIS Francisco Olivera, Ph.D., P.E. Letter grades will be assigned according to: A (100 – 90), B (89 – 80), C (79 – 70), D (69 – 60) and F (less than 60). Numeric grades will be rounded to the nearest integer. Homework assignments Homework assignment must be handed-in at the end of the Monday sessions. All homework work can be conducted at TAMU – Department of Civil Engineering computer labs where software licenses are available. Article summaries Students have to prepare four 300- to 400-word article reviews. Only articles that discuss GIS theory or applications and that have been published in the previous five years in technical journals and other nationally or internationally recognized periodicals will be accepted. Students should submit a list of the articles they plan to review by 9/7/09 for approval. Use the ASCE style for listing references. An article cannot be reviewed by more than one student unless an exception is requested. Article reviews are due on 9/14/09, 9/21/09, 9/28/09 and 10/5/09. Tests Two tests will be given. The first test will cover half the material and the second test all the material discussed in class. Both test will be given I the month of November. GIS database development Develop a database of GIS data of a region. In developing the database, stress what is most important in your field (water resources, transportation, public works, urban planning, and regional planning, among others). Prepare color paper maps that display the information. Prepare a list of the data you found including: (1) what it is, (2) who developed it, (3) area covered, (4) scale (i.e., level of detail), (5) map projection, (6) information contained in the attribute table, and any other matter you deem necessary. The GIS data review is due on 11/23/09. Term project Prepare a paper on an application of GIS in your field of study. Submit the title and a 150-word description of your proposed term project by 10/12/08 for approval. In your proposal, indicate the main idea of your project and how GIS is going to be used, the data you plan to use and the methodology to solve the problem. Be original and creative!!! Deliver a hardcopy and an electronic copy (in PDF format) of your term project by 12/7/08. The final report should include: Header [Texas A&M University, Department ofCivil Engineering Applications of GIS Francisco Olivera, Ph.D., P.E. Civil Engineering, Instructor: Dr. Francisco Olivera, CVEN658 Applications of GIS to Civil Engineering, <project title>, <author> and <date>], Abstract [Stand-alone 200-word summary of your project], Introduction [(1) What is your project about?, (2) Why is your project topic important?], Literature review [(1) What has been done in the past?, (2) What is new in your project?], Methodology [What are the methods of analysis used in your project? If possible, this section should not be specific to the selected study area], Application, results and discussion [(1) What is the study area?, (2) What is the data you used, (3) What are the results of your analysis, (4) What do your results mean?], and Conclusions [What has been learned from this project? This section should not include any concept not discussed in any of the previous sections]. Prepare a poster (24" x 36" in portrait format) that summarizes your work. The poster should include a label [Texas A&M University, Department of Civil Engineering, Instructor: Dr. Francisco Olivera, CVEN658 Applications of GIS to Civil Engineering, <project title>, <author> and <date>], maps, tables and text. Feel free to use charts, tables and/or pictures to better convey the information. Deliver the poster in hard-copy by 12/1/08. Do not laminate it. Give a 15-minute presentation at the end of the semester on the day and time assigned. Link your project report to your poster and presentation. Final Exam: No final exam is scheduled Outline: Class 1 - 3: Introduction to GIS and ArcGIS Class 4 - 5 ArcMap and Visualizaion Class 6 - 7: ArcCatalog and Geodatabases Class 8 - 9: Map Projections Class 10: Getting Data Class 11 - 13: Map Analysis with vector Data Class 14: Creating and editing feature data Class 15: Creating and editing tabular data Class 16 – 19: Map analysis with raster data Class 20: Map analysis with network data Class 21: Interaction with GoogleEarth. Class 22 – 27: Student presentations. Class 28: EvaluationCivil Engineering Applications of GIS Francisco Olivera, Ph.D., P.E. It is the student’s responsibility to be fully acquainted and to comply with the University Student Rules (http://student-rules.tamu.edu). The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with