Advanced GIS Class: Enhancing Geospatial Skills for Better Decisions

1. GSP 470 Advanced GIS Instructor: Jim Graham E-mail: James.Graham@Humboldt.edu

2. Jim Graham • Bachelor's in CS and Math from Chico State • Over 20 years as a software engineer • 15 with HP as an engineer and manager • Owner of tecBugs and now SchoonerTurtles • PhD from Colorado State U. in Forestry/GIS • Eight years with the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory at Colorado State • Two years with Oregon State U. • 17 years doing GIS, 8 years teaching GIS • Research with: State Dept., USGS, USDA, DOE…

3. But who am I really? Grew up loving the mountains of California Usually had a 24k topo in my back pocket Discovered computers Put together computers and maps to solve problems After over 20 years in the commercial world, returned to academia to teach and help improve decisions on how we interact with the natural world

4. To Help Make Better Decisions Sept. 24, 2012 National Snow and Ice Data Center, 2012

5. Antarctic Ozone Hole Largest Antarctic Ozone Hole September 2006

6. Who are you?

7. From a Graduate I recently accepted a 3 month paid internship at Planet (formerly known as Planet Labs) in San Francisco. I'll be creating web maps and time series with their earth imagery. Without the GIS and programming experience I gained from your classes I wouldn't have this opportunity, so I wanted to reach out and say thank you. I definitely gained more skills in your classes than any other, and it is nice to have finished projects I can display on my portfolio. - Henry Whipps, HSU gradaute

8. Advanced GIS • This is an advanced class in GIS • We’ll cover: • Latest technology that is enabling geospatial work and is appearing on job applications • This includes: databases, web development, programming, project management, and a huge variety of software packages • Some additional geospatial analysis

9. Classes In Transition • The web is the biggest change in human society in 50 years • HSU has few web development classes • Next year: • GSP 418: Geospatial Programming II • GSP 470/570: Spatial Modeling • This year: • GSP 470 will focus on spatial web development technologies and some analysis

10. What else do you want to do?

11. How this class will work • First ½ is developing geospatial web sites • HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Mapping Libraries • Labs focus on geospatial web sites • Remainder is finishing projects and other advanced topics • A few labs on selected topics and then labs will be used for your projects

12. Class Materials • We’ll be using Canvas for turning in assignments and grading • The materials are on the web site: • Gsp.Humboldt.edu -> Online Learning -> GSP 470 • You’ll need to learn the material on the web site each week – please ask questions for things you don’t feel confident in • There will be “pop” quizzes about every 2 weeks • This is an advanced class so you’ll need to rely on each other, me, and outside resources!

13. What do you need from me? Requested Avoid Lack of step-by-step Pacing too fast • Help outside class • Answer questions directly • Tell us when wrong • Visual aids • Clarity • Detailed lab instructions • Video walk-throughs • Coffee, pizza, pie • Patience • Networking possibilities • Office hours

14. Professionalism • Turn off phones (and other electronic things you are carrying) or set to vibrate • Make it to class on time, • If you need to, set your alarm 20 minutes early! • If you’re late, please come in quietly • If you need to leave during class • Let me know ahead of time and sit by the door • If you have a question, ask • Others may be wondering about the same topic

15. Communication • I communicate primarily through email and in person • Email: • “Yo, what assignment. Sent from my iPhone” • It’s easy to miss-read emails and hard to ask them clarifying questions

16. Emails • Proper subject line • Provide context so the reader understands the message • Provide a formal signature • For important emails, I write them and then re-read them later • For emotionally-charged emails, I write them, re-write them, have someone review them, and then don’t send some of them. • Instead, I’ll go out to lunch with the person

17. To be successful • Turn in lab assignments on time! • Attend class, read the materials, etc. • Make good decisions • Follow the 20 minute rule: • If you’re stuck more than 20 minutes, get help • What is your learning style? • www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire

18. Bottom Line • The more time you spend working with a GIS, the better you will do • If you work hard and do the assignments on time • Me (and others) will be there to help you when needed • You just need to ask! • Be ready to help others as well

19. The Class Website • The class website is at: • gsp.humboldt.edu -> Online Classes -> GSP 470 • I promise the website will be updated at least before class ;-) • This is a dynamic class so the materials and labs for the second half of class may change quite a bit to fit your interests and what is needed to ensure you are advanced GISers!

20. First lab • We’ll be creating a web site with HTML • You’ll be “hand-coding” the HTML and then we’ll use Pigendo with Bootstrap • HTML is the foundation of all web development so we’ll start there. • Also: • Review the syllabus and first week’s materials on the web site.