GIS Project

2

GIS Class Final Project

Objective

Carry out a project to spatially analyze data of interest to you, perhaps in your field of study. Pick a topic that includes spatial components and then find data that can be displayed and analyzed using GIS. Synthesize what you learned in the GIS course.

Criteria

1. The project is original, has interesting and relevant data, uses sophisticated GIS processing and analysis, and/or has interesting results. To get a good grade, you need to excel in at least one of these categories.

2. Additional criteria are:

a. Deliverables follow the format and content of the “Working on GIS Projects” document.

b. Map design and communication are effective and professional.

c. Written materials are brief, to the point, and well-done.

d. Data folders and files are in the required format, well-named, cleaned up with no intermediate or unused parts remaining.

Deliverables

See the document, “Working on GIS Projects”, for details on formats and contents. If working in a pair, just one of you needs to turn in deliverables, with names of both of you on important folders and files.

· Project proposal—due {insert date proposal due} (20% of grade)

· GIS (see required folder and file structure below)—due {insert date project due} (50% of grade).

· If you are working with another student in a pair, you need to do all GIS work together and take turns doing the hands-on computer work.

· Process log—due {insert date project due} (5% of grade)

· Report—due {insert date project due} (25% of grade)

Folder and file structure

Below is the required folder and file structure for your project. Clean all files and include only the relevant data used for the project. DO NOT turn in original files that are not used in the final project (e.g., original zip files from US Census, etc. that are downloaded but not final GIS files) that are in your raw data folder. Include only what is used in the map document and file geodatabase.

\ProjectYourName(s)\—turn this folder in

ProjectYourName(s).mxd—the project map document

Data\—has your finished data files

ProjectYourName(s).gdb—file geodatabase with your final map layers and tables, the source for your map document

Other—other folders and files as needed

Documentation\—folder for documentation and reports

ProcessLogYourName(s).docx—record of processing steps that you took, with dates, to complete your project.

Report.docx—written report

\ProjectRawDataYourName(s)\—folder for original data files, read only (do not turn in this folder)

Notes

1. Be sure to cite all sources for ideas, facts, and data used in your report. It’s OK to use sources for major ideas, but then you have to do original work based on those ideas AND you have to cite the sources. This is a major ethical requirement in regard to plagiarism.

2. If you are going to use part or all of this project in another class or project, you need to inform me so that we can differentiate the work for both classes. There can be overlap between your work for the two classes but generally you will have to do more than what is required for this class alone.

3. The TAs and I will be available to help answer technical questions; however, we will not give step-by-step instructions or feedback on how well your project meets the grading criteria.