The course

11/17/16, 3(17 PM

Geography 465 GIS Databases and Programming

Lecture/Lab: MW 2:30-4:20 SMI 401
Instructors:
Tim Nyerges, Professor
402 Smith Hall, 206.543.5296, nyerges@u.washington.edu
Office Hours: T 11:30-12:20 AM, W 10:3011:20 AM, or by appointment
Teaching Assistant: Michalis Avraam, office hours and place to be announced.
Course Description:
Database management is the core technology in a GIS. This course explores the GIS data
models, database development, and database management systems used in GIS. Students receive hands-on
experience with the Python programming language applicable to GIS database work, particularly related to
extending current commercial GIS such as ArcGIS.
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn the basics of geoprocessing using command line, dialog box, ModelBuilder, and Python
Scripting interfaces to interact with geospatial databases.
- Students will develop Python programming/scripting skills fundamental to advanced GIS data
manipulation.
- Students will undertake lab exercises to learn about ArcGIS geoprocessing, focusing on the database
management aspects of GIS, and making use of selected datasets.
Required reading materials
Mark Lutz 2008, Learning Python, 3rd edition, OReilly Media: Beijing.
Various ESRI .pdfs available through the course web site or ESRI as noted in course schedule
Various lecture and handouts provided from time to time on course web site.
Course Grading
This course focuses assessment on the grading of lab exercises. There will be no exams. Graded exercise
assignments will total to 400 points with the following point distribution.
Exercise 1 : 20 point
Exercise 2, 3, 4 : 40 points each
Exercise 5 and 6 : 60 points each
Exercise 7 final project: 100 points
Project Presentation: 40

http://courses.washington.edu/geog465/465Ovr09.html

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