This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

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Geographic Information Systems

Code: 43847 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Geoinformación OB 1

Contact

Name:
Anna Badia Perpinya
Email:
anna.badia@uab.cat

Teachers

Anna Badia Perpinya

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

This course has no specific requirements. Students should only have a basic knowledge of using general software such as Windows, Excel and Word.


Objectives and Contextualisation

The course provides both practical and theoretical understanding of the use of geospatial information and of the systems to manage it. It gives a consistent and complete view of the architecture of information systems (e.g., standalone, client-server and service-oriented) and of the different types of GIS software that are components of these architectures (e.g., desktop GIS software, spatial databases and web geospatial servers and clients).

Following the systematic review of architecture components the course addresses GIS client software functionality (e.g., data editing, structuring, manipulating, querying and analyzing) in depth and with regard to the different data structures available for geospatial information.

Finally the course covers the whole set of geoprocessing operations and the various means to automate operations and procedures (e.g., models, scripts, etc.).


Learning Outcomes

  1. CA07 (Competence) Formulate creative and innovative ideas in projects for geospatial information systems, products and applications.
  2. CA08 (Competence) Implement efficient work processes for optimal data processing in a geospatial analysis project.
  3. CA09 (Competence) Integrate geoinformation knowledge in new or little-known territorial environments within multidisciplinary teams.
  4. KA07 (Knowledge) Recognise the characteristics of the different families of cartographic projections to produce maps of specific scales and geographical areas.
  5. KA08 (Knowledge) Identify suitable geoprocessing tools according to the nature of the problem to be solved and the data available with the most notable geographic information systems programmes.
  6. SA07 (Skill) Use different forms of indirect georeferencing (geocoding, linear referencing) to model the representation of geographically located entities.
  7. SA08 (Skill) Automate sequences of operations that constitute procedures to analyse or construct geospatial data.
  8. SA09 (Skill) Validate topological procedures in different programmes and forms of implementation to verify the coherence of spatial data.
  9. SA10 (Skill) Implement complex data conversion processes between geospatial data of different formats, structures, and data models using different programmes.
  10. SA11 (Skill) Perform cartographic analysis and map algebra operations, network analysis operations and terrain analysis.
  11. SA11 (Skill) Perform cartographic analysis and map algebra operations, network analysis operations and terrain analysis.

Content

Geographic information systems

1. Logical Architecture of Information Systems.

Functional levels of an information system: data handling, operations, presentation.

Standalone, local, or network architecture. Files, file servers.

Client-server architecture. Data servers.

Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA).

Application and geoservice servers.

Functional blocks of GIS.

Functional typology of client GIS software.

2. Structural Typology of GIS Software.

Client GIS software.

Data server GIS software.

Application and geoservice server GIS software.

GIS components and development environments.

Cloud GIS platforms.

3. Access, Organization, and Visualization of Geoinformation in Client GIS Programs.

Concept of a layer.

Layer properties: data source, filters, joins, symbology, labeling.

Data layers.

Map service layers.

4. GIS Projects.

GIS for organizations.

GIS for projects.

5. Manipulation, Conversion, and Management of Spatial Data.

Conversion between data formats and structures.

Auxiliary geoprocessing operations.

Spatial data management.

6. Spatial Data Editing.

Editing methods based on data structures.

Creation andmodification of spatial data.

Geometric information: shapes.

Topological information: spatial relationships of boundary and interior.

Thematic information.

Implementation of information in data structures.

7. Absolute and Relative Georeferencing.

Georeferencing as a relationship factor.

Absolute georeferencing.

Cartographic reference systems.

Table georeferencing.

Relative georeferencing.

Zonal georeferencing.

Relational table join in GIS and DBMS.

Table linking.

Geocoding by addresses.

8. Thematic and Spatial Selections.

Selection by attributes.

Spatial selection.

 

Geoprocessing

1.  Introduction to geoprocessing functions.

Analysis and transformation operations vs query operations.

Groups of analysis and transformation operations.

2.  Basic transformation functions.

Clipping of vector and raster data.

Mosaic of vector and raster data.

Spatial aggregation operations.

3.  Vector overlay operations: geometric overlay.

Point on line overlay.

Point on polygon overlay.

Line on polygon overlay.

Polygon on polygon overlay.

4.  Raster overlay operations: arithmetical overlay.

Logical overlay.

Arithmetical overlay.

5.  Proximity analysis.

Vector proximity analysis.

Raster proximity analysis.

6.  Digital elevation models (DEM).

DEM creation.

DEM by-products.

Visibility analysis.

7.  Network analysis.

Optimal path analysis.

OD Cost Matrix

Service area analysis.


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lectures and practical exercises in a computer lab 36 1.44
Type: Supervised      
Individual and group practical work guided by teachers 15 0.6
Type: Autonomous      
Solving practical exercies using specific software and suggested bibliography. Personal study 69 2.76

Learning is achieved by means of three types of activities.

Directed activities: Directed activities are theoretical and practical lectures in a computer lab. They include solving case studies and practical exercises. Lectures are the common thread of the course. Lectures serve to systematize all the content, to present the state of the art of the different subjects, to provide methods and techniques for specific tasks, and to sum up the knowledge to learn. Lectures organize also the autonomous and complementary work done by the students

Supervised activities: Supervised activities are focused on the execution of a semester project, consisting of a real case study, carried out through workshop hours, autonomous work and tutorials. This semester project allows to apply together all the knowledge and technical skills learnt in all the courses of the semester. The semester project is a milestone for the students and the actual demonstration that they had achieved the learning goals of all the courses of the semester. It is also the main evidence for evaluation as students should have to submit at the end of the semester a report that summarizes the whole project and do an oral presentation.

Autonomous activities: Autonomous work of the students includes personal readings, data and documentation search, complementary exercises and the personal development of the semester project.

The activities that could not be done onsite will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools. Exercises, projects and lectures will be carried out using virtual tools such as tutorials, videos, Teams sessions, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Oral presentations 20 6 0.24 CA07, CA08, CA09
Practical exercises 35 10.5 0.42 CA07, CA08, CA09, KA07, KA08, SA07, SA08, SA09, SA10, SA11
Report submissions 45 13.5 0.54 CA07, CA08, CA09, KA07, KA08, SA07, SA08, SA09, SA10, SA11

In the event that assessment activities cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or discussion on Teams, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.

CONTINUOUS EVALUATION. This subject/module does not incorporate single assessment.

a) Evaluation procedure and activities:

Evaluation of the course is based mostly on the semester project, that comprises two evaluation activities. The elaboration and submission of a synthesis report and the oral presentation of the project done. Given the technical content of the course, the weight assigned to the project report is 45% of the total course grading, assuming that it is the most appropriate means to explain all the technical details of the project, and a weight of 20% at the oral presentation. The course assessment is completed with the evaluation of the practical exercises done along the course, that account for another 35% of the total course grading.

Unless otherwise specified, the submission of exercises is mandatory. In order for the exercises to be averaged with the project, they must have an average grade of 5 or higher.

Except when expressly noticed, all the evaluation activities (report and oral presentation of the semester project, as well as practical exercises) have to carried out individually.

Time assigned to each evaluation activity includes the time spent in making all the material evidences for evaluating each activity (e.g., writing of the report, preparing the presentation slides, etc.).

b) Evaluation schedule:

1st semester project report: Making during all the semester. Submission at the end of semester, on January 22nd 2026.

1st semester project oral presentation: Making during all the semester. Oral presentation at the end of semester, on January 29th 2026.

Course practical exercises: Making and submission weekly or biweekly along the semester.

c) Grade revision:

Once the grades obtained are published, students will have one week to apply for a grade revision by arranging an appointment with the corresponding teachers.

d) Procedure for reassessment:

1st semester project report: It could be reassessed in the following two weeks after the submission date scheduled. Reassessment will require the submission of a new whole report in case of negative evaluation of the former report submitted.

1st semester project oral presentation: It could be reassessed in the following week after the date scheduled for the oral presentation. Reassessment will require doing again the oral presentation in case of negative evaluation of the former presentation done.

Course practical exercises: Can not be reassessed.

To have right to a reassessment the student will have to have been previously evaluated in a set of activities that account for at least two thirds of the total course grading. Therefore he or she will have to have been evaluated of the 1st semester project report (45%) and ofthe 1st semester project oral presentation(20%) inthe dates scheduled.

The right to a reassessment will only be granted to students that, having not passed the course (e.g., having a total course grade below 5 over 10), had obtained at least a total course grade above 3,5 over 10.

e) Conditions for a ‘Not assessable’ grade:

Students will receive the grade ‘Not assessable’ instead of ‘Fail’ if they had not submitted neither the 1st semester project report nor done the 1st semester project oral presentation. Students will obtain a Not assessed/Not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 1/3 of the assessment items.

f) UAB regulations on plagiarism and other irregularities in the assessment process:

In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject..

Assessment acitivities with a zero grade because of irregularities can not be reassessed.

On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.

For this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks. Students must clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. Non-transparency in the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may lead to a partial or total penalty in the activity's grade, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.


Bibliography

Bonham-Carter, Graham F. (1994) Geographic information systems for geoscientists modelling with GIS, Kidlington: Pergamon Elsevier. 416 pp. (ISBN: 978-0080424200)

Burrough, Peter A.; McDonnel, Rachel A. and Lloyd, Christopher D. (2015) Principles of Geographical Information Systems. 3rd. edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 432 pp. (ISBN: 978-0198742845)

Heywood, Ian., Cornelius, Sarah and Carver, Steve. (2011). An Introduction to Geographical Information Systems. 4th edition. Prentice Hall, Pearson.

Laurini, Robert and Thompson, Derek (1992) Fundamentals of Spatial Information Systems. London: Academic Press Ltd.  680 pp. (ISBN: 978-0124383807)

Longley, Paul A.; Goodchild, Michael F.; Maguire, David J. and Rhind, David W. (2015) Geographical Information Systems and Science. 4th edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. 560 pp. (ISBN: 978-0470721445)

Maguire, David J.; Goodchild, Michael F. and Rhind, David W. (eds.) (1991) Geographical Information Systems. Principles and Applications, 2 volumes, Harlow, Essex, UK, Longman. 1100 pp. (ISBN: 978-0582056619)

Nunes, Joan (2012) Diccionari terminològic de sistemes d'informació geogràfica. Barcelona: Enciclopèdia Catalana i Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya. 551 pp. (ISBN 978-84-393-8863-0). Consultable en línia a http://www.termcat.cat/ca/Diccionaris_En_Linia/197


Software

ArcGis Pro

Qgis


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PLABm) Practical laboratories (master) 1 Spanish first semester afternoon
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Spanish first semester afternoon