National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA)

GIS Core Curriculum for Technical Programs


Welcome to the interim home page for the National Science Foundation supported project to develop a Web-based curriculum building resource for Community Colleges and similar instructional environments.
Below you will find links to curriculum building support materials including backround materials, 50 technical units, and a resource section including example GIS course outlines and programs.
Instructor's Guide
A tree metaphor was used to organize the information in this site. A Tree Graphic used during the development phase may help you visualize the organization of the site. For an example of how the CCTP can be used to create instructional resources view the Tutorial for Creating a Digitizing Project. You may also be interested in a related NCGIA curriculum project the Core Curriculum in Geographic Information Science.  

Index

Background Information - Trunk:

Spatial Data Tasks - Branches (List of Units):

The units that are starred "*" may still be under development. The others may also be undergoing editing, but are available. Two example units to view are: Unit 13 and 33.

Accessing Spatial Data Sources

 UNIT 1 - data acquisition
UNIT 2 - demographic data
UNIT 3 - transportation networks
UNIT 4 - land records
UNIT 5 - natural resources data *
UNIT 6 - terrain data
UNIT 7 - using and interpreting metadata
UNIT 8 - error checking *
UNIT 9 - converting digital spatial data between formats, systems, and software
UNIT 10 - projecting data
UNIT 11 - registration and conflation

Creating Digital Spatial Data

UNIT 12 - Planning a digitizing project
UNIT 13 - digitizing maps
UNIT 14 - digitizing on-screen
UNIT 15 - labeling
UNIT 16 - planning a scanning project
UNIT 17 - scanning maps
UNIT 18 - scanning airphotos
UNIT 19 - planning a tabular database *
UNIT 20 - using text editors *
UNIT 21 - using spreadsheets *
UNIT 22 - merging tabular data with spatial data *
UNIT 23 - creating maps with CAD
UNIT 24 - collecting and using GPS data
UNIT 25 - using CoGo

Managing Spatial Data

UNIT 26 - editing point data *
UNIT 27 - editing linear data *
UNIT 28 - editing polygon data
UNIT 30 - validating databases
UNIT 31 - managing database files *
UNIT 32 - managing digital libraries

Analyzing Spatial Data

UNIT 33 - using buffering operators
UNIT 34 - using overlay operators
UNIT 35 - point in polygon operations, and line in polygon operations
UNIT 36 - using distance and connectivity operators *
UNIT 37/38 - characterizing spatial neighborhoods or regions *
UNIT 39 - performing statistical analyses
UNIT 40 - using reclassification operators *
UNIT 41 - using boolean search techniques *
UNIT 42 - using map algebra
UNIT 43 - using derivative surface operators
UNIT 45 - using location/allocation operators *
UNIT 46 - address matching

Reporting on Spatial Data

UNIT 47 - on screen visualization
UNIT 48 - designing products for printing
UNIT 49 - operating plotter/printer hardware *
UNIT 50 - operating plotter/printer software *
UNIT 51 - preparing Digital Presentations

Implementing and Managing GIS

UNIT 52 - Project management
UNIT 53 - Communicating about and distributing GIS products

Resources - Roots: