Academic Year/course:
2023/24
571 - Degree in Environmental Sciences
25254 - Cartography and geographical information systems
Syllabus Information
Academic year:
2023/24
Subject:
25254 - Cartography and geographical information systems
Faculty / School:
201 - Escuela Politécnica Superior
Degree:
571 - Degree in Environmental Sciences
ECTS:
9.0
Year:
2
Semester:
First Four-month period
Subject type:
Compulsory
Module:
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1. General information
Topographic and thematic cartography allows us to know the territory and, at the same time, it is an essential tool to graphically capture the results obtained in the analysis of many environmental variables.
Today, mapping is closely linked to the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) , a computerized tool for capturing, storing, analysing, modelling and graphically representing georeferenced information.
These approaches and objectives are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Specifically, the learning activities planned in this subject will contribute to the achievement of Goal 4 "Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all".
2. Learning results
The student, in order to pass this subject, must demonstrate the following results:
- Identify and define the fundamental concepts of the cartographic process.
- Interpret and evaluate topographic and thematic cartography.
- Recording, interpreting and handling data with Global Navigation Satellite System
(GNSS).
- Photo interpret some basic environmental variables: lithology, relief, vegetation and land use.
- Know and apply techniques for the design and elaboration of thematic cartography.
- Understand and handle the fundamental concepts that define the
Geographic Information Systems, assess its applications in the field of Environmental
Geosciences
- Define and identify basic aspects of Remote Sensing and its application to Environmental Sciences
3. Syllabus
Topic 0. Presentation of the subject.
Topic 1. Conceptual framework for mapping.
Topic 2. Fundamentals of geodesy.
Topic 3. Topographic mapping.
Topic 4. Spatial referencing.
Topic 5. Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems.
Topic 6. The cartographic process.
Topic 7. Introduction to remote sensing.
Topic 8. Photointerpretation.
4. Academic activities
The academic activities to be carried out are:
- Lectures: theoretical and practical sessions in which the contents of the subject will be explained
- Problems and cases: map commentary and interpretation, and geodesy exercises.
- Laboratory practices with the elaboration of thematic cartography and spatial referencing.
- Teaching work with the elaboration of reports linked to the written work of GIS and the work of cartography
- Personal study.
- Assessment tests.
5. Assessment system
The subject will be evaluated in the global evaluation modality by means of the following activities
1. -A theoretical-practical exam related to the issues addressed in the different modules of the subject. It will consist of a part of theoretical questions (multiple choice and short questions) and another part of practical exercises. The weighting of this section is 30% of the final grade. The accuracy in the answer to the questions and the correct approach to the resolution of the proposed problems will be valued.
2. -A practical examination using GIS. The student must perform a practical exercise of
-GIS using the computer tools that have been used in the past for this purposethroughout the semester. The weighting of this section is 40% of the final grade. The ability to adopt the most suitable solution to the problem posed and the design and composition of the final map will be assessed.
3. -A written GIS paper. Design and implementation of a project of environmental character where some of the tools and techniques object of this part of the subject are used. The weighting of this section is 20% of the final grade. The correctness and precision in the definition of the objectives, the adequacy and correctness of the methodology adopted, the relevance of the data used and the tools applied, the design of the maps and graphs, and the formal correctness of the report will be valued.
4. -A Cartography work. Completion of a written topic related to the subject studied in Topographic Cartography. The weighting of this section is 10% of the final grade.
To pass the subject, the student must obtain a final grade of all parts higher than 5 points. If, in the first call and in any of the parts, a grade lower than 5 is obtained , the student will only have to take that part in the second call and, in the first call, they will be graded with the lowest grade of all the parts. If in the result of the second call any part is still pending, the subject will be failed with the lowest grade of all the parts of that the evaluation consists of. No part will be kept between different academic years , having to re-take the subject with the conditions that the teaching guide of the subject establishes for that academic year. The subject will be considered passed as long as the weighted grade of all parts is equal to or higher than 5 and has obtained a grade equal to or higher than 4.5 in each of them. In the case that one of the parts of the subject is graded below 4.5 points, the final grade of the subject that will be recorded in the record will be a fail.
The success rate of the subject in the last three years is:
2019/2020 = 90,91%; 2020/2021 = 100%; 2021/2022 = 100%.