Course Syllabus

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Syllabus (2017 Spring)



Why this course?

Web GIS, as the combination of the web and GIS (Geographic Information Systems), is a new and promising field. It has unlocked the power of GIS, and put online maps and geospatial intelligence in the offices/homes of millions and the hands of billions.

Web GIS has immense applicability to e-government, e-business, e-science, and daily life. Government employees can utilize Web GIS to improve public services and enhance collaboration across agencies. Businesses can use Web GIS to enhance their existing business models and create new ones. Researchers can find new solutions to meet the challenges of the new frontiers. Web GIS has great practical value to our world today and into the future. 

 

When & Where?

Web conferences (using Adobe Connect): Thursdays, 7:40 pm – 9:40 pm (US Eastern Time)

(Students will be provided with a URL to the Adobe Connect web conference site. During the live web conference sessions, you will be able to hear me and see my computer desktop. I can see your computer desktop, and hear you if you have a microphone.) 

 

Course Objectives

  • Provide students with a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of Web GIS, including the basic concepts, principles, related fields (e.g. mobile GIS) and frontiers
  • Inspire students with the broad and real-world applications of Web GIS, especially in e-Government, e-Business
  • Provide students with the state-of-art technical skills to build Web GIS applications and the knowledge needed to choose from various Web GIS development options

 

Textbooks

  • Pinde Fu, 2016, Getting to Know Web GIS. ESRI Press. Redlands, CA. ISBN-13: 978-1589484634, ISBN-10: 1589484630

. (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Know-Web-GIS-Second/dp/1589484630)

  •  Additional materials will be provided in video and other digital format.

 

Contact:

Pinde Fu - Course Head

email: pinde.harvard@gmail.com 

phone: 909-533-1530 

 

Giovanni Zambotti - TA

email: g.zambotti@gmail.com 

phone: 617-388-2227 

Schedule

(Subject to change)

 

 Date

Lectures

Labs

Assignment

1

1/26

Course overview;
Web GIS basics and applications

Create a map tour application using ArcGIS Online

#1

2

2/2

Web layers, maps and apps

Open data and smart mapping

#2

3

2/9

Web services;

Feature services and volunteered geographic information

Publish and use hosted feature services to collect VGI

#3

4

2/16

Smart Mapping and Story Maps

Create a story map using multiple templates

#4

5

2/23

Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS

Create web apps with Web AppBuilder

#5

6

3/2

Mobile GIS  

Use Collector and Survey 123 for data collection;

Create native apps using ArcGIS AppStudio

 #6

7

3/9

Real-time Web GIS;

Sensor Network and Internet of Things

 Create a real-time web GIS app using Operations Dashboard

#7

3/16 Spring break
8

3/23

Online spatial analysis and business intelligence

 Create a web app for site selection #8

9

3/30

Intro to HTML5 (HTML, JavaScript, and CSS);

Intro to ArcGIS API for JavaScript (1) 

Adapt ArcGIS JavaScript 2D and 3D app samples;

Debug JavaScript

 #9

10

4/6

ArcGIS API for JavaScript (2) ;

Web AppBuilder custom widgets

Use and develop custom widgets

11

4/13

Build on-premises Web GIS with ArcGIS Enterprise; 

Map services (dynamic/image tile/vector tile);

web services standards and interoperability

Publish and use dynamic map services with time animation using ArcGIS Pro

 #10

12

4/20

Geoprocessing services;

Insights for ArcGIS;

Big data & GeoAnalytics 

Publish and use geoprocessing services

13

4/27

Image services and drone technologies

Create 2D and 3D web apps from drone images 

 #11

14

5/4

3D Web GIS;

Indoor 3D;

Virtual Reality;

Augmented reality 

Create a 3D web app using ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS scene clients

 

 #12

15

5/11

Final Exam (open book) 

Prerequisites

  • Basic knowledge of computer science or GIS
  • A windows or Mac computer for running ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro
  • A smartphone or tablet for testing mobile apps

 

Technologies taught in the class

  • ArcGIS Online 
  • ArcGIS Enterprise 10.5 (ArcGIS for Server & Portal for ArcGIS)
  • ArcGIS Image Server and GeoAnalytics Server
  • ArcGIS Pro
  • ArcGIS Web AppBuilder
  • ArcGIS API for JavaScript
  • Mobile apps including Collector, Survey123, and Workforce
  • ArcGIS AppStudio
  • ArcGIS Operations Dashboard
  • Drone2Map

 This course primarily focuses on the ESRI suite of Web GIS technologies based on the following two considerations:

  • Esri is the world’s largest enterprise GIS software company. Its products have the largest market share in the US and in the world. Technologies learned in this course have great practical value across many industries.
  • The concepts and principles from Esri’s Web GIS platform apply to Web GIS in general and to many brands of products.

 

Evaluation Method

  • Homework (50%) + Exam (50%)
  • Late homework policy: Late homework will not be accepted.
  • The total score of your homework will be scaled to 50 points.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due