HGO4940 – Advanced Geographic Information Systems
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course explores in depth how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be used to study social processes. GIS is important tool, not only for planners and in risk assessment, but also in studies of society, the environment, and the interactions between them. In combined lecture-seminar sessions, students will learn advanced spatial data manipulation, visualisation and analysis techniques such as graph theoretic analyses of road networks, spatial regression, and 3D modelling. The curriculum for each lecture-seminar session combines theory from text books, methodological book chapters or journal articles, and empirical journal articles where these methods are applied.
The course will mainly use ESRI ArcGIS Pro, but students will also be introduced to alternative software used by many organisations including ArcGIS Map, QGIS and R. Students will also learn to use GIS to prepare data for quantitative data analysis outside GIS, such as in Stata and R.
Learning outcome
The students will learn about the fundamental components of a GIS, from the user and software side to the particular methods used to obtain information from spatial data. More specifically, this involves buffers and overlays, network analysis, GIS-based multicriteria assessment, spatial dependency and autocorrelation, spatial clustering and spatial regression methods, and 3D modelling.
Knowledge- Understand the special nature of spatial data and how they are different from non-spatial data
- Learn how we can collect and manage spatial data in both file formats and databases.
- Learn more advanced spatial analytical methods, including network analysis, spatial multicriteria assessment and clustering.
- Learn more advanced visualization techniques and cartographic principles.
- Develop skills to master GIS software.
- Learn, critically discuss, and directly apply spatial methods and techniques in combined lecture-seminar sessions.
- Complete a project where GIS will be used to study socio-spatial phenomena on master level.
- Discuss sources of uncertainty and error in spatial data.
- Create data models used to answer specific spatial questions.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
This course is a part of the Master`s program in Human Geography. Students with admission to other relevant master’s degree programmes can apply for admission as guest students.
Students with admission to the programme must each semester register which courses and examinations they wish to sign up for in StudentWeb.
Recommended previous knowledge
Recommended previous knowledge SGO1910 – Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) or similar introductory GIS courses.
HGO4940 is an advanced level course in geographical information systems. The course presupposes students’ previous knowledge of basic concepts and methods in mapping, spatial analysis and GIS. Basic understanding of computer systems recommended.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with SGO4940 – Geographic Information Systems (Master level course) (continued).
Teaching
The teaching for this course is organized as a series of three-hour learning sessions that combine a short lecture and a seminar involving hands-on exercises where each student will work on solving spatial questions using GIS. The seminars will also function as a project helpdesk, where the students can receive assistance with their ongoing project work. In addition, the students will individually work on a larger project.
Handing in weekly assignments is mandatory in 100% of the seminars.
Completed and approved compulsory course work is valid as long as the course is offered. Students who have failed to complete the compulsory attendance cannot take the exam.
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
Assessment of the course is based on a 3,000 word individual project report on a socio-spatial phenomenon. This word limit includes tables (these count as text) but it excludes the reference list and any text that is appropriately included in any maps or other figures.
Language of examination
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
If you are sick or have another valid reason for not attending the regular exam, we offer a postponed exam later in the same semester.
See also our information about resitting an exam.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.