Learning objectives
The course aims to show GIS usefulness in practice in environmental and territorial applications, promoting the student's ability to apply an engineering approach to problem solving.
Specifically at the end of the activities the student is asked to provide proof of:
- knowing the characteristics and peculiarities of spatial data, including acquisition techniques and their tolerances, with particular reference to Digital Terrain Model and Orthophoto production;
- knowing the geodetic-cartographic reference systems (SdR), in which these data are expressed and what are the limits of use of the transformation parameters stored in the GIS;
- knowing how to associate the SdR and/or the cartographic representation to the data;
- knowing how to import, export and convert data in raster and vector format between SdR and different cartographic projections;
- knowing the characteristics of the vector and raster data structures and the information needed for their georeferencing;
- knowing the techniques of spatial interpolation and georeferencing of raster data;
- knowing the basic concepts of databases and their query;
- being able to conduct spatial and attribute queries using the search tools implemented in GIS;
- being able to schematize a problem and identify the most appropriate GIS tools to solve it;
- knowing a significant spectrum of basic GIS applications in civil and environmental engineering.
Prerequisites
Basic concepts of cartography, geodetic datums, statistical data
processing and analysis; elementary computer literacy is necessary.
Course unit content
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are IT tools capable of managing and combine the great variety of information sources and types of data that must be considered in the decision-making and management processes in the governance of the territory. They allow the import, processing, storage and representation of various spatial data types.
The entities stored in a GIS, in addition to the specific information to be processed, have always associated the geographical position, so the GIS have the ability to manage data provided in different geodetic / cartographic reference systems and carry out searches and selections based on spatial relationships, as well as thematic queries.
The course presents the characteristics of spatial data in digital format and the techniques for processing them in a GIS.
To this end, the fundamental concepts of geodetic reference system and cartographic representation are referred to.
The main data acquisition techniques for GISs and their characteristics and accuracy are then illustrated.
Then we introduce the raster and vectorial data, paying particular attention to Digital Terrestrial Models (DTM) and orthophotos.
Then there is the structure of Numerical Cartography and its evolution into topographical DBs. Finally, GISs are first introduced with an operational approach that favours the ability to use the various types of functions for importing, selecting, searching and processing raster and vectorial data. Subsequently, the phases of the design of a GIS are mentioned, in particular the definition of conceptual and logical models. Finally, the databases at municipal, regional and national level are reviewed.
In the laboratory exercises, this knowledge is then applied to a series of practical cases, taken from engineering issues, on the QGIS open source platform.
Full programme
Geodesy: geodetic datum definition. Coordinate transformations. Transformations between reference systems.
Cartography: conformal and equivalent maps; map contents and map generalization; tolerances; italian topographic and technical maps.
Information on data acquisition techniques and technologies for Digital Terrestrial Models, orthophotos, Digital Maps and Geographical Information Systems.
The Digital Terrain Models (DTM). Components of a DTM. Interpolation methods. TIN and GRID data structures. Operations on the DTMs. Testing of the DTMs.
Digital orthophotos. Advantages and disadvantages compared to numerical mapping. Generation of orthophotos. Testing of orthophotos. Digital maps: definitions and differences with respect to traditional maps.
Contents of digital maps. Information coding.
Raster data: spatial and radiometric resolution. Raster data acquisition.
Rasterization of maps; georeferencing and mosaicking.
Vector data: geometric and topologic primitives. Vector data acquisition.
Cartographic editing and consistency checks.
Geographic information systems: fundamental components and
functions.
Metadata. Manipulation of raster and vector data: queries; processing of raster data; visualization and representation of results.
Laboratory exercises.
Presentation and use of the QGIS open-source sw: data import, datum definition, data export and conversion, editing operations on geometry and attributes of vectorial data. Queries and joins on attributes; spatial and tabular data selections. Calculation of field statistics. Georeferencing of raster data. Raster calculator. DTM generation: comparisons between interpolation methods, residuals calculation, visualization methods, terrain profile extraction, multi-temporal comparisons, volume calculation. Vector and raster data processing in civil and environmental engineering applications.
Bibliography
C. Jones. Geographic Information Systems and Computer Cartography,
Prentice Hall. – Not available at the “Biblioteca politecnica di Ingegneria e Architettura”.
Course material (slides of the lectures, exercices, sample data etc.) can be found at SISTEMI INFORMATIVI TERRITORIALI, available online on the Uni e-learning platform Elly of the Department of Engineering and Architecture (DIA). Registration to the course is
mandatory.
All the material is usually available at the beginning of the course, but it is also updated during the semester, especially as far as the data to be used in the exercises are concerned.
The necessary software: QGIS is installed in the computer labs, also remotely accessible both for home study during the period and for exam preparation. However, it is recommended to install QGIS on home PCs, in order to facilitate the practice also individually at home and to develop self-learning skills.
Instructions for download and the version of QGIS to use will be posted timely on Elly.
Teaching methods
The course consists of lectures on theory and exercises in a computer lab. Time spent in the latter increases along the semester; the last month is all spent in the lab. Overall, the proportion of hours of lecture and workshop practice is about 2:3.
The necessary software is installed in the computer labs. However, it is recommended to install the open source QGIS software on personal PCs in order to resume the exercises also individually at home. The introduction to the different sw and functions available in each is guided by simple examples. For self-teaching there is a tutorial in pdf format on the use of QGIS. Once the fundamental tools have been acquired, the teacher presents a problem (clarifying the objectives and the available data) and the students are invited to propose a solution strategy, also through internet search, discussing the alternatives in a group and then working autonomously to implement them.
Assessment methods and criteria
The examination will be carried out in presence or online depending on the University's regulations in force at the time of registration for the exam.
It consists in an oral interview with questions about the theoretical contents, followed by 2-3 simple exercises of processing, displaying, querying data with QGIS.
The questions count for about 60% of the score and verify the theoretical-methodological knowledge base, the processing exercises with software for the remaining 40% and verify the ability to apply knowledge and self-learning ability. The list of software skills required to pass the exam is available on the course e-learning platform Elly in the document Argomenti_esame_SIT.pdf. Examples of the oral questions are listed in domande_orale.pdf. The QGIS exercises can be carried out on the teacher's or student's PC, with the sw version recommended or later ones.
Other information
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