Geography 580: Elements of Cartography

The Ohio State University

Winter 2006

Instructor: Dr. Ningchuan Xiao
Office: 1132 Derby Hall
Phone: 292-4072
E-mail: xiao.37@osu.edu
Office Hours: TR 10:00-11:59 AM or by appointment

TA: Mr. Jason VanHorn
Office: 1145 Derby Hall
Phone: 292-6127
E-mail: vanhorn.17@osu.edu
Office Hours: TR 12:30-1:30 PM or by appointment

Location: 1116 Derby Hall (Lecture), 0140 Derby Hall (Lab)
Time: TR 8:30 - 9:48 AM (Lecture), TR 1:30 - 2:48 PM (Lab)
Course URL: http://geog-www.sbs.ohio-state.edu/faculty/Xiao/courses/580
Schedule URL: http://geog-www.sbs.ohio-state.edu/faculty/Xiao/courses/580/schedule.html


This course introduces the science, technology, and art of making maps. Lectures will cover the principles of cartography including projections, digital data processing, design, and symbolization. A series of hands-on exercises are designed to help understand the cartographic theories discussed in the lectures. Students will use a suite of software packages (e.g., ArcGIS, and Illustrator) to design and produce maps.

Texts

Additional materials will be either handed out during the class or made available on course web site in digital forms.

Credit Hours

This class is a 5 credit hour class for undergraduate students.

Evaluation

Student performance is assessed using the following four components:
  1. Labs (30%). An assignment will be given during each lab session. Normally all assignments are due in seven days. That is, students should complete and turn in the assignment before the lab session of the following week. Each assignment should be completed individually. Late submission will result in a deduction of up to 50% of the total points for the assignment, unless a good and acceptable reason is presented. Note you must use a computer to finish your assignment; hand-written assignments will be returned to you without grading and no grace time will be given.
  2. Examinations (35%). A midterm is worth 15% of the final grade and the final examination consists of 20% of the final grade. The final examination will be comprehensive with an emphasis given to the materials taught after the midterm.
  3. Personal project (20%). Each student should select a topic and conduct a personal project using on the techniques taught in this class. Appropriate data should be identified and obtained. Personal projects will be presented on March 11, 2005 during the lab session.
  4. Quizzes and participation (15%). Students are expected to attend all lecture and lab sessions. During regular lecture sessions, quizzes will be given and the scores will be used for participation evaluation.

Schedule

Students should check the course schedule frequently as it will be updated whenever new materials are made available.

Student with Disabilities

I would like to hear from anyone who has a disability that may require some modification of seating, testing, or other class requirements so that appropriate arrangements may be made. Please talk with me after class or during my office hours. If you need more information about disabilities and accommodations, contact the Office of Disability Services.

Policy on Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct

Plagiarism is wrong and will not be tolerated. In the Code of Student Conduct, academic misconduct is defined as "any activity that tends to compromise the academic integrity of the university, or subvert the educational process"; plagiarism is defined as "the representation of another's work or ideas as one's own; it includes the unacknowledged word-for-word use and/or paraphrasing of another person's work, and/or the inappropriate unacknowledged use of another person's ideas." The University has a policy on academic misconduct and plagiarism, as provided in the Code of Student Conduct. To further understand this, it is worthwhile to read the Eight Cardinal Rules of Academic Integrity at http://www.northwestern.edu/uacc/8cards.html and guidelines to avoid plagiarism at http://www.northwestern.edu/uacc/plagiar.html.


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