Geography 680: Numerical Cartography

The Ohio State University

Winter 2005

Location: 0140 Derby Hall (DB)
Time: MW 8:30 - 10:18 AM (Lecture), F 8:30 - 10:18 AM (Lab)
Course URL: http://geog-www.sbs.ohio-state.edu/faculty/Xiao/courses/680
schedule URL: http://geog-www.sbs.ohio-state.edu/faculty/Xiao/courses/680/schedule.html

Instructor: Dr. Ningchuan Xiao
Office: 1132 Derby Hall
Phone: 292-4072
E-mail: xiao.37@osu.edu
Office Hours: Monday 10:30-11:55 AM or by appointment

TA: Fang Ren
Office: 1083 Derby Hall
Phone: 688-3936
E-mail: ren.21@osu.edu
Office Hours: Friday 10:30-11:30 AM or by appointment

The purpose of this course is to introduce the science and art of making maps with computers. We will examine the ways in which spatial data are stored in computers, and explore a variety of cartographic and visualization techniques that can be used to produce thematic maps. A series of hands-on exercises are designed to help understand the cartographic theories discussed in the lectures. To earn full credit, students are required to finish and present a personal project.

Texts

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

Prerequisites

Geography 580 or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours

This class is for 5 credits.

Evaluation

Student performance is assessed using the following four components:
  1. Labs (30% of final grade). An assignment will be given during the lab session of each Friday. Normally all assignments are due in seven days. That is, students should complete and turn in each 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% of final grade). 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 (25% of final grade). 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 (10% of final grade). 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 become 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

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." Plagiarism is wrong and should be prohibited. 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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