About this course
Geospatial & GIS Technologies Internship Program: 6-Week Structured Learning and Experience
Introduction
Geospatial and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies are essential for managing, analyzing, and visualizing spatial data. They play a key role in urban planning, environmental monitoring, disaster management, and infrastructure development. This internship program provides a hands-on introduction to GIS tools, spatial data collection, mapping, and spatial analysis using platforms like QGIS and GPS-enabled devices.
Designed for students and enthusiasts in geography, civil engineering, environmental sciences, and data science, this program concludes with a real-world GIS project that integrates various learned concepts.
Program Highlights
Week 1: GIS Fundamentals and Historical Context
· Introduction to GIS Concepts: Write a short report explaining what GIS is and its applications.
o Outcome: A 500-word report covering GIS fundamentals and real-world uses.
· History and Evolution of GIS: Create a timeline of key milestones in GIS development.
o Outcome: A visual timeline or infographic with at least 10 historical events.
· Types of Spatial Data: Differentiate between raster and vector data with examples.
o Outcome: A 1-page comparison table including definitions, examples, and use cases.
Week 2: Coordinate Systems and Mapping with QGIS
· Coordinate Systems & Map Projections: Explain coordinate systems and demonstrate using a world map.
o Outcome: A 2-slide presentation showing WGS84 and UTM examples.
· Using QGIS for Basic Mapping: Create a basic map using QGIS with at least 3 layers.
o Outcome: A printed or exported map with legend, scale, and north arrow.
· Data Collection Methods in GIS: Research and summarize different spatial data collection techniques.
o Outcome: A 1-page summary including GPS, remote sensing, and surveying.
Week 3: Field Data Collection and Vector Editing
· GPS and Field Data Collection: Conduct a short field survey and record location data.
o Outcome: A .CSV file with at least 5 GPS coordinates and related attributes.
· Working with Attribute Tables: Edit and analyze attribute data in QGIS.
o Outcome: A screenshot showing edited attributes and summary statistics.
· Georeferencing Scanned Maps: Georeference a scanned image using known control points.
o Outcome: A georeferenced raster image file (.tif) with coordinates.
Week 4: Thematic Mapping and Spatial Analysis
· Creating and Editing Vector Data: Digitize a map and create point, line, and polygon features.
o Outcome: A shapefile with at least 3 types of vector features.
· Thematic Mapping and Visualization: Create a choropleth map showing population density.
o Outcome: A map with color-coded regions and legend.
· Spatial Analysis – Buffering: Perform a buffer analysis around key features (e.g., schools).
o Outcome: A map showing 500m buffer zones.
Week 5: Advanced GIS Applications
· Spatial Joins and Data Linking: Join non-spatial data (e.g., Excel) to GIS layers.
o Outcome: A map layer with updated attributes from the joined table.
· Remote Sensing Basics: Summarize how satellites collect earth imagery and its GIS use.
o Outcome: A 500-word essay with examples of satellite applications.
· Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) Mapping: Classify satellite imagery using supervised classification.
o Outcome: A thematic land use map with labeled categories.
Week 6: Terrain Analysis, Urban GIS, and Final Project
· Digital Elevation Models (DEM) Analysis: Analyze terrain using a DEM to extract slope and elevation.
o Outcome: Two maps – one showing slope, the other showing elevation.
· Network Analysis for Route Planning: Use GIS to find the shortest route between two points.
o Outcome: A map with the shortest path and distance details.
· GIS for Urban Planning: Analyze urban sprawl using historical satellite data.
o Outcome: A report with change detection maps over time.
· GIS in Disaster Management: Simulate a flood-prone area analysis using elevation and rainfall data.
o Outcome: A risk zone map with recommendations.
Final Project: Real-world GIS Application
· Task: Design and implement a mini GIS project (e.g., site suitability, hazard mapping).
o Outcome: A full project report with maps, data sources, methods, and conclusions.
Expected Outcomes
By the end of this internship, participants will:
· Understand GIS fundamentals and spatial data types.
· Gain proficiency in QGIS for mapping and analysis.
· Collect, edit, and visualize geospatial data from the field.
· Perform advanced spatial analysis including buffering, joins, and terrain analysis.
· Apply GIS techniques in real-world domains like urban planning and disaster risk assessment.
· Complete a comprehensive GIS project demonstrating practical skills.
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To understand the fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including its components, functions, and real-world applications.
To trace the development of GIS technology and understand how it has evolved into a critical tool for spatial analysis.
To differentiate between raster and vector spatial data formats, their characteristics, and practical use cases.
To understand coordinate systems, map projections, and their importance in accurately representing spatial data.
To introduce students to QGIS software and help them build basic map-making skills using multiple data layers.
To explore various techniques used for spatial data collection and understand how they contribute to the accuracy and usability of GIS datasets.
To perform basic field data collection using GPS-enabled devices and generate usable GIS-ready data with attribute information.
To develop skills in managing and analyzing non-spatial (attribute) data within a GIS environment using QGIS.
To learn how to align a scanned paper map with real-world coordinates by using known control points in QGIS.
To gain hands-on experience in digitizing spatial features by creating point, line, and polygon layers from a reference map.
To learn how to create thematic maps in QGIS by visualizing attribute data using color schemes and legends.
To apply buffer analysis in QGIS to determine proximity around key features like schools, hospitals, or public transport stops.
To understand how to combine spatial and non-spatial datasets by joining external tabular data to GIS layers.
To understand how remote sensing works and its application in GIS for environmental monitoring, mapping, and decision-making.
To perform supervised classification of satellite imagery in QGIS and generate a thematic map showing various land cover types.
To understand how to use Digital Elevation Models (DEM) for terrain analysis by generating elevation and slope maps.
To apply basic network analysis in QGIS to determine the most efficient path between two points using real-world road data.
To understand urban expansion and land use change over time using historical satellite imagery in a GIS platform.
To simulate flood risk mapping using elevation and rainfall data to identify vulnerable zones and propose mitigation strategies.
To apply all learned concepts in a comprehensive GIS project, demonstrating real-world application, analysis, and problem-solving.
