Advanced Topics in GIScience

Subject GEOM90016 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2011.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24 hours of seminar
Total Time Commitment: 120 hours
Prerequisites: Prerequisite for this subject is -
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Contact

winter@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is the science behind geographic information technology. It addresses fundamental questions of capturing, maintaining and communicating about space and time at geographic scale in an interdisciplinary manner, involving philosophy, cognitive psychology, linguistics, logics, geography and artificial intelligence. This subject will introduce into GIScience by studying selected advanced topics. It is run as a seminar, such that students will read and discuss during the semester some landmark papers of the discipline and focus on active research areas at the University of Melbourne. Attendance of research higher degree students will enrich the discussions by linking the topics to their current research. Students will gain an overview and significant insight into the way of thinking in GIScience, how to collaborate with researchers in this discipline, or about career pathways.
Objectives:

On successful completion the students will be able to:

  • Identify and define fundamental theories of geographic space and geographic information
  • Read and discuss critically research papers and research methodologies
  • Classify and interpret current research in Geographic Information Science.
Assessment:
  • Discussion document about one paper of about 1000 words (25%).
  • An oral introduction of this paper in a seminar session (10%).
  • Over the semester weekly written reviews of the class discussion of about 200 words (totals 25%).
  • Participation in at least 8 seminars is required to pass the subject.
  • End of semester essay of 3000 words with a 24hour turnaround (40%)
Prescribed Texts: Variable reading lists of research papers, handed out at the beginning of the semester.
Recommended Texts: TBA
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: On successful completion students should have the:
  • Ability to communicate effectively, with the engineering team and with the community at large
  • Ability to manage information and documentation
  • Understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities, and commitment to them
  • Capacity for lifelong learning and professional development

Related Course(s): Master of Geographic Information Technology
Master of Spatial Information Science
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Master of Engineering (Geomatics)

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