Module Identifier
GG21700
Module Title
ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL DATA
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Dr Bryn P Hubbard
Semester
Semester 1
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Practical 10 x 2 hours
Lecture 10 x 1 hr
Practical Practicals / Field Days. 10 x 3 hour practicals including fieldwork in mid-Wales.
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Workbooks.  Workbook 1: Topics 1 to 5 to be sumitted by the end week 8 of Semester 1 (50%). Workbook 2: Topics 6 to 10 to be submitted by the end of Week 8 of Semester 2 (50%).  Continuous assessment based on the production of two workbooks.  100%
Supplementary Assessment Resubmission of both workbooks.  100%

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students will:

  1. Be competent in the acquisition, summary, analysis and presentation of geographical data.
  2. Be able to select and apply data acquisition, analysis and presentation techniques to support independent research work (e.g. Dissertations, fieldwork, project reports).

Brief description

The module will be presented in 10 sessions through weeks 1 to 5 of semester 1 (Sessions 1 to 5) and weeks 1 to 5 of Semester 2 (Sessions 6 to 10). This timing will ensure students have completed the module coursework and submissions by the end of Week 8 of each semester, freeing up time to complete background reading and coursework for other modules. It will also allow staff time to provide students with marks and feedback relating to each Workbook before the end of each semester.

Each session will comprise an introductory lecture of 1 hour following by a surgery class of 2 hours. Each session will be accompanied by a computer-based practical that students will be required to complete in their own time. We strongly recommend students complete their practical work in the week following the relevant lecture - allowing full use of the following week's surgery session and leaving time at the end of the semester to fine tune the completed workbook.

Familiarisation with the data handling, processing and presentation techniques involved will be achieved using data sets provided from a range of geographical and earth science settings.

Content

Semester 1: Data Analysis
1. Describing data: Sampling; data types; descriptive statistics; summary tables
2. Sample comparison I: Statistical testing in MS Excel
3. Sample comparison II: Statistical testing in SPSS/Minitab
4. Correlation and regression I: Linear
5. Correlation and regression II: Multiple

Semester 2: Data Presentation
6. Advanced graphing: Time series; histograms; multiple plots
7. Remote sensing I: Image display
8. Remote sensing II: Image statistics and enhancement
9. Cartography in GIS I: Surface graphs and contour plots
10. Cartography in GIS II: Map production

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Use of mathematics/statistics in computer-based data synthesis and statistical exercises
Communication Presentation of data and maps
Improving own Learning and Performance Meeting coursework deadlines and producing two workbooks to specific assessment criteria
Information Technology Advanced computer-based use of spreadsheets, statistical programmes GIS and remote sensing software
Personal Development and Career planning No
Problem solving Quantitative skills, statistical analysis and computer-based analysis of GIS and remotely sensed data
Research skills Data collection, synthesis, analysis and presentation
Subject Specific Skills Specialist skills in GIS analysis.
Team work No

Reading List

Essential Reading
Chang, K (2006) Introduction to GIS Goodwill Primo search Diamond, I. and Jefferies, J. (2001) Beginning statistics Sage Primo search Recommended Text
Ebdon, D. (1987) Statistics in Geography Blackwell Primo search Johnson, R.J. (1980) Multivariate Statistical Analysis in Geography Longman Primo search Kranzler, G. and Moursund, J. (1998) Statistics for the Terrified Prentice Hall Primo search Shaw, G. and Wheeler, D. (1984) Statistical Techniques in Geographical Analysis David Fulton, London Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5