This course focuses on case studies of real world GIS applications. Three cases covering urban and environmental planning at different scales will be introduced. To address these cases, students will learn advanced GIS skills in geodatabase design, data editing, spatial analysis, modeling and visualization. Class time is divided by multimedia lectures, hands-on demonstrations, project status updates from students, and diagnostic discussions.  Each case cycle includes the follow steps:

• Background introduction and problem statement, conceptual plan of the project
• Literature and data review, detailed plan of the project
• Data preparation, quality improvement, geodatabase organization
• Analysis methods review, testing, and refinement
• Preliminary results review, visualization design

All students are required to participate in the complete project cycle of all three cases during the class time.