Geographic Information Systems - Cartographic Specialist

 

Pending approval, this program is being compressed to run in a 10-month format (instead of 12 months) starting September 2009.

 

 

 

Program Highlights

Helping people navigate oceans and explore new worlds - cartography - known as the art and science of making maps, has come a long way since the efforts of early mapmakers who worked with pen and ink. While cartography still relies on many of the traditional principles, mapmaking now requires incorporating the best of modern research and technology. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) allows today's "cartographer" to store geographic data in an organized way, to allow for quick access, correlation, and analysis. This system also facilitates the development of cartographic displays. By using GIS, cartographers are able to collect, store, and combine data about a given area, subject, or region being researched. GIS helps planners working on environmental, public health, municipal planning, and natural resource projects (to name a few uses) monitor change, predict trends and manage resources using current relevant data.

 

The GIS Cartographic Specialist program is an advanced post-graduate program, building on your existing, related skills.

Fleming's leadership in this field has been recognized by industry, government and business through their support in establishing the Geomatics Institute at Fleming.These strong partnerships offer students access to the latest software packages and data resources as well as unprecedented learning and employment opportunities. 

John Docker, National Geographic Computer Mapping Award Winner

Most GIS programs focus on geographic analysis and application - but the Fleming Cartographic Specialist program is based on a dual approach which is truly unique. While you will become a proficient GIS practitioner, you will also become a visual designer and communicator - using GIS data and software to create a wide variety of customized maps and other products for the many users of geographic information. Not sure which of our two GIS Ontario College Graduate Certificate programs is right for you? The common first semester in the GIS Cartographic Specialist and GIS Applications Specialist programs gives you a good overview and understanding of the technologies and diverse skills particular to careers in these fields. You will have the opportunity to explore the right fit for you, and decide which area of specialized study you will pursue in semester two. In addition to acquiring a hands-on, firm foundation using Cartography, digital mapping and GIS technology skills and tools, you will have many opportunities to build on your teamwork, team building, project management, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Since employers are seeking these broad-based transferrable skills, this experience working in technology teams will give you an edge in the workplace.

 

Why Choose Fleming?

Graduates of Fleming's cartographic programs have earned a reputation for excellence through their achievements in the workplace, and through cartographic and GIS competitions. Over the years, they have captured 80 American Congress on Surveying and Mapping awards in annual competitions (student category), as well as numerous awards from the Canadian Cartographic Association and the Canadian Institute of Geomatics. Ready to achieve excellence in your education and career? Follow in the footsteps of our outstanding alumni.

 

 

 

Work Experience

You'll spend a significant part of your time in the program doing experiential work - putting theory into practice. A co-operative GIS project in the final semester involves cross-disciplinary teams from the GIS Cartographic Specialist and Applications Specialist programs working together on a project for a business, government, or industry client.

 

What it Takes to Succeed

While not prerequisites, there are a few skills and abilities that will help you to succeed in this program. These include:

• good creative thinking skills
• strong oral and written communication skills
• self-discipline
• excellent time management skills
• analytical skills
• computing skills

Students would benefit by having basic computer skills including e-mail, word processing, file management and internet web browsing.

 

Career Opportunities

With your GIS-Cartographic Specialist certificate, you will be able to pursue a variety of exciting, responsible positions within GIS and digital mapping environments, such as:

• provincial and federal government mapping agencies
• municipal utility, engineering, and planning departments
• private sector mapping, planning, consulting, utility, and natural resource firms

 

Minimum Admission Requirements

• A university degree or college diploma, or equivalent education or work experience. On rare occasions, substantive work experience in the field of Geomatics will be considered as equivalent to a degree or diploma, and these cases will be reviewed on an individual basis.

Applicants without a degree or diploma should consider beginning their Geomatics career with the Geomatics Technician Program. Successful graduates of the Geomatics Technician program receive an exemption from the first semester of either the GIS Applications Specialist or GIS Cartographic Specialist programs.

Although traditionally GIS training accompanied a degree or diploma in natural resources, with exponential growth in the field of GIS sciences, applicable backgrounds now range from forestry to marketing, from resource extraction to municipal planning, from health care to law enforcement

Recommended:
Since GIS is a field of study that makes extensive use of computer hardware and software technology, students entering the GIS-Cartographic Specialist program must be familiar with computers.

 

Selection Process

 

Related Programs

Trent University

You can obtain a Trent University Honours Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts Degree in either Geography or Environmental Science/Studies and a Geographical Information Systems Ontario College Graduate Certificate in four years, with the third year spent studying at Fleming College. In other words, get both qualifications in four years - instead of five. For details, see Trent/Fleming Joint Degree, Geographical Information Systems Special Emphasis.

School of Military Mapping, Mapping & Charting Establishment of the Canadian Armed Forces

If you are a graduate of the Geomatics Technician program from the School of Military Mapping, Mapping & Charting Establishment of the Canadian Armed Forces, at the QL5 Level, you are eligible to apply for advance standing into the second semester of the three-semester Geographic Information Systems - Applications Specialist or Geographic Information Systems - Cartographic Specialist graduate certificate programs. For complete details see Transfer Credit Articulation Agreement.

 

Health Requirements

If you have significant difficulty perceiving distinctions between colours you will experience greater challenges in map-making.

 

Additional Costs

Plan to spend about $1000 for books and supplies.

Course	Hours
Semester 1
Cartographic Concepts	60.00
GIS Database Principles	45.00
Principles of GIS	45.00
Problem Solving and Programming	60.00
Remote Sensing and Image Analysis	45.00
Surveying and Mapping	60.00
Visualization and Presentation	45.00
Semester 2
Cartographic Web Design	45.00
Database Design and Development	45.00
Digital Mapping	45.00
Project Planning and Management	45.00
Spatial Analysis and Applications	60.00
Thematic Cartography	60.00
Web Programming	45.00
Semester 3
Advanced Remote Sensing	60.00
Cartographic Visualization	45.00
GIS Co-operative Project	135.00
GIS Data Integration	60.00
Web GIS Development	45.00

Semester 1

Cartographic Concepts

Course Number: GEOM064

This course will engage students in the exploration of the cartographic communication process and the need for positional accuracy using various geo-spatial referencing techniques. By introducing concepts and processes that are central to cartography, the course will enable the student to build a broad cartographic foundation for subsequent studies. Additionally, the student will understand how positional data is collected, and will be able to accurately construct a flat map representing portions of the earth. Through a series of lectures, seminars, exercises, and reports the students will compute and maintain geographic accuracy while encoding real world phenomena using specific cartographic communication concepts.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

GIS Database Principles

Course Number: GEOM065

This course presents principles of database processing in a GIS environment. Lab exercises and project work provide opportunities for students to develop skills in implementing and managing databases. Students will use Microsoft Access to create database tables, queries, forms, reports, and macros to satisfy specific requirements. Structured Query Language will be used to build databases and manipulate data using industry standard language in preparation for future work in data processing and GIS analysis.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Principles of GIS

Course Number: GEOM063

This course will enable students to explore the principles and fundamental concepts and types of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and apply them in simple projects. Students will be introduced to the five main technical components of a GIS, namely, input, storage, pre-processing, analysis and output using both the raster and vector spatial data models. Hands-on experience, using current software applications is provided through a series of laboratory exercises.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Problem Solving and Programming

Course Number: GEOM067

Geomatics software systems include programming capabilities to enable technical users to build specialised applications to process data and automate repetitive tasks. Using these facilities, a few well placed lines of code can save days of tedium or can accomplish tasks that would otherwise not be feasible. In this course students will prepare to utilise these capabilities by: (1) developing problem solving and algorithm design skills, (2) implementing solutions in a high-level programming language, and (3) working with spatial data. This course also serves as the foundation to the other programming and technical courses in the GIS specialist programs.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Remote Sensing and Image Analysis

Course Number: GEOM066

This course provides an introduction to the basic interpretation and measurement of physical, biological, and cultural features on remotely sensed imagery. Basic photogrammetry concepts will be examined and practiced in scale determination, height, and measurement. Students will acquire an understanding of basic remote sensing techniques and their application in natural resource disciplines. In lab and field work students will gather control points, register the image to the ground, and compile data from industry standard software. Lab software: PCI Geomatica.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Surveying and Mapping

Course Number: SURV020

This course emphasises geomatics principles as they apply to spatial databases. Building on the skill sets associated with measuring for maps and land type surveys, students will develop expertise in the use of equipment such as: total stations, GPS receivers, and data loggers to locate features and attach the attribute information. Through project work in the lab and field, students will gain practical experience in equipment use, maintenance and troubleshooting. Once collected, features will be placed in a GIS / Land Information System and appended to existing digital maps and plans. The resulting maps and GIS databases will be used to solve spatial queries related to land parcels.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Visualization and Presentation

Course Number: GEOM069

The communicative effectiveness of a geographical display is dependent upon the decisions involved in its design. This course aims to educate and enlighten the student with respect to the applications of foundational graphic design principles, colour, symbology, and typography in map making. Industry standard graphic design software is used in the creation of various paper products and screen images.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Semester 2

Cartographic Web Design

Course Number: GEOM079

Expanding upon the graphic design foundation built in the Visualization and Presentation course, this course focuses on the application of design principles to a web site context. Students will explore image creation and manipulation and as well as web site development using established software for both types of projects, with an emphasis on the coherence and effectiveness of visual communication, as opposed to the more technical elements of web-based projects.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Database Design and Development

Course Number: GEOM070

This course builds on GIS Database Principles to introduce advanced relational database topics that are increasingly important for GIS and mapping professionals. Through application of the basic principles of relational database design, students will learn how to design a model of the users' view of their data and express it as an entity-relationship model. Core concepts of database development will also be explored, including normalizing tables, establishing appropriate relationships between data, establishing metadata, determining domains, and capturing business rules. The course includes topics in data processing with SQL and procedural extensions in industry-standard client-server environments.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Digital Mapping

Course Number: GEOM080

In this course, students will develop an in-depth understanding and greater skill in the use of digital mapping systems and CAD-based GIS. Lecture topics will include project planning, element creation and manipulation, grouping techniques, text and symbol generation, spatial data cleanup and topology validation. Practical work will focus on municipal applications using an industry standard AutoCAD software.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Project Planning and Management

Course Number: GEOM068

The skills developed in this course will help students select, design, build, and implement a complex GIS application in response to an industry defined problem, using a business project management model. The course will assist students in negotiating the complexities of project management unique to this sector, as well as issues such as client relations, time management and scheduling, costing and budgeting, data acquisition, negotiating intellectual property rights and copyrights and managing team work and interactions. Project design principles and cartographic standards, together with guest lectures, will provide a foundation for the iterative process of planning, establishing schedules, and writing, a GIS project proposal. Project Planning and Management precedes the GIS Cooperative Project in the final semester, and develops a skill set critical to its success.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Spatial Analysis and Applications

Course Number: GEOM072

This course will provide the conceptual background to more advanced GIS analysis applications. The course is designed to provide an understanding of spatial analysis techniques available within a GIS environment, and within the context of a variety of application areas. In addition, this course will apply methods for determining appropriate use of GIS within organizations. Conceptual material presented in lectures will be placed in an applied context through laboratory exercises designed to strengthen practical understanding and awareness of GIS methodology.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Thematic Cartography

Course Number: GEOM045

This course is designed to thoroughly examine the principles of data representation in the thematic map, and will explore the various methods used in the presentation of both qualitative and quantitative data. The course will begin with an introduction to common thematic mapping techniques through an evaluation of atlases, to illustrate and compare the relative effectiveness of these techniques. Students will then learn geographic data processing to facilitate efficient symbolization. Advanced topics will deal with representation of multiple data sets for geographic analysis and the use of the computer for thematic map compilation, production, and analysis.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Web Programming

Course Number: GEOM071

The course builds on Problem Solving and Programming in the previous semester to extend programming to the Internet and web-based applications. Various technologies for building dynamic web sites in a client-server environment will be introduced, including client-side and server-side programming languages. Web programming and design will be explored through lectures and lab exercises. This course prepares students for the creation and customization of web GIS sites in the Web GIS Development course in semester 3.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Semester 3

Advanced Remote Sensing

Course Number: GEOM075

The goals of this advanced course are three-fold. First, today's professional airborne digital mapping systems will be reviewed. In so doing, students will be able to use current imaging and GIS software to compile a 3-D map. Second, a thorough analysis of the applications of synthetic aperture radar (SAR - both airborne and from space) will be completed. In understanding that process students will be involved in measuring ground subsidence by means of GPS data densification achieved through SAR imagery and interferometry. Third, the ever increasing utility of the data from the MODIS and ASTER space-borne sensors will be reviewed, and in parallel, students will perform advanced fully-automated, (as well as semi-automated), data extraction.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Cartographic Visualization

Course Number: GEOM082

In this course students will examine, in-depth, the principles of how maps work. Over the past decade studies on the role of maps and communication through visualization have invoked considerable discussion and debate. Students will be introduced to scientific research models that define the complexity of geographical visualization as it takes place along a continuum within the visual communication realm. Students will engage in studying and producing map products, which will incorporate complex descriptions of analysis / visual thinking and communication / presentation components.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

GIS Co-operative Project

Course Number: APST062

This course provides the student with an opportunity to finalize the design, development and implementation of a GIS project initiated in the Project Planning and Management course. This team based project will address a variety of GIS issues and use mapping techniques to promote the research, development, testing, and analyzing of real world information in a 'real world' environment. Students will be challenged to assign responsibilities, create and maintain satisfactory working relationships with the client, accept feedback, meet project deadlines, manage the production of deliverables to industry standard, and formally present their findings. Team members will be drawn from both GIS-specialist programs in order to better simulate industry working conditions.

Units: 135.00
Hours: 135.00

GIS Data Integration

Course Number: GEOM081

For many Cartographic and GIS projects, the necessary tasks of data acquisition and data pre-processing can be both challenging and time consuming. Most geographic analyses require multiple spatial layers. These layers or data sets may nominally address the same area of the earth, but variations in the manner, the extent, and the format by which they cover that area, can lead to some data pre-processing challenges. Firstly, this course is designed to promote an awareness of two issues: (a) the importance of the data model, and (b) the advantages of data being delivered in a clearly defined inter-operable structure and format. Secondly, this course will enable the student to utilize up-to-date industry practices and current GIS software to integrate a variety of geo-spatial data, so that extraction, visualization, generalization, and statistical and spatial analysis may be accomplished.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Web GIS Development

Course Number: GEOM099

This course introduces GIS students to the broad possibilities of the single greatest impetus for change in the GIS industry - the Internet. Building on Web Programming in the previous semester, Web GIS Development provides an overview and develops a conceptual understanding of, existing Web-based applications for GIS and the innovations that will affect the shape of the industry's future. Students will create web GIS sites using the built-in capabilities of several of the leading commercial web GIS applications, and will later customize these sites using scripts and programming. Planning and development stages for a GIS website will also be covered, with practical work in accessing, displaying, querying, and analyzing GIS data over the Internet.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00