Advanced Geospatial Tools and Applications

This culminating unit synthesizes advanced GIS tools, multi-source data access, network analysis, and validation workflows to prepare students for real-world geospatial problem solving and the workforce. Students will work with leading software, open-data platforms, and ethical practices to produce validated spatial products and services.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze and integrate multi-source geospatial datasets (satellite imagery, climate layers, DEMs, socio-environmental data) from platforms such as Google Earth Engine, USGS EarthExplorer, Copernicus, WorldClim, SEDAC, and INEGI into coherent GIS workflows with documented metadata and provenance.
• Apply advanced GIS and remote sensing tools (AutoCAD Map 3D, ERDAS IMAGINE, Global Mapper, GeoServer, GeoPlatform, OpenCities Map) to create, style, and export cartographic and noncartographic products, including spatial digital twins and web map services.
• Demonstrate network and spatial analysis competencies by building and testing routing models (turns, intersections, traffic direction), performing tabulation and summary statistics, and validating results through structured testing and user feedback.
• Evaluate ethical, legal, and privacy issues in geospatial data collection and use, and propose responsible strategies that leverage open-source resources, citizen science/crowdsourcing, and workforce development best practices.