GIS Data Acquisition and Map Design

GIS Data Acquisition and Map Design

This course is part of GIS, Mapping, and Spatial Analysis Specialization

Instructor: Don Boyes

Top Instructor

Access provided by Coursera Learning Team

31,717 already enrolled

7 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

4.9

(703 reviews)

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

Approx. 20 hours

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

7 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

4.9

(703 reviews)

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

Approx. 20 hours

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

7 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the GIS, Mapping, and Spatial Analysis Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV

Share it on social media and in your performance review

There are 7 modules in this course

In this course, you will learn how to find GIS data for your own projects, and how to create a well-designed map that effectively communicates your message. The first section focuses on the basic building blocks of GIS data, so that you know what types of GIS files exist, and the implications of choosing one type over another. Next, we'll discuss metadata (which is information about a data set) so you know how to evaluate a data set before you decide to use it, as well as preparing data by merging and clipping files as needed. We'll then talk about how to take non-GIS data, such as a list of addresses, and convert it into "mappable" data using geocoding. Finally, you'll learn about how to take data that you have found and design a map using cartographic principles. In the course project, you will find your own data and create your own quantitative map.

What's included

8 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt

8 videosTotal 88 minutes

Welcome to the course!1 minutePreview module
Introduction to topology10 minutes
Topology and data formats8 minutes
Shapefile: simple, with no topology11 minutes
Coverage: Complex, but has topology15 minutes
Comparison of shapefile, coverage, and geodatabase12 minutes
Building basic topology9 minutes
Georelational and object-relational vector data models17 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

PDF files of all lecture slides10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 35 minutes

GIS Software needed for this course5 minutes
Week 1 Quiz30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Topology and file types10 minutes

What's included

8 videos1 assignment1 discussion prompt

8 videosTotal 63 minutes

Evaluating data using metadata10 minutesPreview module
Data dictionary5 minutes
The importance of metadata4 minutes
Viewing and editing metadata in ArcMap4 minutes
Downloading and using GIS data18 minutes
Adding x,y data from a table11 minutes
Clipping a feature class4 minutes
Merging feature classes5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Week 2 Quiz30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Share data sources you've found10 minutes

What's included

9 videos1 reading1 assignment

9 videosTotal 97 minutes

What is geocoding?13 minutesPreview module
Geocoding in ArcGIS Online8 minutes
Geocoding postal codes8 minutes
Geocoding postal codes in ArcMap14 minutes
Postal codes and census data11 minutes
Canadian census units15 minutes
Ecological fallacy4 minutes
Geocoding street addresses9 minutes
Geocoding street addresses in ArcMap11 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Geocoding practice10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Week 3 Quiz30 minutes

What's included

17 videos1 reading1 assignment

17 videosTotal 133 minutes

Developing a critical eye9 minutesPreview module
The map design process10 minutes
Controls on map design, part 19 minutes
Controls on map design, part 25 minutes
Controls on map design, part 35 minutes
Design principles5 minutes
Visual hierarchy8 minutes
Figure-ground relationship9 minutes
Contrast5 minutes
Legibility4 minutes
Visual balance3 minutes
Map elements14 minutes
Creating a map layout in ArcMap11 minutes
Basic map design in ArcMap13 minutes
Exporting a map as an image in ArcMap1 minute
Typography8 minutes
Creating and customizing labels in ArcMap9 minutes

1 readingTotal 20 minutes

Map design practice20 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Week 4 Quiz30 minutes

What's included

13 videos1 reading1 assignment

13 videosTotal 134 minutes

Levels of measurement and mapping12 minutesPreview module
Colour models: RGB5 minutes
Colour models: HSV11 minutes
Colour models: CMYK3 minutes
Choropleth maps16 minutes
Creating choropleth maps in ArcMap15 minutes
Data classification for mapping8 minutes
Data classification methods for mapping13 minutes
Mean vs. median5 minutes
Zero values on your map3 minutes
Joining tables15 minutes
Working with tables in ArcMap12 minutes
Field calculations in tables11 minutes

1 readingTotal 60 minutes

Practice mapping quantitative data60 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 14 minutes

Week 5 Quiz14 minutes

What's included

8 videos1 reading1 assignment

8 videosTotal 61 minutes

Dot maps12 minutesPreview module
Creating dot density maps in ArcMap6 minutes
Proportional symbol maps8 minutes
Graduated symbol maps7 minutes
Creating proportional and graduated symbol maps in ArcMap5 minutes
Contour maps5 minutes
Flow maps12 minutes
Multivariate maps2 minutes

1 readingTotal 60 minutes

Continue practicing with quantitative mapping60 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Week 6 Quiz30 minutes

What's included

1 peer review

Instructor

Instructor ratings

4.9 (210 ratings)

Top Instructor

Don Boyes

University of Toronto

4 Courses105,686 learners

Offered by

University of Toronto

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

4.9

703 reviews

5 stars
89.63%
4 stars
8.66%
3 stars
1.27%
2 stars
0.28%
1 star
0.14%

Showing 3 of 703

Reviewed on Nov 27, 2023

Excellent presentation, instructor broke down the complex topics into manageable chunks. Would highly recommend.

Reviewed on Sep 10, 2020

Really enjoyed the Course. I learned to create standardized maps, how to fetch data and to edit them as per standard methods.

Reviewed on Aug 4, 2020

It is one of the best course of the specialization. I learned a lot about data acquisition, map design elements and principles and exporting map. It gave me a greater knowledge of map designs.

View more reviews