GUS 4065/5065: Applications in GIS/Geographic Data Systems
Graduate Project
Graduate students are required to complete a 12 – 15 page term paper (12 – 15 pages of double
spaced text in addition to any graphics) and make an approximately 15 minute presentation to the
class at the end of the semester. Graduate students must work individually on their project. There
are two term paper options:
Option 1: GIS Application
If you choose this option, you are expected to perform a 'real' GIS analysis with meaningful
results. GIS should play an integral role in the analysis and not serve merely as a data
management tool, although other analytical tools and approaches may also play a prominent role
in the analysis (i.e. cartography, statistics, etc.). This option is geared to students who wish to
apply GIS to their substantive research in the social or physical sciences.
Option 2: GIS Representation and Methodology
If you choose this option, you are expected to focus on some representational or methodological
aspect of GIS, and experiment with, and/or compare different approaches to this aspect.
Examples of this option include experimental comparisons of different interpolation techniques
and the propagation of spatial error in GIS analysis. This option is geared toward those students
who have some background in information systems or spatial analysis and wish to focus on these
aspects of GIS as part of their graduate research.
A Topic Proposal and Presentation
You must turn in to me a one page proposal describing your proposed topic, justification (why
study this topic), methods, and data. I will return the proposal to you with comments and may
ask you to turn in a revised proposal.
Research Presentation
Graduate student presentations to the class will take place on the last day of class. The
presentation should be approximately 10 minutes (depending on how many graduate students
will be presenting), including time for questions. I suggest using Powerpoint or other
presentation software. If you have a Powerpoint presentation, you must email me the .ppt file by
9:00 am on the day of the presentation so that I can load it onto the teaching station and have it
available for you.
DUE DATES
Tuesday, September 11: Proposal is due.
Tuesday, December 4 : Presentation in class
Tuesday, December 4: Paper due in class.
