College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation
Geographic Information Science with Remote Sensing, Master of Science
Overview
In addition to University Requirements:
- Complete individual plan requirements.
| Minimum Units for Completion |
30 |
| Additional Admission Requirements |
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required. |
| Some online/blended coursework |
Required |
| Progression Plan Link |
View Program of Study |
Purpose Statement
The MS in Geographic Information Science with Remote Sensing program prepares GIS professionals who will take leadership roles in geospatial data management and analysis in many fields and industries. It integrates geospatial problem-solving with state-of-the-art geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing technologies. The program emphasizes geodatabase management, programming for GIS, geographic data analysis, geovisualization, web mapping, image analysis, location intelligence, and project management. It is designed for working professionals or new college graduates with a bachelor's degree in any discipline who want to elevate their career or develop a new career in GIS and remote sensing. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to demonstrate abilities in effectively managing and analyzing geospatial data, working with remotely sensed images, producing high-quality maps, publishing interactive web maps, developing GIS tools, and automating spatial data processing, as well as developing solutions for GIS problems and managing GIS projects. Graduates will find opportunities and play leadership roles in fields and industries such as urban and regional planning, transportation planning, environment and resource management, energy development and management, and utility management, in either government or private sector.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Manage Geospatial Data
- Explain map projection, datum, and coordinate systems.
- Define coordinate system to data and perform transformation between coordinate systems.
- Explain spatial data representation and data models and perform between different data formats.
- Explain how spatial and attribute information is stored in the computer.
- compile, create, and edit geospatial data
- work with personal, file, and enterprise geodatabase
- create and work with attribute domains, relationships, topology, and versions in enterprise geodatabase
- Analyze Geospatial Data and Provide Decision-Making Support
- Develop spatial analysis procedures.
- Prepare and preprocess data for spatial analysis.
- Perform vector-based and raster-based analysis.
- Effectively find and use geoprocessing tools.
- Perform raster-based analysis using map algebra.
- Interpret analysis results.
- Develop GIS Applications for the Area of Interest
- Identify problems, goals, and objectives of GIS applications.
- Source data that are in the appropriate format and quality for the applications.
- Develop strategies and workflows for solving the problem.
- Develop cartographic models to implement the strategies and workflow.
- Implement the cartographic models using ArcGIS geoprocessing tools and ModelBuilder.
- Create Python script to implement geoprocessing automation.
- Develop custom tools using Python scripts.
- Interpret model output.
- Manage GIS Projects
- Describe the project.
- Identify problems, goals, and objectives of projects.
- Develop strategies, methodology, and procedures.
- Prepare data that meet the demands of projects.
- Solve the problems by analyzing data.
- Interpret and discuss the analysis results.
- Provide management or policy recommendations.
- Develop a project plan including resources and a timeline.
- Create professional project reports.
- Create Maps from Data and Publish Maps on the Web
- Explain the server-client model in web mapping.
- Explain web map service and web feature service protocol.
- Explain and use vector data formats GML and GeoJSON for web GIS.
- Publish maps on the web using ArcGIS Online, StoryMaps, and leaflets.
- Client-side map customization using JavaScript and CSS.
- Perform High Level Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Analysis
- Explain basic concepts of remote sensing including platforms, sensors, properties electromagnetic radiation, etc.
- Effectively use popular and publicly available remotely sensed data sources.
- Perform imagery data processing and visualization.
- Perform supervised and unsupervised classifications.
- Interpret imagery data.
- Develop environment/resource monitoring applications
More Information