Course objectives: (1) Provide basis for the conception, functioning and potential applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the management of environmental resources and forests. (2) Bring practical experience of a GIS software for the conception, design and use of a spatial database for natural resources management. (3) Develop skills for the assessment and expression of needs in GIS, and provide knowledge on what is possible to do with such a tool in a professional environment.

Course contents: (1) Lectures. Relational databases: entity relation-model; conceptual, logic and operational models; SQL language. Introduction to GIS: from real world to GIS, concepts and functions; basic data models (raster/vector), topology, conception et structuring spatial databases; geo-referencing (map projections, coordinate systems, geometric transformations); GIS data formats, data capturing (digitising, data import), data display, data overlay, data queries; basic spatial analysis and modelling; project management. (2) Practical work: GIS implementation.

Teaching and learning methods: The course consists of lectures and practical work. At the end of the module students will produce their own GIS-based model of forest resources management.

Examination:   Evaluation of the GIS-based model of resource management realised by groups of students.

Competences acquired: By the end of the unit, it is intended that students should: 1. be able to explain the principles of geographic information systems (GIS) for applications in rural resource management; 2. be able to use a database management system to design and implement a database for forest resource management; 3. have used GIS software to complete a number of rural resource exercises; have designed a GIS model, entered data, and completed a number of queries relevant to forest resources management.

Course homepage: http://www.agroparistech.fr/en/Training/Emetf/Emetf.htm