GEOG 1015

The course provides basic skills in geography related computer applications to those, who are not yet experienced computer-users. The participants will engage in a project to analyse and visualise geographical data on Hong Kong using software, such as MS Excel and ArcView of ESRI. They will also create a web-site to present their project results. The seminar is not a systematic and comprehensive course on the programmes used, nor does it replace the Introduction to GIS. It aims at encouraging students of geography to make use of computer-based tools and to understand the related opportunities and problems. As there is no final examination, active participation during class and project related homework is required from every participant.

1. Introduction: How can the computer support your geographical studies and research?

2. Creating and using data bases

3. Visualisation with diagrams

4. Visualisation with maps

5. Finding data and information on the internet

6. Web-based presentation of project results

Final presentation counting 50%

Active participation in classes 10%

Handbooks for the programmes used: Microsoft Excel, Esri ArcView, Netscape Composer

Maguire, D.J. (1989): Computers in geography. Longman
Bailey, T. & T. Gatrell (1995): Interactive spatial analysis. Prentice Hall

Sharma, M.B. & G.S. Elbow (2000): Using Internet primary sources to teach critical thinking skills in geography. Greenwood Press

The final presentation will be a web-based presentation of your project results. It should include all the elements learned during this course: tables, diagrams, maps, text, internet links and recommended literature from the library. The subject is Hong Kong's employment and industrial structure, and the data used should basically be the data set provided and discussed in class. For the part of data analysis and interpretation it might be supplemented by additional data and information, but this is not mandatory.

The final presentation shall be prepared in team work. Part of the assessment will be consistency and division of labour within the team. The structure and overall content of the site should be decided by the whole team and will be credited to all team members equally. It should then be very clear, who was responsible for which figure, text or links. Those individual contributions will be credited individually. You are free to decide, how to divide the work among the team members, but it should be an equal amount for each member.

Please make sure, you

include at a prominent location of your site an introduction to the whole project/your site, so that outsiders would understand the context
improve previously submitted material along the lines discussed in class and noted on your assignments
do not use any material (text, data, pictures,...) without clearly declaring the source
not only present data, but also explain them and draw conclusions. The visitor of your site shall get a deeper understanding of Hong Kong's employment and industrial structure.

I have received all four entries in time and checked the websites created by you carefully. Let me thank you again for the work done, especially as it had to be done in your busy exam period. If you are interested to see the other group's results, please have a look: