Workflows for Digital Representation and Spatial Analysis Module 1

Spatial Planning and Design are activities that involve much organization and refinement of information. 2201M1 and M2 is a sequence of courses that introduce and exploit a general framework for information management in design and planning activities. Workflows begin with assembly of information about places and relationships and proceed to through various means of transformation, synthesis, evaluation and communication and ultimately making resources available for others to understand and re-use. Having a grasp of the general and specific workflows for information management will be an advantage to individuals and leaders of collaborative design activity. The first module is especially recommended for incoming students in the Master of Urban Planning Program. Students may enroll in either or both of the modules. The GIS Camp and its two assignments are prerequisite for either 2 credit module. It is highly recommended that students have their own portable computer running Windows Operating System to be able to follow in-class workshops in the GIS Camp and in each of the module courses. Class time is divided equally between presentations and hands-on workshops.The prerequisite for each module is the weekend Geographic Information Systems Camp. GIS Camp is a crash course on the workflows for organizing spatial information and making maps that communicate critical information about sites using measurements and observations that have been collected by official sources. Students in GIS camp produce a well documented organization of data and other resources related to a site. This data archive is used as the basis for several maps that demonstrate a thorough understanding of critical topographic aspects of site and context. Another set of maps will portray responsible interpretations of quantitative and qualitative datasets. GIS Camp: August 29 and 30 9:00-4:00 Room G111 (No Credit) You must register with the instructor in advance to attend this workshop.The first module of the digital representation and spatial analysis sequence covers workflows for graphics production, diagramming, extracting statistics from spatial and tabular datasets, chart making, and elementary 3d modeling. This course is as much about developing and communicating well founded and succinct arguments with graphics and data, as it is about making visually appealing documents. This module is recommended for incoming MUPs who are not capable of developing electronic information resources similar to those assigned in the three course exercises. An attempt is made to coordinate the assignments in this module with projects that will be useful in the introductory core urban planning studios. GIS Camp is required for this module.