Hi Everyone! My apologies if you've gotten this notice multiple times. We still have room in GIS courses offered at UMaine at Machias starting on August 29th. Our courses are offered in a hybrid format, all online with three Saturday sessions in either Machias or Calais over the course of the semester. We provide free ArcGIS 10 software, streaming lecture videos you can watch live or at your own convenience, and we focus on giving you hands-on, practical instruction you can apply right away in the workplace. This semester, we're offering GIS I, the introductory course, as well as Community Applications in GIS. Details about the courses are below, and both count toward the GIS certificate and degree programs offered through UMaine at Machias and Washington County Community College. GIS 1 has no prerequisites, though a working knowledge of PC computing is a big plus. It is a good stand-alone introduction, though it is the first course in the GIS sequence. This course is a prerequisite for most advanced courses, including the Municipal GIS course to be offered in the spring. Students enrolling in Community Applications of GIS should have completed an introductory GIS 1 course or its equivalent (if you're in the "equivalent" category, drop me a line to get instructor permission). In this class we'll be working with the Washington County Council of Governments on a regional sustainability plan, which will include projects related to a variety of planning goals to suit the needs of the client and the interests of students. We will be working with Community Viz software for decision support and scenario building, as well. To learn more about our degree and certificate programs, please check out our website at http://machias.edu/gis-program.html. As always, drop me a line anytime if you have questions. Enjoy the end of the summer. Tora ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tora Johnson Director/ Instructor GIS Service Center & Laboratory Torrey 223 University of Maine at Machias [log in to unmask] / [log in to unmask] (207) 255-1214 GIS 230 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Applications I (4cr) Understanding the fundamentals of a GIS through lecture, readings and computer activities. Students will learn to use a specific GIS software system and to define and complete a simple GIS project using existing data. This computer-intensive course includes a detailed discussion of what a GIS is, why GIS is being increasingly used today, sample applications, basic map concepts, how geographic and descriptive data are stored in the computer, and the steps in a typical GIS project. Project discussions will focus on defining project objectives, building and managing the digital database, identifying the needed data, locating and acquiring the data in digital form, performing the analysis, and presenting results. Prerequisite: knowledge of Windows recommended. Saturday sessions from 9am to 4:30pm with a break for lunch: - Session 1 attend either UM Machias- 9/10 or WCCC in Calais- 9/17 - Session 2 attend either UM Machias- 10/22 or WCCC in Calais- 10/29 - Session 3 attend either WCCC in Calais- 12/3 or UM Machias- 12/10 GIS 426 Community Applications in Geographic Information Systems Students work together under the instructor's guidance for a single community client to perform a professional-quality service project using geographic information systems (GIS) as a decision-support and planning tool. Projects might include a town's comprehensive plan, environmental conservation planning, economic development, recreation planning, emergency response management or similar applications where GIS can assist communities in setting priorities, making choices or planning for the future. Students will be expected to work closely with clients and/or community residents to assess and respond to their needs, answer questions and provide them with maps, data and documentation. In most cases, students will present their findings to the clients or their constituents. Through this work, students learn to plan, manage, execute and document a multi-faceted GIS project, skills with direct applications to the workforce. Prerequisites: GIS 230 or permission of instructor. Community Apps Saturday sessions will be on 9/24 and 11/12, both at UMaine at Machias. Another session will be required at the end of the semester, but that will be arranged with our clients and among the students. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tora Johnson Director/ Instructor GIS Service Center & Laboratory Torrey 223 University of Maine at Machias [log in to unmask] / [log in to unmask] (207) 255-1214 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This list Maine GeoNews (GEOLIBRARY-L) is an unmoderated discussion list for all Maine GIS Users. If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from this list, you can remove your name and email address yourself at the this web address: http://lists.maine.edu/cgi/wa?SUBED1=geolibrary-l&A=1 Or,you may also request that your name be removed by sending email to: [log in to unmask]