Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech

Geographic Information Systems (250808) – Course 2025/26 PDF

Syllabus

Learning Objectives

To conceive soils and rocks as porous media governed by Solid and Fluid Mechanics. To interpret laboratory tests and field observations so as to identify the mechanisms responsible for soil response. To propose laboratory testing programmes. To formulate and implement Finite Element and Finite Differences numerical models with the objective to analyze the processes that govern ground response, to interpret field information and to predict soil response. * To apply oral presentation techniques. * To use advanced calculation tools to analyze Civil Engineering problems, design big-scale models and suggest design solutions for prototypes. * To know and be able to use advanced techniques to geo-referentially represent data. * To have powerful tools for the geospatial analysis of geo-referentiated data. - Introduction to GIS. - Structures of data: vector and raster formats. - New technologies for data capture. - Georeferencing. - Metadata. - Topology errors and editing data. - Database. - Spatial analysis and digital terrain models.

Total hours of student work

Hours Percentage
Supervised Learning Large group 25.5h 56.67 %
Medium group 9.8h 21.67 %
Laboratory classes 9.8h 21.67 %
Self Study 80h

Teaching Methodology

The course consists of 3 hours per eek of classroom activity. The first 1 hour in the large size groups is devoted to theoretical lectures, in which the teacher presents the basic concepts and topics of the subject, shows examples and solves exercises.The objective of these practical exercises is to consolidate the general and specific learning objectives. Each student must develop a GIS project and do an oral presentation of it at the end of the course. The 2 hours in the medium or small size groups is devoted to solving practical problems and doubts about the GIS project, or laboratory practices, with greater interaction with the students (in general in a classroom with computers and software necessary to the subject practice). Support material in the form of a detailed teaching plan is provided using the virtual campus ATENEA: content, program of learning and assessment activities conducted and literature. Materials of the remote sensing topic will be in Catalan. Although most of the sessions will be given in Spanish, sessions supported by other occasional guest experts may be held in other languages.

Grading Rules

The evaluation calendar and grading rules will be approved before the start of the course.

The final grade of the subject is obtained from the following continuous assessment grades. This final grade, Navac, is drawn up by averaging (weighted to the importance of each activity according to the course), between individual and group problems and practices, of an additive and formative nature, carried out during the course (inside and outside the classroom). Typically Navac= GIS Project/Remote Sensing (80%)+other practices (20%) such as: DGPS or GPS for GIS, georeferencing and/or LIDAR. The practices can be done individually or in groups, and some, like the SIG project, must be presented orally in the classroom at the end of the course.

Test Rules

Deliveries of practical activities must be done in a proper way during the scheduled period (min 80%), if not, they will result in a mark of zero in that activity. The attendance to the DGPS for GIS field practice is mandatory.

Office Hours

It shall be determined during the first class (from Monday to Friday)

Bibliography

Basic

Complementary