UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

Spatial analysts are in high demand across the environment, health, engineering, agriculture, population and policy sectors as they possess the critical skills to use complex spatial data to provide solutions to the big questions facing landscapes, communities and economies. This unit focuses on student learning through practical and applied laboratories and field learning using drones, to support students in developing skills to manipulate, transform, analyse, and visualise big spatial data to provide solutions to a range of multi-disciplinary issues and questions.

This unit builds from the foundations of using geographic data from GEOG2201 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and focuses on core skills that directly relate to students seeking employment as a GIS / spatial analysts, or those seeking to develop the advanced spatial data handling and analysis skills to work in any disciplines that uses spatial data to address critical and important questions.

Skills that students will learn in this course include: foundational skills including programming concepts and an introduction to HTTP, automating the conversion of spatial data formats and working with cloud-native and big spatial data formats, assembling time-series datasets for analysis; accessing data and services using Application Programming Interfaces (APIs); practical experience using drones to collect multispectral spatial data; big data wrangling, analysis, and visualization techniques; web-mapping; and, applying big spatial datasets to answer complex problems.

The unit is designed in two parts. Part 1 is an initial program of 8 weeks, which is focused on developing advanced GIS and big-data programming and handling skills, using data from a range of disciplines. This course uses a student-led inquiry style of teaching, where background materials are presented via on-line learning modules and vignettes, and then supported through face-to-face laboratories. In the last 4 weeks, students apply their skills and techniques learned across part 1 of the course, on an applied small research topic of their choosing. The course is suited to students from a range of disciplines.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 1	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Details for undergraduate courses

• Level 3 core unit in the Geographical Sciences; Geographical and Spatial Science major sequences

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate understanding of core geospatial data management concepts and techniques for using big geospatial datasets; (2) develop skills in geospatial data collection, quality control and manipulation that allows big geospatial data to be used to address complex biophysical and social questions; (3) implement programming and automation methods to manipulate and analyse complex geospatial datasets, producing synthesised data products to inform decision making; and (4) produce effective written and oral communication to explain and summarise results from geospatial data manipulation and analysis.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) laboratory portfolio/tests; (2) spatial analysis project, data audit and design brief; and (3) spatial analysis individual project. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr John Duncan

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Successful completion of

GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems

Contact hours

Structured practical classes (Computer Lab): 2 x 2 hours per week for weeks 1-8
Student-led assignment work (Computer Lab): 2 x 2 hours per week for weeks 9-11
(Note: this may include a field-based drone practical at Shenton Park Research Station)