The course aims to provide the theoretical and practical skills necessary to understand the basic principles of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and their application in the geosciences. Through the use of GIS software, students will acquire the knowledge for the analysis, management and visualisation of spatial data, with a particular focus on geological studies. The course is structured as preparation for the ECDL GIS certification.

Fundamentals of cartography, geological cartography and reading geological maps.

The course aims to provide students with in-depth and practical training in the use of GIS, with a focus on applications in Earth sciences, through theoretical lectures and practical applications. During the course, students will acquire specific skills that will help them develop spatial analysis and modelling capabilities using QGIS software, an open-source software.
The programme begins with a general overview of the training objectives of the course and the tools that will be used. Concrete examples of GIS applications in the earth sciences are presented. Next, the representation of the Earth is explored in depth, exploring the principles of cartography, geographical projections and the shape of the planet, with references to the main mathematical models.
An important part of the course is devoted to an introduction to GIS, where the different data models used: raster and vector. The differences between these models, their applications and how spatial and attributive data are structured are explained. Students will also explore surface modelling through the use of digital terrain models (DTM) and topographic analysis to generate slope maps, exposures and shaded terrain relief.

During the course, one module will be devoted to the use of GPS and positioning systems. During this module, students will learn the measurement techniques and limitations of GPS systems, including measurement errors and advanced techniques such as RTK surveying. Practical applications of GPS in geospatial contexts will also be examined.
The course concludes with a module on digital terrain models, investigating interpolation techniques and the analysis of topographic and thematic maps, with a focus on the resolution and visualisation of DTMs.
In summary, the course will provide students with all the necessary skills to use GIS in an advanced way, with practical and theoretical applications ranging from terrain modelling to spatial data management, passing through geospatial analysis and the use of GPS and specialised software

Caiaffa, E., 2012. ECDL GIS. La rappresentazione cartografica e i
fondamenti del GIS. McGraw-Hill Editore, ISBN 9788838667626;

Noti, V., 2014. GIS Open Source per la geologia e ambiente. Analisi e
gestione di dati territoriali e ambientali con Q-GIS.
Dario Flaccovio Editore, ISBN 9788857913247;

Manuali online (o PDF) di QGIS:
https://docs.qgis.org/3.34/it/docs/user_manual/index.html

For further cartographic aspects:

Di Donna, V., 2000. Elementi di Cartografia. Liguori Editore, Napoli

Fondelli, M., 2000. Cartografia Numerica I. Pitagora Editrice, Bologna

Lavagna, E., Locarno, G., 2007. Geocartografia, guida alla lettura delle
carte geotopografiche. Zanichelli, Bologna

To learn more about GIS:

Boffi, M., 2004. Scienza dell'informazione geografica. Introduzione ai GIS.
Zanichelli, Bologna

Module 1. Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS):
• Definition of SIT, training objectives and applications in the Geosciences;
• Types of spatial data: raster and vector;
• Components of a GIS: hardware, software, data, users;
• Main functions of GIS: acquisition, management, analysis and visualisation of geographical data.
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Module 2. Earth representation:
• Principles of cartography, geoid and ellipsoid of rotation;
• Use of GIS for making geological, geomorphological and thematic maps.

Module 3. GIS Tools and Software:
• Overview of major GIS software;
• Installation and configuration of QGIS;
• Managing geographical data in QGIS;
• Loading shapefiles, GeoTIFF, and spatial databases;
• Geographic projections and coordinates;
• Creating and editing maps.
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Module 4. Surface modelling and raster and vector geoprocessing:
• Digital terrain models (DTM) and digital elevation models (DEM);
• interpolation methods;
• surface analysis: shaded survey, slope map, exposure map, contour map).

Module 5. GPS and positioning systems:
• operation applications and limitations of GPS systems;
• positioning techniques and measurement errors;
• absolute and relative positioning;
• static measurement techniques; dynamic measurement techniques; RTK surveying.

Module 6. Use of QGIS software
• Introduction to the software, main functions, opening a new GIS project and definition of the reference system;

Module 7. Raster and vector data
• loading a raster file; topographic, geological and thematic maps; digital terrain models; changing the symbology of a digital terrain model, overlay and transparency of different rasters;
• loading a point, linear and polygonal vector file; shapefile format; editing the symbology of a shapefile; attribute table, adding and editing a field; vector data editor.

Module 8. Georeferencing and digital terrain models
• Georeferencing raster and vector data;
• georeferencing techniques;
• Georeferencing tools; conversions between coordinate systems;
• interpolation techniques;
• elevation map; exposure map; slope map; shaded relief map; contour map; DTM resolution.

The teaching activity includes frontal theoretical lectures and practical exercises in the multimedia laboratory.

The exam includes the submission of a final GIS project applying the skills acquired during the course, followed by an oral test on theoretical and practical concepts