This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamental concepts and tools of GIS with the aim of knowing how to build a database of geological data of different nature, resolution and sources. The database will be used to build thematic maps, necessary for the study of the territory and the discussion of alphanumeric data that characterize the area under examination. The student will have to achieve autonomy in the management of alphanumeric data and in the simple geostatistical analysis of the same.
As regards the Dublin indicators:
• Knowledge and understanding: acquire the basic concepts of geographic information systems that allow a study area to be represented in terms of geological data.
• Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: ability to use geographical information systems in basic applications such as reading and representing data, evaluation and geostatistical interpretation of the same and graphic mapping.
• Making judgements: understand how to use informatic technology tools to help represent and handle geological data.
• Communication skills: ability to illustrate and interpret geological data through computational resources by discussing data and results with interested parties.
• Learning skills: Ability to independently integrate different sources (textbooks, scientific articles, existing software) to represent and map geological data.

None

The course intends to introduce the Geology student to a literacy of numerical data useful for geology and geosciences in general., The aim is to acquire the basic knowledge to exploit a computer to represent and process geodata in the context of applications that characterize geologic investigations.
The main tools for managing and analyzing geographic data will be taught using the free share QGIS software. Key topics will be covered such as the collection and management of geographic data, the manipulation and visualization of vector and raster data, map production, digitization, cartographic georeferencing procedures, interpolation and plugin installation. Through practical illustrations, the course will provide the skills to autonomously apply the main functions of spatial analysis, geoprocessing and interpretation of the results.

Texts to be used: Gentle GIS introduction. https://docs.qgis.org/3.22/pdf/it/QGIS-3.22-GentleGISIntroduction-it.pdf), QGIS training manual (https://docs.qgis.org/3.34/en/docs/training_manual/index.html) and additional course material (including powerpoint slides and supplementary text) provided by the teacher.

Introduction to GIS: definitions and fundamental concepts. Definition of vector data and the attributes associated with them to define a symbology. Point, polyline and polygonal elements. Creation and modification of vector data and attributes. Simple, graduated, single-valued symbols. Storage of digital data in GIS, locally and in the cloud. Digitization of geometries. Introduction to raster data and how it can be used in a GIS. Georeferencing of raster data. Spatial resolution. Spectral resolution. Conversion from raster to vector data and vice versa. Vector data topology. Topological errors. Introduction to Coordinate Reference Systems. Coordinate Transformations. Cartographic projections. Geographic and projected coordinate systems and transformation from one system to another. Production of maps for geographic data. Legend. Map view. Map projections. Use of the buffer in vector spatial analysis. Interpolation methods. Geoprocessing tools and plugins for retrieving data of geological interest.

Lectures in class room and in informatic lab.

It is highly recommended that the students attend all lectures in person.

Written tests (in particular,QGIS programming test), and oral exam.
The written test will assign problems which the student must solve autonomously giving a description of the functionality of the procedures. The oral exam will verify the extent of computing skills of the student and the capability of understanding the project developed in the written test and explained during the lectures.
The final positive evaluation
will be expressed with an examination mark between grade 18 and 30 with honors.

This course explores topics closely related to one or more goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs)