MSc in Geographic Information Management
Course content for 2009 entry
8 core module(s):
Click on a module title to display key features.- Digital Information Technologies and Architectures
- Use computers to manage data effectively, through appropriate digital technologies and techniques, to support a wide range of information related tasks
- Employ established and evolving standards to create data that explicitly represents information in unambiguous, inclusive and useful ways
- Describe, assess and exploit recent advances in information and communications technology to work with proficiency and efficiency in an online digital environment.
- Geographic Information Science
- Represent spatial processes and models in a form suitable for handling by a computer; understand how spatial geometry, modelling and analys can be used to as the basis for modelling geographic information
- Use the theory of GI science to evaluate its implementation in geographic information systems
- Interpret and evaluate technical publications in GI science
- Geovisualization
- Explain - the complex issues associated with geovisualization - with clarity and from an informed perspective by drawing upon relevant theoretical material and academic research
- Evaluate - a range of maps and data graphics - by drawing upon principles and theories of design from a variety of sources
- Design and create - maps and data graphics - that are effective, consistent and that exhibit graphical integrity
- Use - maps, data graphics and visualization tools - to communicate information and explore multifaceted data sets in a manner that is professional, informed and ethically sound
- Evaluate and make appropriate use of - academic research - that addresses current issues in geovisualization
- GI technologies and applications
- Demonstrate a practical knowledge of the functioning of a variety of GI technologies, based around GI systems; understand the dependencies between the principles of GI science and the implementation of GI technologies
- Participate effectively in group work in laboratory and field conditions, while evaluating their own practice and that of others in terms of precision and accuracy
- Assess the benefits and limitations of using GI systems in a number of application areas
- Evaluate the role that geographic information can play in decision support in a number of application scenarios
- Information and Knowledge Management
- Describe and evaluate the relationships between information and knowledge, their users and systems with reference to different types of resources and organizations
- Explain information and knowledge management processes in organisations by reference to life cycle and other models
- Use appropriate techniques to analyse information needs, use and provision
- Apply the principles of information management in various organisational contexts by drawing on case studies
- Discuss the ethical, social and economic context of information and knowledge management
- Information Law and Policy
- Identify the legal principles underlying specific information issues
- Demonstrate a professional understanding of the use of relevant information law to help provide accurate information
- Critically evaluate and analyse information policies and their legal expression.
- Information Retrieval
- Use a range of information retrieval systems and services to resolve information needs
- Evaluate information retrieval systems and services, by using appropriate methodologies
- Design and implement information retrieval systems, and make decisions about their deployment
- Evaluate new developments in information retrieval research, understanding the problems which new ideas in IR are attempting to address.
- Research, Methods and Professional Issues
- Research activity in terms of the effectiveness of its approach and implementation
- Understand and apply a range of research methodologies such as inductive and deductive reasoning, explanation and prediction in the evaluation of published research
- Recognise and use a range of secondary data sources when performing a research task
- Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using a range of media
- Evaluate the legal, ethical and professional dimensions of typical information professions and information industry practices
There is some coverage of technical issues (e.g. DITA, GI Science, GITA) but these are all placed in the context in which these technologies are used in the GI workplace. This provides vital grounding in the technological drivers that influence GI management.
The modules provide a balance between GI specific issues (GI Science, VGI, GITA) and a wider context of information handling (ILP, IM, IRO). Since much of the use of GI overlaps with more general information science issues, it is important to be able to relate the specific to the general.
They also importantly allow students not only to develop specific GI management skills and understanding, but also develop the skills required to evaluate and communicate GI related issues (IM, VGI, RECS).
Successful completion of this combination of modules produces graduates who are technically literate, and are able to apply these skills, and critically evaluate and communicate effectively in the GI field.