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Geographic Information Systems

By Prof. Arun K. Saraf   |   IIT Roorkee
Learners enrolled: 1126   |  Exam registration: 40
ABOUT THE COURSE :
The proposed course provides detailed understanding about Geographic Information Systems and their applications in Civil Engineering and Earth Sciences. All aspects starting from data input to modelling would be discussed in this course. Further, in the proposed course various datasets including DEMs, their source, generation techniques, derivatives, errors and limitations would be discussed extensively. Surface Hydrologic Modelling using DEMs, modelling derivatives and their applications would also be discussed.

INTENDED AUDIENCE : Under and post-graduate engineering, post graduate and doctoral students

PREREQUISITES : Current students of engineering, post graduate science students and PhD students should have basic knowledge of computers

INDUSTRIES  SUPPORT : Geoinformatics companies, e.g NIIT, ESRI India, Leica Geoinformatics, MapmyIndia, ISRO, etc.
Summary
Course Status : Upcoming
Course Type : Elective
Language for course content : English
Duration : 12 weeks
Category :
  • Civil Engineering
  • Environment
Credit Points : 3
Level : Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date : 20 Jan 2025
End Date : 11 Apr 2025
Enrollment Ends : 27 Jan 2025
Exam Registration Ends : 14 Feb 2025
Exam Date : 26 Apr 2025 IST

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

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Course layout

Week 1: What is Geographic Information Systems?
      Essential components of GIS
      Different types of vector data
      Concept of topology
      Demonstration through GIS software
Week 2: Raster data model and comparisons with vector
      TIN data model and comparisons with raster
      Non-spatial data (attributes) and their types
      Vector Data Compression Techniques
       Demonstration through GIS software
Week 3: Raster Data Compression Techniques-01
      Raster Data Compression Techniques-02
      Georeferencing
      Pre- processing of spatial datasets-01
      Demonstration through GIS software
Week 4: Pre-processing of spatial datasets-02
      Pre-processing of spatial datasets-03
      Spatial Interpolation Techniques-01
      Spatial Interpolation Techniques-02
       GIS Analysis- 01
Week 5: GIS Analysis-02
       GIS Analysis-03
       GIS Analysis- 04
       GIS Analysis-05
        Demonstration through GIS software
Week 6: GIS Analysis-06
       GIS Analysis-07
       Attributes Classification Methods
       Spatial Database systems and their types-01
       Demonstration through GIS software
Week 7: Spatial Database systems and their types-02
      Concept of NoData in Raster
      Different map projections
      Concept of digital elevation model (DEM) and how it is represented
      Demonstration through GIS software
Week 8: Various techniques to generate digital elevation models-1
       Various techniques to generate digital elevation models-2
       Various techniques to generate digital elevation models-3
       Digital Elevation Models and different types of resolutions
        Demonstration through GIS software
Week 9: How to assess quality of a DEM
      Integration of DEMs with satellite data
      Common derivatives of DEMs - Slope and aspect-01
      Common derivatives of DEMs - Slope and aspect-02
       Demonstration through GIS software
Week 10: Common derivatives of DEMs - Slope and aspect-03
         DEMs derivatives-1
         DEMs derivatives-2
         DEMs derivatives-3
         DEMs derivatives-4
Week 11: Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) and its derivatives
        Shaded relief models and their applications
        DEM based Surface Hydrologic Modelling-1
        DEM based Surface Hydrologic Modelling-2
        DEMs and Dam Simulation and its application in groundwater hydrology
Week 12:DEMs Sources,limitations and future of Digital Elevation Models
       Applications of DEMs in Viewshed and Flood Hazard Mapping
       Applications of DEMs in solar and wind energy potential estimations
       Errors in GIS and key elements of maps
        Limitations and Rules of GIS

Books and references

1. For latest development in GIS – the best resource is Internet. There are many authentic sites e.g. various Universities / institutes, NASA, ESA, ISRO etc.
2. Learning Geospatial Analysis with Python: Understand GIS Fundamentals and Perform Remote Sensing Data Analysis Using Python 3.7, by Joel Lawhead 3rd Edition, 2019.
3. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems by Chang Kang-tsung (Karl), 2016.
4. An Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (4th Edition) by Ian Heywood, Sarah Cornelius and Steve Carver, 2012.

Instructor bio

Prof. Arun K. Saraf

IIT Roorkee
Prof. Arun K. Saraf is Ph. D. (Remote Sensing) from University of Dundee, United Kingdom. Presently he is working as Professor (High Academic Grade at Level-15, Sub-level-08) in the Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee since December 1989, and teaches courses on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, Digital Elevation Models and Applications, Digital Image Processing of Satellite Data, Global Navigation Satellite Systems, Geomorphology, Advanced Technical Communication etc. and teaching to under- and post-graduate students of Integrated M. Tech. (Geological Technology) and MSc (Applied Geology) respectively. He was also been Head of Department of Earth Sciences between Jan. 2012 – Feb. 2015. He was first in the country to introduce GIS course to post-graduate students in the year 1990. In 1986, he was awarded “National Fellowship to Study Abroad” by Govt. of India for his doctoral degree. Further, in 1993 he was awarded “Indo-US S&T Fellowship” and worked in Goddard Space Flight Centre, NASA, USA for Post-Doctoral Research. He has been also awarded “National Remote Sensing Award 2001” by Indian Society of Remote Sensing and “GIS Professional of the Year Award-2001” by Map India 2002 for his outstanding research contributions in the fields of Remote Sensing and GIS. Earlier, he has also been given Khosla Research Awards and Prizes by then University of Roorkee. For four consecutive years, he as Star Performer in IITR. Three times he has also been awarded Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Bilateral Exchange Fellowships. So far Prof. Saraf has published more than 100 research papers in journals of repute (ISI) and supervised 15 Ph.Ds. Between 2003-2015, he was also Associate Editor of International Journal of Remote Sensing. Through funding from DST, Min. of Earth Sciences, CSIR, Prof. Saraf has been able to establish and operating NOAA-HRPT Satellite Earth Station at IITR since Oct. 2002, first in any educational institute in the country. Recently, Prof. Saraf has conducted five online video courses (Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, Introduction to Remote Sensing, Digital Image Processing of Remote Sensing Data, Digital Elevation Models and Applications, Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing of Satellite Data and Global Navigation Satellite Systems), under NPTEL (National Program on Technology Enhanced Learning) (a project funded by MHRD, Govt. of India). Recently, Prof. Saraf has been recognized among Top 2% Scientists of the World (based on analysis done by Stanford University, USA). His research work in the fields of remote sensing and GIS and its applications in groundwater, earthquakes, fog etc. has earned him very high citation

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.
The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).
Date and Time of Exams: April 26, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.
Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.
Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Roorkee .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team


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