🎯 Learning Objectives
- Execute a complete Geographic Inquiry (Ask, Acquire, Explore, Analyze, Act).
- Manage a complex GIS project file structure independently.
- Create professional cartographic products (Poster/Presentation).
- Defend your methodology and acknowledge limitations/uncertainty.
📅 Project Timeline
Week 1: Proposal (Done in Lab 11)
You should have your Research Question and Data Sources approved.
Week 2: Data Processing (The "Ugly" Phase)
Clean your data. Project it. Clip it. Join it. Fix the errors. This is 80% of the work.
Week 3: Analysis (The "Fun" Phase)
Run your tools (Buffer, Density, Regression, Suitability). Generate results.
Week 4: Cartography & Reporting
Make it beautiful. Create the final poster or StoryMap.
🏆 The Final Deliverables
You have two options for your final submission format. Choose ONE.
A
Academic Poster (PDF)
Create a large-format poster (e.g., 24x36 or 36x48 inches) suitable for a conference.
- Introduction: Why does this matter?
- Methods: Flowchart of your GIS steps.
- Results: 1 Main Map (Large) + 2 Inset Maps (Detail).
- Discussion: what did you find?
- Sources: Citations.
✅ Assessment Rubric
| Criteria | Points | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Complexity | 25 | Did you use advanced tools (Density, Overlay, Stats) or just simple display? |
| Cartography | 25 | Are maps legible? North arrows? Legends? Color blind safe? |
| Data Management | 25 | Is the project file organized? Metadata included? |
| Communication | 25 | Is the writing clear? Are conclusions supported by the data? |