Workshops
To obtain the UCLA Certificate in Geospatial Information Systems & Technology participants are required to complete each of the three workshops described below. Note that participation in individual weekly workshops will be permitted on a space available basis, but certification requires the completion of all three workshops. Academic credit for the completion of the certificate or workshops is not available.
The three workshops will be held consecutively from July 6 through July 26, 2009 on weekday evenings (Monday through Thursday, 6PM to 9.30PM) and weekend days (Saturday/Sunday 9AM to 4PM). Workshops will not be held on Fridays.
The 2009 certificate program consists of the following three workshops:
July 6 – July 12: Fundamentals of Geospatial Information Systems & Technology.* The objectives of this first workshop are to introduce participants to the essential concepts behind the use and application of geographic information systems, and to gain proficiency with GIS software. Topics covered will include (but are not restricted to): maps and mapping; map projections and geographic coordinate systems; data models for GIS; geospatial data acquisition; geospatial database management; basic spatial analysis; GIS output.
July 13 – July 19: Geospatial Information Analysis.* The second workshop builds upon the concepts and skills introduced the previous week. In addition to reinforcing materials covered in the Fundamentals workshop, the Geospatial Information Analysis workshop introduces participants to: global positioning systems (GPS); surface analysis; interpolation; location analysis and site selection; geocoding and address matching; network analysis; and working with imagery.
July 20 – July 26: Project Management with Geospatial Information Systems & Technology.* The third and final workshop serves as a capstone for the certificate program by providing an overview of project management with GIS. From the conceptual design and planning stages to the technical requirements and execution of a GIS project, this workshop provides critical information about how to carry out and manage GIS projects effectively and efficiently. Topics covered in this workshop include (but are not restricted to): customizing and extending GIS; geoprocessing; productivity and automation issues with GIS; hardware/software issues; proposal preparation; training and capacity building; recent advances and future directions in geospatial information systems and technology.
*Each workshop will also set aside time for an invited lecture, and question and answer period, to be given by a GIS professional from the public or private sector.