Organisation profile
Trinity College Dublin is Ireland's leading University, which has been inspiring generations of brilliant thinkers for over 400 years.
Training aim
This course is designed to introduce students to spatial analysis using a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) platform and guide him/her through the learning process of advanced tools dedicated to network analysis, spatial data mining and environmental phenomena modelling.
Learning objectives
By the end of the course participants will:
Learn the extended fundamentals of GIS theory and techniques and will then apply these in a research project which is in a field related to their profession and uses GIS.
Investigate and solve Spatial Analysis problems by applying the latest interdisciplinary approaches. They will critically select and implement a technical solution that best addresses a spatial analysis problem. They will identify and use appropriate mathematical methods, numerical techniques, and GIS tools for application to new and ill-defined spatial analysis problems.
Show that they can communicate effectively in technical and scientific writing, and present scientific/technical ideas concisely to a technical audience that may not be expert in the specific domain of the presentation.
Course outline
This micro-credential will enable the student to get a practical introduction to the QGIS open-source software and will use the software to address an issue in their field.
A unique feature of this course is the use of Dublin and Ireland as learning laboratory, where the students will take responsibility of a real-life project. Examples of projects completed by students recently include the identification of the best location for a new waste-to-energy plant, a study of the relationship between tree cover and household income, the siting of a new mass-vaccination centre, and a study of the effect of green-ways on the local population. In each of these, publicly available spatial data was used to investigate a topical issue.
Trainer's profile
Dr Niamh Harty
Academic Qualifications
1977: BA BAI, TCD
1979: MS in Structural Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, USA
1989: PhD, TCD
2018: MSc in GIS, University of Lund, Sweden
Work Experience
1979-1992: Lecturer, Civil Engineering Department, TCD
1992-2006: Software Consultant
2006-2022: Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering Department, TCD
2022-present: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering Department, TCD
Course duration
3 hours per week for 12 weeks.
Assessment & certification
A Micro-credential worth 5 credits on the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and 125 hours CPD credit.
Project 90%: Students are required to complete a report based upon the work conducted for their individual project. In-class theory test 5%. In-class practical test 5%.
Who should attend
Anyone who works with spatial data and maps and would like to have the ability to analyse this data and create their maps and new spatial information. GIS is used in many professions and industries, from engineering and environmental science to history and tourism to local authorities and provision of utilities, wherever spatial information is important, where maps may be used as a key means of communication of information, and where analysis of the spatial data provides valuable new information.
Website
www.tcd.ie/courses/microcredentials