Geographic Information Systems have advanced rapidly in recent decades and now play an important role in environment and society issues including land and water management, forestry, climate science, biodiversity conservation, urban and rural planning, and social research. Spatial data are becoming increasingly accessible and are being utilised by a wide range of government and research agencies, consulting firms and other private businesses. This course focuses on social and urban applications of GIS. The first part of the course covers key concepts and skills including models of geographic accessibility, network analysis, geocoding and socio-demographic disadvantage. During the second part of the course students are provided with a range of research topics and spatial datasets to independently investigate and write a research paper.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Understand spatial environment and society research and applications
2. Synthesise and apply that knowledge to formulate new applications
3. Pursue a guided investigation of a topic involving a social application of GIS
4. Communicate the results of that investigation in written format

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Day 1 (July 7th)Lectures: Introduction to course; Geocoding and networks, accessibility and mobilityLabs: Geocoding & Network analysis
2	Day 2 (July 8th)Lectures: Census data and the ASGS; MAUP, ecological fallacy and SEIFA data; behavioural geographyLabs: Choropleth mapping
3	Day 3 (July 9th)Lectures: Gravity models; Social vulnerability modellingLabs: Gravity modelling
4	Day 4 (July 10th)Lectures: Kernel Density Analysis; ArcGIS Online, Webmaps and Story MapsLabs: Hotspot mapping of car-kangaroo collisions
5	Day 5 (July 11th) Lectures: Suggested topics & planning your research projectLabs: Research Projects and Social Atlas
6	18th July	Social GIS in-person exam
7	1st August	Social atlas
8	29th August	Research Project

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Social Atlas Assignment	15 %	01/08/2025	1,2,3
Research paper (2000 words)	50 %	29/08/2025	1,2,3,4
Examination	35 %	*	1,2,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Canvas’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Social Atlas Assignment

This assignment requires you to produce an atlas-style report for a local government department. The department is interested in assessing whether high schools in the Wollongong Local Government Area (LGA) are equitably distributed. In particular, the department would like to know whether there are any areas of relative disadvantage that may have low levels of access to education.

During the intensive part of the course, you will learn how to create choropleth maps for social atlas-type presentation. The lecture material from the intensive will provide relevant theory for the written components of the assignment.

For this assignment, it is expected that you:

• Use the supplied ABS data (LGA boundaries, Mesh Blocks, SEIFA data, SA1s and SA3s)

• Use additional spatial data for context (e.g. a road network)

Structure your atlas with the following sections:

• Write a short context/introductory statement at the start of the report outlining your approach to presenting a visual assessment of access to high school education and disadvantage in the Wollongong area. It is expected that you make strategic use of references to address the general issues of accessibility, disadvantage and service delivery. It is expected that you explain your logic for classification and colour schemes.
• Present a series of maps in the main part of the report. The maps should profile logical sub-regions of Wollongong, with an emphasis on SEIFA data and access to high schools. You are expected to choose how many maps to present here – remember that, whilst it is an atlas, the emphasis is on effective communication in relation to the brief.
• Discussion: in this section, provide your interpretation, based on the maps you have presented, about the distribution of high schools in the Wollongong area and whether there are any areas of relative disadvantage that may have low levels of access to education. It is expected that you balance your interpretations against potential limitations associated with the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP) and the Ecological Fallacy.
• You may want to include an appendix if there is additional material you’d like to present or cite to support your findings.

Assessment Task 2

Research paper (2000 words)

The research paper is in the form of a short journal article. The length of the paper will be 2000 words, excluding appendices. It will cover a more in-depth consideration of one of the lab blocks covered in the course. Each of the labs in weeks 1 (i.e. the intensive) have assignment options (e.g. a spatial analysis of light rail usage in Canberra; the relationship between access to fast food and social disadvantage). The labs will give sufficient grounding to undertake the projects. The research paper should include the following sections:

·        An abstract;

·        A literature review which critical engages with relevant literature;

·        A research methods section;

·        A results section which presents a deeper examination of the issues and data covered in the relevant lab block;

·        A discussion where an interpretation of key findings is given and assessed against relevant literature;

·        A short conclusion components that summarizes the contribution of the paper

Assessment Task 3

Examination

This exam is in-person and includes some hard copy GIS tasks (e.g. annotating maps). The exam will be 2 1/2 hours long and will have the following sections:

·        SECTION A. Short answer section (40%)

·        SECTION B. Detailed theory section (30%)

·        SECTION C. Problem section (30%)

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students.