Teaching

Graduate courses

Course Name Course Title Semester Syllabus Course Intro
GEO 503 Mobile GIS Fall 2018 Download(PDF, 157KB) GEO503
GEO 503 Web Programming for GIS Spring 2018 Download(PDF, 155KB) GEO503
GEO 505 Univariate Statistics in Geography Fall 2022 Download(PDF, 137KB) GEO505
GEOG 650 Mobile GIS Summer 2023 Download(PDF, 358KB) GEOG650
GEOG 651 Spatial Statistics Winter 2024 Download(PDF, 210KB) GEOG651
GEOG 652 Digital Image Processing and Analysis Fall 2024 Download(PDF, 232KB) GEOG652
GEOG 655 Spatial database system Winter 2024 Download(PDF, 357KB) GEOG655
GEOG 657 Web Programming Summer 2023 Download(PDF, 358KB) GEOG657
GEOG 670 Open-Source GIS Spring 2024 View(DOC, 29KB) GEOG670
GEOG 677 Web GIS Summer 2023 View(DOC, 26KB) GEOG677

Undergraduate courses

Course Name Course Title Semester Syllabus Course Intro
GEO 100 World Regions & Issues Fall 2022 Download(PDF, 848KB) GEO100
GEO 101 Earth Systems Science Spring 2023 Download(PDF, 119KB) GEO101
GEO 105 Earth, Environment, & Climate Laboratory Spring 2020 Download(PDF, 1106KB) GEO105
GEO 106 Global Climate Change Spring 2020 Download(PDF, 343KB) GEO106
GEO 120 Maps: Earth from Above Fall 2020 Download(PDF, 367KB) GEO120
GEO 211 Univariate Statistics in Geography Fall 2022 Download(PDF, 291KB) GEO211
GEO 281 Web-based GIS Fall 2019 Download(PDF, 385KB) GEO281
GEO 411 Multivariate Statistics in Geography Spring 2023 Download(PDF, 116KB) GEO411
GEOG 276 Principles of Python Programming and Geocomputing Fall 2024 View(DOC, 27KB) GEOG276

Courses taught at UB

GEO100 World Regions & Issues

This course examines the challenges and opportunities of globalization across regions of the world. We will see the interconnections, homogenizations across space, but also the uneven impacts across regions due to their diverse geographies and histories. By examining each region, we begin to understand the social, political, economic, and environmental similarities and differences across regions. The aim is to be able to contextualize current affairs and contemporary issues within the regional contexts and with a critical lens.

GEO101 Earth Systems Science

Earth Systems Science examines modern environmental problems through quantitative methods, analysis, and modeling grounded in basic and applied science and research. The goal of the course is to introduce students to the fundamental processes that dominate the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere, their characteristics and complex interactions, and their impact on human life and society.

Week 1: Introduction (PPT, 14MB) | Introduction to systems (PPT, 1MB)

Week 2: Energy balance (PPT, 3MB)

Week 3: Greenhouse effect (PPT, 5MB) | Atmospheric circulation (PPT, 3MB) | The oceans (PPT, 3MB)

Week 4: Review Exam 1 (PPT, 100KB)

Week 5: Deep ocean circulation (PPT, 2MB) | Modeling ocean-atmosphere (PPT, 77MB)

Week 6: Carbon cycle overview (PPT, 6MB)

Week 7: Carbon cycles (PPT, 3MB) | Origin of the Earth (PPT, 3MB) | Origin of life (PPT, 5MB)

Week 9: Rise of atmospheric oxygen (PPT, 5MB) | Review Exam 2 (PPT, 106KB)

Week 11: Eukarya (PPT, 1MB) | Faint Young Sun (PPT, 2MB)

Week 12: Snowball Earth (PPT, 3MB) | Pleistocene glaciations (PPT, 5MB)

Week 13: Ocean in glacial cycles (PPT, 5MB) | Holocene (PPT, 6MB) | Recent warming (PPT, 6MB)

Week 14: Review Exam 3 (PPT, 107KB)

GEO105 Earth, Environment, & Climate Laboratory

This course explores how scientific methods are employed to understand and manage earth, environment, and climate systems. These goals will be reached through weekly laboratory exercises. In these labs, you will ask questions, make predictions, analyze and interpret data, construct explanations, use computational models, and obtain, evaluate, and communicate information. Students will gain knowledge and practice in the areas of the "student learning goals" for science labs required for UB General Education.

GEO106 Global Climate Change

This course explores how and why climate has changed over Earth’s 4.6 billion year history—but especially over the last 100 years. It examines how greenhouse gasses cause warming, predictions of future climate, and how those predictions are developed. Lastly, we discuss the impacts of future climate change and how they can be mitigated.

GEO120 Maps: Earth from Above

This class introduces students to mapping and locational technology. It prepares students for further studies in geography, cartography, and geospatial technologies. Topics include map making and coordinate systems, issues regarding map scale and projections. It would also cover topics in remote sensing, geographic information systems, using internet-mapping services, maps as media, and emerging digital mapping technologies.

GEO211 Univariate Statistics in Geography

This course covers the statistical analysis of geographic data and techniques for geographic analysis. No prior statistical knowledge is assumed, and basic statistical concepts are covered. Students will become familiar with basic statistical concepts and methods through lectures and problem solving. The primary purpose of the course is to prepare students for the use of statistical methods in their own academic work and in their future employment. Though the course is aimed at geographical applications, students ultimately entering many other fields should also find the material covered to be useful. The course will also enable students to read a wider range of literature and research reports.

GEO281 Web-based GIS

The objective of this course is to introduce web mapping and geospatial technologies used in Geography. We will address key concepts in Geography and Tools/Methods on Web mapping.

GEO411 Multivariate Statistics in Geography

This course covers the statistical analysis of geographic data and techniques for geographic analysis. It provides an introduction to techniques of multivariate analysis. Topics include ANOVA, simple regression, multiple regression, logistic regression, principal components analysis, and cluster analysis.

Dataset: Tyne and Wear Dataset (CSV, 139KB) | Distribution code (C, 14KB) | Distribution table (XLS, 11KB)

Distribution inverse

GEO503 Web Programming for GIS

The growing capability and use of the Internet has created a demand for GIS application on the Web. This course introduces the fundamental techniques required in developing client-side web application. It would cover the basics of web design using HTML5 and CSS and client-side programming with JavaScript. Students will also be exposed to the experience of practicing some client-side frameworks and libraries such as jQuery, online GIS tools such as Google Map API, and the cloud environment such as ArcGIS Online.

The specific objectives of this course are that students are expected to learn the following:

GEO503 Mobile GIS

The emergence of highly-capable mobile devices and applications has opened new opportunity for location-based services. Mobile apps enable us to collect and analyze data wherever and whenever we are. Mobile apps are generally classified into web apps, hybrid apps, and native apps. This course covers how to develop, test, and publish mobile GIS web apps and hybrid apps working across multiple mobile platforms (Android, iOS, etc.). It uses the jQuery Mobile framework to create visually rich, interactive mobile web apps and the PhoneGap framework to compile hybrid web-native apps. This course also leverages the capabilities of developing mobile map apps using Google Map JavaScript library.

The specific objectives of this course are the followings:

GEO505 Univariate Statistics in Geography

This course covers the statistical analysis of geographic data and techniques for geographic analysis. No prior statistical knowledge is assumed, and basic statistical concepts are covered. Students will become familiar with basic statistical concepts and methods through lectures and problem solving. The primary purpose of the course is to prepare students for the use of statistical methods in their own academic work and in their future employment. Though the course is aimed at geographical applications, students ultimately entering many other fields should also find the material covered to be useful. The course will also enable students to read a wider range of literature and research reports

Courses taught at UMD

GEOG276 Principles of Python Programming and GeoComputing

Introduces conceptual and practical aspects of scientific computing using the Python programming language. The main focus is on developing proficiency for the basic elements of the development environment, foundational syntax including variables, logical operators, looping, conditional statements, nesting, and common programming patterns for mathematical and textual computing. In addition, essential data structures and functionality for scientific computing, such as arrays, data frames, and data visualization will be introduced. Throughout the course, students will develop a proficiency in applying these basic programming principles to manipulating spatial data sources within the context of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

GEOG650 Mobile GIS

The emergence of highly-capable mobile devices and applications has opened new opportunity for location-based services. Mobile apps enable us to collect and analyze data wherever and whenever we are. Mobile apps are generally classified into web apps, hybrid apps, and native apps. This course covers how to develop, test, and publish mobile GIS apps working across multiple platforms. It uses jQuery JavaScript library to create visually rich, interactive web apps and the PhoneGap framework to compile hybrid apps. This course also leverages the capabilities of developing mobile map apps using Google Maps JavaScript library and Leaflet.

GEOG651 Spatial Statistics

This course is about quantitative analysis of spatial data. It aims to provide a broad survey of various spatial statistic methods useful in environmental and social sciences. It covers several broad topics: (1) point pattern analysis; (2) area data analysis; (3) continuous data analysis; (4) spatial sampling; and (5) multivariate spatial and temporal analysis. The course is a mix of theories, methods, and applications geared towards helping students to: (1) develop an understanding of the important theoretical concepts in spatial statistical analysis; and (2) gain practical experience in applying spatial statistics to a variety of social and environmental problems using advanced statistical software.

GEOG652 Digital Image Processing and Analysis

Digital image processing and analysis applied to satellite and aircraft land remote sensing data. We will introduce the principles and applications of remote sensing and contemporary methods of digital image processing. Remote sensing technology is essential for modern spatial analysis in order to identify features and phenomena at the surface of the Earth. This course should benefit students who are interested in pursuing careers in a wide range of disciplines such as engineering, geology, geography, urban studies, forestry, agriculture, archaeology, and homeland security.

GEOG655 Spatial database system

This course helps students understand, analyze, design, and implement spatial databases. It introduces the basic concepts and theories of database. Structured Query Language are used to design and handle data for applications. There are hands-on practices to help students develop technical skills in spatial database design and implementation.

GEOG657 Web Programming

The growing capability and use of the Internet have created a demand for GIS applications on the Web. This course is designed to teach fundamental techniques required in developing both client-side and server-side web applications. This course covers responsive web design and generation using HTML, CSS, client-side programming with JavaScript, and dynamic web development using PHP and MySQL. MySQL and Structured Query Language are used to design and handle data for web applications.

GEOG670 Open Source GIS

There are increasing demands for desktop and enterprise GIS applications to display, analyze, and disseminate geospatial data, information, and services. The remarkable growth in the use of open source GIS resources has facilitated developing cost-effective and feature-rich GIS applications using free and open source software for GIS (FOSSGIS). This course is designed to introduce FOSSGIS and teach how to employ and integrate open-source GIS software to analyze vector and raster data and to develop GIS tools and web services. It covers how to handle vector and raster data from various data sources with QGIS. It also introduces PostgreSQL as an object-oriented relational database management system (ORDBMS) to store and manage spatial data and GeoServer as a web GIS server to publish and disseminate spatial information through the Internet. Web map API, such as Leaflet, is briefly reviewed to create browser-based map applications and display data from a variety of sources such as OpenStreetMap, Google, etc.

GEOG677 Web GIS

This course is designed to: (1) introduce the concepts and theories that are related to an increasingly important technology – Internet/Web GIS; (2) introduce various technologies or techniques for creating, analyzing, and disseminating GIS data and services via the Internet. The topics covered include the hardware/software structure of the Internet (e.g. server-client model, TCP/IP protocol), the evolution of Web GIS, and most importantly, different technology options. Students will be required to practice almost all of the Web GIS tools including ArcGIS Server, JavaScript API, Leaflet, OpenLayers, GeoJSON, and Google Earth Engine. Students will also be exposed to the experience of working with the cloud environment such as Azure and ArcGIS Online.