GIS Foundations

GIS is a framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing data. Using the principles of geographic science, it integrates many types of geospatial data, analyzes their relationships, and organizes them in layers of information for visualization and improved understanding. This free online course focuses on ESRI’s ArcGIS software, the industry standard within GIS software. Jack Dangermond, CEO of ESRI, describes GIS as “uncovering meaning and insights from within data.”

Participants in this course will learn GIS concepts and fundamentals, tools, and processing applicable to problems in a variety of fields, including cartography, remote sensing, data science, public health, health care, information technology, social science, urban planning, government, and business. Your enrollment in this course will prepare you to work with spatial data and conduct spatial data analysis with datasets and geographic data.

This self-paced course is designed for self-study. Coursework covers GIS applications of real-world problems, and prepares learners for more advanced applications such as 3D GIS and GIS Image Analysis, the two other GIS courses in the GIS Essentials Professional Certificate program. This course can be taken individually as an elective or as part of this larger specialization.

GIS, once an esoteric technology limited to geographers and data scientists, is now available to everyone. Thousands of organizations in virtually every field are using GIS to analyze data, make maps that reveal patterns and relationships, share insights, and solve complex problems of local to global significance in the areas of sustainability, land use, watershed mapping, and more. The ability to conduct this kind of geospatial analysis and conduct web mapping is a skill growing in relevance to employers.

Verified track learners will receive one-year ArcGIS Pro Desktop (Windows) license with support only for tools used in the course in addition to unlimited course access and a verified certificate.

Sign up for this online course or full GIS certificate today to expand your skillset in geographic information systems.

Week 1: Introduction to GIS

• What is GIS?
• History of GIS
• GIS data types (vector and raster)
• GIS file types and datasets (File Geodatabase, Feature Class, Shapefile, Table, GeoTiff)
• Coordinate systems (geographic and projected)
• GIS applications and ArcGIS Pro access

Week 2: Getting started with ArcGIS Pro Software

• Project set up in ArcGIS Pro
• Introduction to Geospatial data processing tools
• Introduction to feature class (point, line, polygon)
• Working with attribute tables
• ArcGIS best practices

Week 3: Spatial Analysis using Geoprocessing tools

• Point analysis
• Line analysis
• Polygon analysis

Week 4: Map Layout and Charts

• Create your first GIS map
• Add basic map elements to a map layout (title, scale, north arrow, descriptive text)
• Add advanced map elements (map grid and overview map)
• Create charts from spatial data
• Format and analyze GIS charts