GEOG 585: Open Web Mapping.
Design, development, and implementation of web mapping applications using OGC standards and open source software.
Prerequisites: GEOG 485 GIS Programming and Automation
Instructor(s)
Summer 2023 - (May - Jul)
Dr. Panagiotis (Panos) Giannakis is the lead instructor for the Summer 2023 offering of Geog 585. He is an assistant teaching professor for the John A. Dutton e-Education Institute, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State.
Email: Please use the course e-mail system (it ensures your emails don't get caught up in any spam filters, especially if you attach any scripts). I check e-mail regularly and will do my best to respond to questions at least once per weekday and once on weekends unless I notify you otherwise. If Canvas is down you can try pmg5371@psu.edu.
Course Overview
Geography 585: Open Web Mapping is a 10-week online course that gives you experience with sharing geographic information on the Internet using free and open source software (FOSS) and open specifications. It is an elective course in Penn State's online geospatial education programs, including the Master of Geographic Information Systems.
The two main purposes of Geog 585 are to help you understand the importance of web services and to give you some experience making web maps with FOSS and open standards. You could certainly implement web services using proprietary software, too; however, the cost of a proprietary GIS server package makes FOSS an attractive area of study for basic web mapping tasks.
The purpose of Geog 585 is not to promote FOSS over proprietary software, or vice versa (you could find plenty of materials on the Internet debating this subject); however, Geog 585 should familiarize you with the capabilities and shortfalls of the current FOSS landscape to the point that you can make an informed decision about how to use FOSS in your own web mapping tasks.
The set of FOSS and open data sources you will be exposed to in Geog 585 includes QGIS, GDAL, GeoServer, GeoWebCache, OpenStreetMap, and Leaflet. You will also learn about open data standards such as GeoJSON, KML, and OGC web service specifications.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course you should be able to:
- select and apply different free and open source software (FOSS) to support all stages of a web mapping project, from data preparation to web hosting and client-side programming
- explain and assess fundamental concepts, approaches & architectures, and common open standards related to web mapping
- analyze, evaluate, and adapt existing web mapping applications
- design and implement FOSS based interactive web mapping applications with the main purpose of visualizing geographic data
- reflect on potentials, advantages and disadvantages of utilizing FOSS software and open standards compared to proprietary approaches
Prerequisites
This course requires you to do some programming with JavaScript and the Leaflet API. You don’t have to know anything about Leaflet yet, but it is required that you have:
- Enough formal experience with writing computer programs or scripts that you are comfortable identifying and using fundamental constructs such as variables, loops, decision structures, error handling, objects, and so forth. A B grade or above in Geog 485 satisfies this prerequisite. Exceptions require equivalent programming experience and instructor approval.
- Enough experience with JavaScript that you are able to easily identify the above constructs when you see them in a piece of JavaScript code. A B grade or above in Geog 863 satisfies this prerequisite, or you can do your own preparation using the W3Schools JavaScript tutorial.
- Enough experience with HTML and CSS that you are easily able to view and interpret the basic elements of page markup, such as the head, body, script tags, and so forth. Geog 863 satisfies this prerequisite, or you can do your own preparation using the W3Schools HTML tutorial.
Required Course Materials
There is no required textbook for this course. You will be required to complete various online readings.
If you will not have a consistently available Internet connection available during this course, please contact the instructor prior to beginning.
Assignments and Grading
Geog 585 has nine lessons. Each of them is one week in length. The tenth week of the course is reserved for you to work on your term project (described further below). On most weeks, you will see:
- conceptual lesson materials
- a walkthrough that takes you through a new piece of software or functionality step by step
- an assignment that typically expects you to apply what you learned in the walkthrough. Be aware that some assignments have multiple parts, and some weeks’ assignments are worth more than others’.
The walkthroughs and assignments in Geog 585 require a significant time commitment to complete and often involve installing or using new software. Please start working on the lesson at the beginning of the week to allow for completing a high-quality deliverable on time and any troubleshooting that might be necessary along the way.
Quizzes
Quizzes are administered throughout the course to test your knowledge of the material and your ability to think and reason independently about the concepts presented.
Term project
During the course, you will work on a term project that synthesizes the skills that you gain throughout the lessons. Many of the weekly assignments are directly related to building your term project; in other words, you can use your term project data in the weekly assignments, and some pieces of your weekly assignment deliverables may appear in your term project deliverables. The final week of the course is set aside for full-time work on your term project.
Grading
Deliverables are weighted in the following fashion to obtain your grade:
- Weekly assignments – 50%
- Quizzes – 20%
- Term project – 30%
Make-up Exam Policy
Because this course has no exams, there is no Make-up Exam Policy.
Letter grades will be based on the following percentages:
| A | 90-100% |
|---|---|
| A- | 87.5-89.9% |
| B+ | 85-87.4% |
| B | 80-84.9% |
| B- | 77.5-79.9% |
| C+ | 75-77.4% |
| C | 70-74.9% |
| D | 60-69.9% |
| F | <60% |
| X | Unsatisfactory (student did not participate) |
Percentages refer to the proportion of all possible points earned by the student after the above weights have been applied.
Late Work
Any assignment not submitted by the due date on the course calendar in Canvas shall incur a 10% deduction in grade prior to any other deduction made by the instructor when grading the assignment. An additional 10% will be deducted for each additional week late. The instructor may choose to modify or waive these penalties under exceptional circumstances (such as severe health issues).
GEOG 585 Course Schedule
Printable ScheduleWeekly assignments (for weeks 1-9) and quizzes (in weeks 3, 6, and 9) are always due at the end of each week by Wednesday, 11:59 pm (Eastern Time). In addition, a brief term project proposal document needs to be submitted at the end of week 2. In week 10, a video demonstrating your term project needs to be submitted by the end of Sunday; the remaining term project deliverables (report and reviews of two other students' video) are due by the end of Wednesday (last day of class).
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Class Support Services
Penn State Online offers online tutoring to World Campus students in math, writing, and some business classes. Tutoring and guided study groups for residential students are available through Penn State Learning.
Course Policies
Prerequisites
Students who do not meet these prerequisites may be disenrolled according to Administrative Policy C-5;if they do not have the proper prerequisite override. If you have not completed the listed prerequisites, then promptly consult with the instructor if you have not done so already. Students who add the course after being disenrolled, according to this policy, are in violation of the Student Code of Conduct.
Technical Requirements
For this course, we recommend the minimum technical requirements outlined on the World Campus Technical Requirements page, including the requirements listed for same-time, synchronous communications. If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the HelpDesk (for World Campus students) or the IT Service Desk (for students at all other campus locations).
Internet Connection
Access to a reliable Internet connection is required for this course. A problem with your Internet access may not be used as an excuse for late, missing, or incomplete coursework. If you experience problems with your Internet connection while working on this course, it is your responsibility to find an alternative Internet access point, such as a public library or Wi-Fi ® hotspot.
Mixed Content
This site is considered a secure web site which means that your connection is encrypted. We do however link to content that isn't necessarily encrypted. This is called mixed content. By default, mixed content is blocked in Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome. This may result in a blank page or a message saying that only secure content is displayed. Follow the directions on our Technical Requirements page to view the mixed content.
Equations
This course must be viewed using the latest version of Firefox, Safari, Chrome, or Edge. Internet Explorer is not supported. If you use any other browser, or if you are not using the latest version of your browser, some pages containing equations may not render properly. In addition, javascript must be enabled for equations to render properly. If you have any issues with equations not rendering properly, please update your browser to the latest version or try using a different browser. If you need additional technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the HelpDesk (for World Campus students) or the IT Service Desk (for students at all other campus locations).Penn State E-mail Accounts
All official communications from Penn State are sent to students' Penn State e-mail accounts. Be sure to check your Penn State account regularly, or forward your Penn State e-mail to your preferred e-mail account, so you don't miss any important information.
Academic Integrity
This course follows the procedures for academic integrity of Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Penn State defines academic integrity as "the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner." Academic integrity includes "a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation, or deception." In particular, the University defines plagiarism as "the fabrication of information and citations; submitting others' work from professional journals, books, articles, and papers; submission of other students' papers, lab results or project reports and representing the work as one's own." Penalties for violations of academic integrity may include course failure. To learn more, see Penn State's Academic Integrity Training for Students.
Course Copyright
All course materials students receive or to which students have online access are protected by copyright laws. Students may use course materials and make copies for their own use as needed, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor’s express permission is strictly prohibited. University Policy AD 40, the University Policy Recording of Classroom Activities and Note Taking Services addresses this issue. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct, and/or liable under Federal and State laws.
For example, uploading completed labs, homework, or other assignments to any study site constitutes a violation of this policy.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Office for Student Disability Resources website provides contact information for Campus Disability Coordinators at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the Office for Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled. You will participate in an intake interview and provide documentation. See documentation guidelines at Applying for Services from Student Disability Resources. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Change in Normal Campus Operations
In case of weather-related delays or other emergency campus disruptions or closures at the University, this online course will proceed as planned. Your instructor will inform you if there are any extenuating circumstances regarding content or activity due dates in the course due to these delays or closures. If you are affected by a weather-related emergency, please contact your instructor at the earliest possible time to make special arrangements.
Reporting Educational Equity Concerns
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated (Policy AD29 Statement on Intolerance) and can be reported through Educational Equity via Report Bias.
Counseling and Psychological Services
Many students at Penn State face personal challenges or have psychological needs that may interfere with their academic progress, social development, or emotional well-being. The university offers a variety of confidential services to help you through difficult times, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, consultations, online chats, and mental health screenings. These services are provided by staff who welcome all students and embrace a philosophy respectful of clients’ cultural and religious backgrounds, and sensitive to differences in race, ability, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Services include the following:
Counseling and Psychological Services at University Park (CAPS): 814-863-0395
Counseling Services at Commonwealth Campuses
Penn State Crisis Line (24 hours/7 days/week): 877-229-6400
Crisis Text Line (24 hours/7 days/week): Text LIONS to 741741
Military Personnel
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Connect Online with Caution
Penn State is committed to educational access for all. Our students come from all walks of life and have diverse life experiences. As with any other online community, the lack of physical interaction in an online classroom can create a false sense of anonymity and security. While one can make new friends online, digital relationships can also be misleading. Good judgment and decision-making are critical when choosing to disclose personal information to others whom you do not know.
Deferred Grades
If you are prevented from completing this course within the prescribed amount of time for reasons that are beyond your control, it is possible to have the grade deferred with the concurrence of the instructor, following Penn State Deferred Grade Policy 48-40. To seek a deferred grade, you must submit a written request (by e-mail or U.S. post) to the instructor describing the reason(s) for the request. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested before the beginning of the final examination period. It is up to the instructor to determine whether or not you will be permitted to receive a deferred grade. If permission is granted, you will work with the instructor to establish a communication plan and a clear schedule for completion within policy. If for any reason, the coursework for the deferred grade is not complete by the assigned time, a grade of "F" will be automatically entered on your transcript.
Attendance
This course will be conducted entirely online. There will be no set class meeting times, but you will be required to complete weekly assignments with specific due dates. Many of the assignments are open for multiple days, so it is your responsibility to complete the work early if you plan to travel or participate in national holidays, religious observances or University approved activities.
If you need to request an exception due to a personal or medical emergency, contact the instructor directly as soon as you are able. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Diversity, Inclusion, and Respect
Penn State is “committed to creating an educational environment which is free from intolerance directed toward individuals or groups and strives to create and maintain an environment that fosters respect for others” as stated in Policy AD29 Statement on Intolerance. All members of this class are expected to contribute to a respectful, welcoming, and inclusive environment and to interact with civility.
For additional information, see:
- Penn State Affirmative Action Nondiscrimination Statement
- Policy AD 85 Sexual and/or Gender-Based Harassment and Misconduct, Title IX
- Penn State Values
- Action Together: Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Penn State
- Assessment of the Living, Learning, and Working Environment (ALLWE) in EMS| Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Mandated Reporting Statement
Penn State’s policies require me, as a faculty member, to share information about incidents of sex-based discrimination and harassment (discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation) with Penn State’s Title IX coordinator or deputy coordinators, regardless of whether the incidents are stated to me in person or shared by students as part of their coursework. For more information regarding the University's policies and procedures for responding to reports of sexual or gender-based harassment or misconduct, please visit Penn State's Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention & Response website.
Additionally, I am required to make a report on any reasonable suspicion of child abuse in accordance with the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law.
Disclaimer
Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus can be changed at any time, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. All changes will be communicated with you via e-mail, course announcement and/or course discussion forum.