Type of course

Admission requirements

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent in social sciences, biology, natural resource management or a combination of these subjects.

Application code 9371.

Course content

Coastal and marine research often requires spatial data analysis and management, making Geographic Information Systems (GIS) an important tool for researchers and managers in the field. This course introduces students to the application of GIS in coastal and marine resource management and research, with a particular emphasis on fisheries and aquaculture. However, the knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired in this course are transferable to other sectors.

Students will learn how to acquire, process, analyze, and visualize geographical data, as well as how to design and effectively communicate their research using GIS. The course is tailored for master’s students who either have no prior experience with GIS or need a refresher. It integrates relevant theories, methods, and research design, focusing on the application of GIS in areas related to the students’ master’s theses or personal interests in social sciences. The course covers topics like spatial thinking and reasoning in the context of marine governance, methods of data input and editing, addressing data quality issues, and GIS data models and database management. A larger section of the course is devoted to spatial analytical methods and the applications of GIS in coastal and marine environments.

The course will mainly use ESRI ArcGIS. However, open-source alternatives such as QGIS, R, and Google Earth Engine will also be introduced and utilized to provide students with a broader range of tools.

Objectives of the course

The course aims to provide students with foundational and practical GIS skills essential for applying GIS in coastal and marine resource management. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to reflect on GIS methods that could be applicable to their own master's thesis projects or related topics.

Upon completing the course, candidates are expected to achieve the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge:

• has theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to use GIS and geo-visualization in coastal and marine research
• explains how GIS can be effectively integrated with social science research to support marine resource management, and demonstrate its application in mixed-method research
• describes key concepts such as geographic representation, spatial data structures, and GIS data models
• articulates the importance of maps and GIS as decision-making tools in coastal and marine resource management and planning
• critically discusses issues related to the quality of spatial data and the uncertainties involved in spatial analysis
• critically examines how data is represented in maps and analyze how maps, as subjective constructs, can convey diverse agendas and perspectives
• can evaluate the feasibility and use of different GIS tools, methods, and processes in research

Skills:

• can formulate a spatial research question based on their own interests in fisheries and marine resource governance
• can effectively use and develop skills in GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS, R) to process, analyze, and present spatial information
• can critically find, analyze, and evaluate various sources of spatial and non-spatial data
• can apply practical skills and theoretical principles of GIS to address geographical problems
• can identify, assess, and correct errors and uncertainties in GIS projects
• can develop models using a variety of analytical tools within GIS
• can independently apply spatial statistics and geo-statistical methods
• can conduct participatory mapping exercises, including PGIS and PPGIS
• can use GIS data and tools in own research projects

General competences:

• demonstrates the ability to apply spatial reasoning and GIS skills to solve geographical problems and support spatial decision-making
• identifies and analyzes the roles, benefits, limitations, and applications of GIS in the management of coastal and marine resources
• effectively communicates GIS research findings to create a meaningful impact on society

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Information to incoming exchange students

This course is available for inbound exchange students.

Please see the "Admission requirements" section for academic prerequisites to add this module in your Learning Agreement.

Do you have questions about this module? Please check the following website to contact the course coordinator for exchange students at the faculty: https://en.uit.no/education/art?p_document_id=510412

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