Units / EAE5258
EAE5258 · Geographical information systems (GIS) for environmental science
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 5School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
The unit provides a practical introduction to the principles, techniques and applications in GIS for environmental problem solving and decision making. It covers a wide range of topics including general nature of spatial data, spatial data quality, georeferencing, raster and vector approaches, spatial data management, spatial analysis, spatial modelling, spatial visualisation, terrain analysis, and GIS applications in land use analysis, hydrology, ecology, geoscience, environmental policy and decision analysis.
Areas of study: Environmental security
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton | First semester | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Practicals | Demonstration | 50% | — |
| 2 | Project: Identify a site for remote bush lodges | Project | 30% | — |
| 3 | Online quizzes | Quiz / Test | 20% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.
Learning outcomes
- Understand the fundamental principles of GIS.
- Comprehend the nature of spatial data and their importance in environmental science.
- Identify environmental problems that can be solved with GIS.
- Grasp basic GIS skills.
- Demonstrate a high level of skills in the use of GIS software (ArcGIS).
- Design GIS-based solutions to environmental problems.
Workload
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Workshops | 12 hours |
| Practical activities | 30 hours |
Ask about EAE5258
Answered from the Handbook fields above — no AI, no guessing. Every answer links back to the source.
Community discussions about EAE5258
CommunityStudent experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.