Print this page GIS - Introduction and Sample Uses
Jonathan Terry, P.L.S.
Course Outline
GIS is changing the way we think about and use data - data of all kinds - to our ever-increasing advantage.
GIS is not just for GIS specialists any more! GIS is an underused resource in the design professional's toolbox of time-saving, technological wonders. Practical applications of GIS go beyond uses we've put them to, and this course offers a painless way to open windows of possibility and of understanding for the professional who judiciously applies worthy, time-saving, technological advances to increase production, professional stature and reputation.
Learn what this tutorial presents. But, also allow the creative side of your mind to consider the possibilities for your own use of GIS. I think you'll be inspired, as I was when studying these well-thought-out tutorials created by FEMA. The possibilities are exciting when the two worlds of spatial and tabular data are combined to produce a product retaining the best qualities of both. A new power is born through blending the strengths of two formerly diverse and radically different forms of data into one dynamic resource.
Synergism on steroids!
This course includes
a multiple choice quiz at the end,
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this coursework, you'll:
- Understand what a GIS is;
- Understand the buzz-words, the acronyms, and the abbreviations that form a foundational understanding of GIS;
- Become familiar with many terms associated with Flood Maps and Flood Studies as they apply to GIS and FEMA's DFIRMs;
- Learn what you need to set up a GIS (software, hardware, and data guidelines);
- Understand how GIS technology can help you produce maps and other information;
- Learn more about FEMA's use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to create Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs);
- Learn the components of DFIRMs;
- Understand relationships between graphic, base map, and metadata specifications;
- Better understand the differences between many similar Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) designations;
- Identify zones that require the purchase of mandatory flood insurance;
- Understand the basic considerations behind GIS database design;
- Learn how communities may benefit from using FEMA flood hazard data to determine where disasters may occur and how they may affect the community;
- Understand the uses of GIS for community-based applications within the context of FEMA's flood hazard mapping and mitigation efforts;
- Learn how GIS technology is used to improve both national and local disaster preparedness and hazard mitigation efforts;
- Understand important differences between digital and paper Flood Map formats; and
- Be more confident
when discussions with clients or peers turn to GIS topics.
Intended Audience
This course benefits land surveyors, planners, engineers, architects, insurance and real estate professionals, community officials and enforcement officers, assessors, persons serving on regulatory boards, private citizens, investors in real estate and lenders.
Benefit to Attendees
Regardless of whether this course is your introduction to GIS, FEMA's FIRMs or FISs or simply a study meant to broaden or refresh one's understanding, the GIS tutorials are well-crafted, thoughtful and clearly presented educational tools that are certain to expand professional capability, knowledge and confidence.
While enjoying
the tutorials and completing the quiz, you'll gain a fuller understanding of
GIS - its uses, requirements, applications and limitations - and, you may discover
applications of this technology that can benefit your own firm or your professional
development.
Course
Instructor
Your instructor for this session is a Licensed Land Surveyor who's obtained professional registration in eight states and served as assistant construction superintendent, teacher, writer, civil technician, site planner, land surveying department head; he's created and managed the construction layout division of a large construction management firm; founded and operated a successful construction layout business and two separate land surveying businesses; plus served as the employee of civil, surveying, and architectural firms, developers and state government. His career began in 1963.
The idea of assembling
this continuing education course came through experiencing FEMA's GIS tutorial
first-hand - and deriving both pleasure and significant benefit from the exercise.
As with the other FEMA tutorials I've studied, enjoyed, and used as the basis
for other courses offered through PDHonline, I realized that others might benefit
from these GIS tutorials as much as I have - and fulfill required continuing
education requirements in the process!
Course
Introduction
An old but never outdated saying goes, "You get out of something what you put into it." The centerpiece of this continuing education course is the grouping of three (3) FEMA's GIS tutorials. They provide an opportunity to learn and solidify understanding through well-thought-out and professionally prepared graphics and sensitive use of technology. These combine to produce a pleasant learning experience that's both efficient and effective.
The quiz questions form a vital part of your learning experience. They're designed to reinforce the learning gained through the tutorials and to focus attention on important points. The quiz is not separate from the course content or your study process, but an integral part of it. This course was developed with the sincere hope that you'll benefit from it as much as your instructor has.
It may be helpful to realize that FEMA's tutorials are, among other things, vocabulary lessons. A wise person taught me this saying: "Classification is the key to learning."
FEMA loves abbreviating! They introduce terms or names and reduce them to acronyms in a flash: FEMA, FIRM, BFE, NFIP, FIS, SFHA, and on and on. Ah, classification! May I suggest you take the time to memorize any new terms and abbreviations as they are introduced? This will greatly aid in your gaining the most from the course material. Be sure to frequently click on the glossary link and study the terms presented there.
I once read a book on bee keeping. Throughout the book, the author used the word, "brood." I didn't know what the word meant but kept reading, expecting to learn the meaning of the word "brood" through the author's usage. At the end of the book, I still didn't know what brood meant. That author knew his material so well, he forgot to teach. There's a difference between teaching and rambling. So many educators ramble. The FEMA GIS tutorial does not ramble; it teaches. But, as such, it requires that the student expend effort to memorize new terms as they're introduced. So, do click the links (words presented on the slides in a different color) and open the glossary frequently to discover or reinforce the meaning of any unfamiliar terms.
These are great
tutorials! You'll enjoy the time spent with them and profit from them, as I
have.
Course Content
The presentation of course content is based on three (3) of FEMA's GIS tutorials located on FEMA's web site.
In My suggestion is that you complete the quiz at the same time you study the tutorials. The quiz generally follows the presentation sequence of the tutorials. In some cases answers are found in the glossary and definitions provided through links within the tutorial (words in different colors than the body of the text.)
Your study material is found by clicking these three (3) links:
Tutorial 1
of 3:
http://www.floodmaps.fema.gov/tutorials/ot_gis1.swf
Tutorial 2
of 3:
http://www.floodmaps.fema.gov/tutorials/ot_gis2.swf
Tutorial 3
of 3:
http://www.floodmaps.fema.gov/tutorials/ot_gis3.swf
If you prefer to print the course content for your study and/or record, you
may download the following document, which also includes the instructor's notes:
FEMA-GIS
Tutorial 1 of 3: Screen- Captures of FEMA’s Well-Thought-Out and Carefully Presented
Tutorial on GIS (PDF, 33 pages, 7MB)
FEMA-GIS
Tutorial 2 of 3: Screen- Captures of FEMA’s Well-Thought-Out and Carefully Presented
Tutorial on GIS (PDF, 30 pages, 9MB)
FEMA-GIS
Tutorial 3 of 3: Screen- Captures of FEMA’s Well-Thought-Out and Carefully Presented
Tutorial on GIS (PDF, 26 pages, 4MB)
Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right-clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader from your computer.
Course Summary
Through this course, you've learned the backbone/framework/conceptual design of typical GIS spatial and tabular data integration. You've been exposed to the power for analysis placed in your hands through GIS capability. In short, you've gained confidence in your understanding of a valuable, professional resource and you probably thought of new ways to harness this power to benefit your professional practice or your business practice.
I hope you've enjoyed the tutorials as much as I have, and that the quiz aided your retention of information presented in the tutorial.
One final word: The certificates provided by FEMA at the end of each of their three GIS tutorials are, of course, not the PDHonline certificate, and FEMA's certificates do NOT confer professional development credits. They are however, very official looking, and make a worthy addition to any brag-wall space you may have available. Completing and passing the PDHonline quiz is required for continuing education credit.
Thank you for taking
this course.
Ralated
Links
Surveyor's Guide to the Elevation Certificate http://training.nfipstat.com/ecsurveyor/
Flood Insurance Library http://www.fema.gov/nfip/library.shtm
General Publications about the National Flood Insurance Program http://www.fema.gov/nfip/libfacts.shtm
FEMA's flood hazard site for engineers and surveyors http://www.fema.gov/fhm/en_main.shtm
FEMA software http://www.fema.gov/fhm/frm_soft.shtm
FEMA Map Store http://www.store.msc.fema.gov
(Then, click on Map Search.)
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
