Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

The School of Engineering, Department of Geomatics at UAA offers a 32 credit, transcripted curriculum leading to a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems.  It represents a focused, concentrated study in the emerging field of geospatial data—information that can be referenced to the Earth through various coordinate systems.  Data of this type may include buildings, earthquake faults, river systems, geologic deposits, land use, population centers or anything that can be geographically referenced, and it includes remotely-sensed satellite imagery as well. 

In a Geographic Information System, geospatial data can be organized into a series of “layers” in order to illustrate patterns, distributions, relationships, or other analytical functions.  Because a GIS is such a powerful and beneficial management tool, the need for people who are well-versed in GIS is at an all time high in the State as well as elsewhere in our country.  Nearly every Alaska business or agency is either using or could be using a GIS to assist them in management and decision making.