Information Management and Cartographic Representation

Code:

MRCOT017

Acronym:

GIRC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Cartography

Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Geography
Course/CS Responsible:	Masters in Hazards, Cities and Spatial Planning

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MRCOT	11	MRCOT - Study Plan	1	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

1. To know the primary information producers (public or private institutions).


2. To develop skills and detailed knowledge about acquiring, manipulating, analysing and representing information.


3. Understand the operating principles of some computer programs, 'commercial' or free, available for processing information.


4. Understand the operating principles of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).


5. Know how to structure geographic information to be worked in GIS.


6. Mastering the most vulgarised GIS tools by solving specific problems.

Learning outcomes and competences

1. 
   
   Research and gather information from different sources.
   
   


2. 
   
   Analyze, interpret and represent different information using the most appropriate software.
   
   


3. 
   
   Handle spatial information in vector or raster format.
   
   


4. 
   
   Apply the acquired knowledge to cartography performance.
   
   


5. 
   
   Develop a critical attitude towards acquiring, manipulating and representing geographic information.
   
   

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Not applicable.

Program

1. Production and access to information. 1.1. Institutions and agents; 1.2. Data sources online.


2. Qualitative and quantitative information: acquisition, manipulation, analysis and standardization of information.


3. Computer software and organization, classification, processing and representation of information; 3.1. Statistical information processing; 3.2. Graphical representations.


4. Geographic Information Systems. 4.1. Models and spatial data formats; 4.2. Cartographic projections, coordinate systems and information geo-referencing; 4.3. Data acquisition and editing; 4.4. Spatial analysis and geo-processing operations; 4.5. 3D Analyst.


5. Production of thematic cartography. 5.1. Preparation of layouts; 5.2. Examples of the application of GIS to the development of cartography. 

Mandatory literature

McHaffie P., Hwang S., Follett C.; GIS: An Introduction to Mapping Technologies, Routledge (Taylor and Francis Group), 2020. ISBN: 9780367570903
Burrough, P.; McDonnell, R.; Lloyd, C. ; Principles of geographical information systems, Oxford University Press, 2015
Gaspar, J. ; Cartas e Projecções Cartográficas, Lidel, 2000
Harvey, F. ; A Primer of GIS. Fundamental Geographic and Cartographic Concepts, Guliford Press, 2008
Longley, P.; Goodchild, M.; Maguire, D.; Rhind, D. ; Geographical Information Systems and Science, John Wiley & Sons, 2005
Maroco J.; Bispo, R. ; Estatística Aplicada às Ciências Sociais e Humanas, Climepsi Ed. , 2005
Matos, J. ; Fundamentos de Informação Geográfica, Lidel, 2008
Orsby, T.; Napoleon, E.; Burke, R.; Groessl, C.; Bowden, L.; Getting to Know ArcGis desktop, ESRI Press, 2010
Ripley, B. ; Spatial Statistics, John Wiley & Sons, 2004

Comments from the literature

More specific references will be given to students during classes.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical presentations and exercises using predefined software to enable students to apprehend and fulfil the above-mentioned skills.

Software

QGIS
Microsoft Office Access
ArcGis
Microsoft Office Excel
SPSS
ArcGis Pro

keywords

Social sciences > Geography > Cartography

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	40,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	60,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	70,00
Frequência das aulas	41,00
Elaboração de projeto	51,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Presense in 75% of classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final classification= 0.6*practical assignment+0.4*test
The student must have a grade higher than 7.5 in the test.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable.

Internship work/project

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

According to the evaluation rules of FLUP.

Classification improvement

Only the therethical component (test) could improved, answering to a new test.
Other cases, acoording to FLUP rules.