Geographic Information: Literacy and Systems

Here are the final project maps. Congrats for all of your hard work!

Birth Rate and Working Women (Adina)
Manhattan Flower Shops (Corey)
GDP & Household Consumption in China (Ding)
Queens Bingo Center (Jaime)
US Asian Population (Jason)
Chinese Savings Deposits (Keli)
Global GDP (Luis)
Air Travel CO2 Emissions (Lyudmyla)
US Foreign Born Population (Maria)
Births & Health Professionals (Melinda)
US Unemployment (Mesbahul)
NYC Barnes & Noble (Rosa)
Investment Assets in China (Simpson)
NYC Yarn Stores and Seniors (Willa)
US Christmas Tree Production (Prof. D)

We will meet in room 135 from 3:30pm to 5:30pm on Wed Dec 16th for final presentations. You will hand in your project at the beginning of class, but remember to email me your final map no later than noon on 12/16.

The last day for GIS lab hours is today, Mon Dec 14th, from 3:30pm to 6pm in room 135.

You can use the following Proj4 definitions to create custom projections in QGIS so you can define your window properly. (NOTE – when using FWtools to define / convert projections, you must use the OGCWKT url from the Spatial Reference website – NOT these definitions).

USA Contiguous Lambert Conformal Conic

+proj=lcc +lat_1=33 +lat_2=45 +lat_0=39 +lon_0=-96 +x_0=0 +y_0=0 +ellps=GRS80 +datum=NAD83 +units=m +no_defs

North America Lambert Conformal Conic

+proj=lcc +lat_1=20 +lat_2=60 +lat_0=40 +lon_0=-96 +x_0=0 +y_0=0 +ellps=GRS80 +datum=NAD83 +units=m +no_defs

Asia Lambert Conformal Conic

+proj=lcc +lat_1=30 +lat_2=62 +lat_0=0 +lon_0=105 +x_0=0 +y_0=0 +ellps=WGS84 +datum=WGS84 +units=m +no_defs

World Robinson

+proj=robin +lon_0=0 +x_0=0 +y_0=0 +ellps=WGS84 +datum=WGS84 +units=m +no_defs

World Mollweide

+proj=moll +lon_0=0 +x_0=0 +y_0=0 +ellps=WGS84 +datum=WGS84 +units=m +no_defs

If you’re trying to install QGIS on your own computer (running a version of Microsoft Windows) and are still running in to problems – try the following. Your system may be missing some C++ libraries that are required. Download this package from Microsoft and run it to install the libraries. Then, uninstall QGIS and try reinstalling it. Hopefully this should do the trick.

The library has recently added new computers on the 2nd floor. These computers are full workstations that have the suite of software that is available in the BCTC labs – AND – they also have QGIS and FWtools. This means that you can work on class GIS projects: 1. on your own computer / laptop, 2. on one of the library’s full-size laptops available for checkout or 3. at one of the workstations on the 2nd floor of the library.

The 58 computers that HAVE open source GIS and the full software suite are beside and behind the stairwell on the 2nd floor of the library. The stand-up terminals in front of the reference desk and the sit down terminals immediately behind the reference desk area do NOT have the full suite. For more details, see this announcement.

While there are staff who will be roaming around this lab to help you with general computer problems, they can NOT give you assistance with GIS; nor can the librarians at the reference desk. For GIS help, use the resources on our class website, the resources I distributed and class, or contact me.

You can use this definition to add the Robinson Projection as a custom projection in QGIS:

+proj=robin +lon_0=0 +x_0=0 +y_0=0 +ellps=WGS84 +datum=WGS84 +units=m +no_defs

I know some of you who have been trying to install QGIS on laptops with Vista have been having some problems. Here’s a post from the QGIS forum that addresses this issue:

http://forum.qgis.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4568

Just a reminder that next week the college will be operating on an adjusted schedule. There will be no classes on Monday. Tuesday will follow a Monday schedule. Wednesday will be a normal schedule.

That means that our class will be meeting next week on Tue 9/29 and Wed 9/30. See ya then.

GIS Office / Lab hours for LIB 3010 and PAF 9600 will be held in room 135 in the library building every Monday from 3:45pm to 5:45pm, starting Monday 9/28 and ending Monday 12/14 (with the one exception of Mon 10/12, as the college is closed for Columbus Day).

Students can use this optional time to work on GIS related projects and to get help or assistance from me. No appointment is necessary – just show up.

If you need assistance and can’t make the office hours based on your schedule, you are welcome to contact me to make an appointment.

A reminder that our map quiz will be on Monday, September 21st, and Assignment 2 will be due at the beginning of class that day. For a copy of the assignment and practice maps for the quiz, check out the assignments page and consult the previous post for your country.