Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – Study Guide, Practice Questions & Exam Review

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – Study Guide, Practice
Questions & Exam Review




Instructor Introduction and Background

Education and Work Experience

 Peng Gao, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Geography at the Department of Earth and
Ocean Sciences.

 Educational Background: B.S. in Agriculture, M.S. in Soil Science, and Ph.D. in Geography.

 Work Experience: Research Associate, Data and Information Visualization Librarian, and
Postdoc.

 Interdisciplinary Research Topics: Climate Extremes, GIS, Biodiversity Conservation, and
Collaborative Work on Soil Salinity.

 Hobbies include activities at Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center and various
natural locations like French Broad River and Zion National Park.

Collaborative Work and Research Topics

 Research topics include Climate Extremes (precipitation, wildfires, drought), GIS (spatial
data mining, flow mapping), and Biodiversity Conservation (habitat connectivity, species
distribution).

 Utilizes methodologies like trajectory analysis, graph theories, object-based image
analysis, hydrological simulation, and fire modeling.

 Engages in collaborative work on topics like soil salinity.

Course Information and Logistics

Course Overview and Learning Outcomes

 Foundational course on Geographic Information Systems/Science (GIS) principles and
tools.

 Utilizes ESRI ArcGIS Pro for practical applications.

 Learning Outcomes: Understanding GIS concepts, selecting coordinate systems, data
collection, spatial analysis, and communication of geographic data.