GIS Applications in Wildlife Management

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Academic Year of enrolment:

2020/2021

Type of Course:

Elective Course

Optional/Mandatory:

Optional

Degree:

Master's Degree Programme in WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION, AND CONTROL

Disciplinary Sector:

ZOOLOGY

Language:

English

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

CHIRICHELLA Roberta

Obligatory attendance:

Yes

Hours of classroom activity:

Prerequisites:

There are no required propaedeutic courses. General requirements include a basic knowledge on Personal Computer use, basic mathematics and analytical geometry, base concepts in wildlife management.

AF code:

A002943

Assessment Methods

Verification of learning:

The student will be provided with a set of data and a question concerning the wildlife management before taking the exam. The student will solve the question throughout the use of QGIS software and explain in a short report or presentation the steps she/he used to answer the questions. The final test is an oral examination. The student will answer and elaborate on some questions, starting from his/her report or presentation.
The final examination is aimed at assessing the achievement of the learning objectives defined above, first evaluating the comprehension of basic general concepts, then delving further into the ability to use them to solve real-world issues.

Teaching period

Second semester

Objectives

The aim of the course is to provide theoretical and practical knowledge for an efficient and conscious use of modern digital cartography tools (Geographic Information Systems) in wildlife management and conservation of natural resources. As an example, in this context, a GIS enables to manage spatial data on wildlife distribution and density, movements and habitat use patterns, and environmental variables (climate, landcover, etc.). Data can be mapped and analysed, which can provide valuable information for the development of management strategies.
The theoretical foundations on which digital cartography is based will be provided, to initiate the student to use GIS technologies to real problems, with particular reference to the use of vector and raster data in contexts connected to management and conservation biology. Theoretical lessons and examples of the use of GIS will be alternated to practical exercises for managing, analyzing, and visualizing wildlife data.
The software QGIS, a user friendly Open Source GIS licensed under the GNU General Public License, will be used during practical exercises.

Contents

Introduction to Cartography and Digital Cartography. Cartography as a communication tool, traditional and digital cartography, differences in the cartographic process, in communication paradigms and conceptual models.

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS): brief history of cartography, origin and history of GIS, definitions and fields of application. Cartographic tools and techniques: concepts of abstraction, simplification, generalization, scale, co-registration, legend.

Spatial representation techniques: perception of space, relationships between real objects and cartographic objects, simplification, filtering of information. Holistic (general) and meristic (thematic) cartography.

Cartographic paradigms: concepts of information layer, graphic primitive and geographical primitive, spatial dimensionality of the data. Standard data models: types of data, entity-attributes model, georelational model. Raster data and vector data, data georeferencing.

Cartographic projections and projection systems. Standard reference systems used in Italy and Europe: UTM, ETRS / LAEA, historical national reference systems (Gauss-Boaga), the Regional Technical Maps.

Traditional data sources and neo-geography. The global positioning system (GPS). Introduction to relational databases.

Examples of GIS use in Wildlife Monitoring, Management and Conservation.

Use of QGIS software: introduction to QGIS software, review of the main data formats, graphical and command line interface.

Spatial data analysis techniques: digitization techniques, map algebra, topological overlay, models. Layout: graphic language.

Recommended Bibliography

All the materials (slides, data sets, etc.) used are made available on the e-learning platform.

https://www.qgis.org/en/site/ (software used for pratical activities and QGIS Documentation available online).

Books for further information:

DeMers M.N., 2008. Fundamentals of Geographical Information Systems, 4th Edition. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0470129067

Bolstad P., 2016. GIS Fundamentals: A First Text on Geographic Information Systems. 5th edition. XanEdu. ISBN: 978-1506695877.

Heywood D.I., Cornelius S.C., Carver S.J., 2011. An Introduction to Geographical Information Systems. 5th edition. Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN: 978-0273722595.

Teaching Methods

Lectures and practical activities with the use of the software QGIS, a user friendly Open Source GIS licensed under the GNU General Public License.

Contacts/More Information

CONTACTS/INFO:
Dott.ssa Roberta Chirichella
Dept. of Veterinary Medicine, Univ. Sassari
rchirichella@uniss.it

GIS Applications in Wildlife Management

Course year: 1

Course year: 2

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GIS Applications in Wildlife Management