The course aims the following integrated objectives: • to introduce concepts and methods of territorial analysis and its representation; • to provide a theoretical basis for GIScience (analysis and representation of the territory with digital media); • to initiate to the use of GIS (Geographic Information System) for spatial analysis with practical exercises; • to understand the role and importance of these techniques for planning tools and territorial government (with reference to the Italian and international context). Expected learning outcomes • Ability to elaborate geographic data and to produce spatial analysis using GIS tools; • Knowledge of the problems related to the territorial analysis, from the point of view of dealing with spatial data and their analysis and representation.

Basic knowledge of statistics, of the study and representation of the territory.

Will be treated during the week, a theoretical part (in the classroom) and a practical one (through exercises in laboratory). The theoretical part will cover about 25 hours, articulated in the following points: - Real and virtual: introducing tele-thematic knowledge of the territory and its representation - What is a GIS (not only cartography) and what are its functions - The GIS softwares and their characteristics - Models and structures of geographic data, geographic entities, scales of analysis and representation - Classification of the different data, spatial distribution, density, normalization - Geographical data and charts, modifiable areas unit problem, data types and types of charts - Relational Data Base Management System, Join, Spatial Join - Boolean logic, queries, geoprocessing tools - Units of spatial analysis - Raster analysis - Sources of data - Closing with presentation of Italian and international case studies with direct participation of experts invited in the classroom. The practical part in the laboratory provides group activities to be carried out in the laboratory, with a spatial analysis conducted through exercises designed to go hand in hand with the theoretical explanations.

The laboratory work is a fundamental part of learning of this course and involves the production of a territorial analysis of an area that will be assigned. The work will be divided into parts corresponding to specific exercises, which are linked to specific objectives and supported by drafts of practical explanation that will be given to students. After completing the course the laboratory work will feed into an analytical report, composed of maps and explanation text, to be delivered.

The course will be supported by slides of the theoretical parts and drafts for exercises that will be made available to students on the portal prior to the lessons. The texts adopted by the course (in italian) are: - Caiaffa E., ECDL GIS. La rappresentazione cartografica e i fondamenti del GIS, McGraw-Hill, Milano, 2011, 418 pp. a colori, 31€. - Graci G., Pileri P., Sedazzari M., GIS e ambiente. Guida all’uso di ArcGIS per l’analisi del territorio e la valutazione ambientale, Dario Flaccovio Editore, Palermo, 2008, 268 pp. a colori, 35€. Other texts, articles and references of support will be provided during the course. Specifical texts in english or other languages will be given and reccomended to foreign students during the course.

Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam; Practical lab skills test;

The examination of the course in Spatial Analysis using GIS is divided into three parts: a theoretical test (20 both closed and open questions, in 55 minutes of time, to be done without supporting teaching materials); a technical test in the laboratory (5 exercises to be performed in GIS with a duration of 120 minutes), the final oral part related to the group work, composed of maps and explanation text, to be delivered previously, which can be accessed by passing the previous tests with a minimum evaluation of sufficiency. The final vote is the average of the tests and the oral part.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.