Semester Project EAS 591G
The major assignment for this course is the production of a semester project. For this project, you will be asked to identify a problem or research question that involves geospatial components. This can come from your research, work in other classes, or, if you need help, we can provide suggestions for possible projects. We are also flexible, so that if you have other ideas for the project than research projects, for example, the creation of a lesson plan or a community engagement project, let us know what you’re thinking, and we’ll see if we can accommodate you.
Your project should involve both the acquisition of data and the use of external data, involve some kind of analysis and visualization (using tools we’ve discussed in the course or other appropriate tools you’ve discovered on your own), and a summary of how your research has answered or at least clarified your question or problem.
Both the product you create (including its presentation) and your overall analysis will be graded.
Milestones:
Project Proposal (Feb. 11) 10 pts
A one page written outline of your project is due, which will be graded. You will also be asked to share an informal (no visuals required) three to five minute presentation of your proposal with the rest of the class.
The proposal should state your research question or problem, and describe the importance of answering the question or solving the problem. Also, you should include a preliminary analysis of the kind of information you need to gather, how you will analyze it and present it.
The main purpose of the proposal is to make sure you’ve thought about the project in some depth and for you to receive feedback on whether your idea is feasible and reasonable. Also, to let everyone know what kinds of projects are being considered.
Progress Report (Mar. 7) 20 pts
In a sponsored research project, the funding bodies frequently want to know whether you’re making good use of the money they gave you before they give you more. To that end, the Progress Report is an important part of scientific communication. This progress report will give you practice in presenting mid-project status reports.
A short (5 minute) presentation and a one-age written summary of your project are due March 7 (if you are unable to attend the March 7 class, your presentations are due the previous class period).
In your progress report, you should re-iterate your project statement and your plan for what you need to do to accomplish your project. Then, describe what you’ve done so far, what you have left to do, what you still need to learn (techniques, tools), and if there are any obstacles/challenges to finishing the project.
This will also help us make sure you’re not getting stuck on your project and let us know if we can help address any challenges to the project.
Final Presentations: (110 pts)
Will consist of a ‘document’ and a 15 minute presentation/demonstration of your project. A substantial chunk of geoinformatics is understanding what the possibilities are for integrating data and cyber-tools. Thus, your presentations will add substantial value to course by showing the variety of ways geoinformatics can be applied to real research questions. Because of the nature of the work, ‘document’ here really refers to some published, public product. How your project – its methods, its results, and its metadata – can best be presented to the world will depend on, well, your project. Examples include, however, the upload of datasets and/or tools to GEON (that will make sense further into the semester), an online, interactive map application or mashup, or a more traditional written report.
Both the ‘synchronous’ (presentation) and ‘asynchronous’ (document) portion of your project will be graded. In addition, you will be asked to review the presentations of your colleagues and asked to comment on how one of them might be relevant or add value to your own project.
The Semester Project will be graded on
Asynchronous:
Overall Clarity and Presentation: 10pts.
Content: 10 pts.
- Quality of work
- Documentation of resources used
- Use of both external and collected data
Analysis: 20 pts.
- Appropriate and effective use of geoinformatics tools
- Depth and quality of analysis
Conclusions: 10 pts.
- Conclusions consistent with data and analysis
Synchronous:
Overall Presentation: 10pts
Content: 10 pts
Analysis: 10 pts
Effective use of visualization tools 10 pts
Peer Review Grades:
- Grades as determined by peers for your presentation: 10 pts.
- Quality of your review of others’ presentations: 10 pts.