Advanced Seminar - Algorithmic Aspects of GIS
Spring 2002-03, Monday 16-18,
building 32 room 111
Prof. Matya Katz
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are becoming more and more popular,
mainly due to the realization that many of the decisions we make depend in
one way or another on geographic information. For example, fire trucks are
sent by the fastest routes, in the study of diseases it is important to identify
areas of prevalence and rate of spread, the choice of an appropriate site
for a new plant or antenna often depends heavily on geographic information,
etc.
Unlike other information systems, GIS is based on data with spatial reference
points. This characteristic determines to a large extent the ways in which
data is represented in GIS, as well as the specialized data structures and
algorithms that are implemented in GIS.
The course offers a definition of GIS, surveys its various applications,
focuses on its computational aspects, such as, different ways of representing
data and efficient data structures and algorithms that are well suited for
storing and supporting common queries.
Requirements:
This is a 1-credit course. The main requirement is to give a lecture (usually
in pairs) and a written summary, based on material that I will provide (usually
scientific papers).
Students are required to attend all lectures. There maybe a few homework
assignments and short quizzes.