GEOG 4560/5560: VISUAL PROGRAMMING FOR GIS

- Spring 2003 -

 

 Instructor:

Minhe Ji

Meeting:

T: 6:00–8:50 PM (ENV 336 - CSAM)

 Office:

ENV 310G (565-2377)

UNT WebCT:

webct.unt.edu

 Email: 

jminhe@unt.edu

Office hours:

WR: 3:00 – 4:30 PM

 

Course Objectives: Introducing the modern concepts of component programming and object-oriented data structures and their applications in developing custom GIS solutions. Students will learn how to 1) define spatial problems in an object-oriented perspective, 2) decompose spatial processes into discrete computer program procedures, 3) implement the conceptual model of GIS operations in an object-oriented visual programming environment, and 4) evaluate and optimize procedure performance.

Course Description: The diverse nature of GIS applications requires that the system be customized and extended to accommodate the needs of specific implementation environments. The open system architecture coupled with object-oriented visual programming techniques has become the norm of modern GIS, and the demand for it has been increasing in both public and private sectors. To prepare students to meet the challenge of today and tomorrow's dynamic GIS market, this course examines the linkage between GIS and visual object-oriented programming and the way it can be used to customize and expand the functionality of a specific GIS system for different GIS applications.

Textbooks and Supplementary Readings:

  1. Schneider, David I., 1999. An Introduction to Programming Using Visual Basic 6.0. 4th Edition, Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ, 813 p. with CD (ISBN 1-01-936428-5)
  2. ESRI, 1999. MapObjects Manual Set, including Getting Started with MapObjects Using Visual Basic, Building Applications with MapObjects, and Programmer’s Reference.
  3. ESRI, MapObjects 2.1/2.2 (downloadable from www.esri.com for a 90-day evaluation) - Online Help (Important source of technical information on MapObjects)

Grading Policies: Attendance is required and crucial to keeping up with the pace of the class. Although no grade penalty, the effect of skipping class will show immediately in your performance. Your performance is evaluated with two exams (20% each), four labs (10% each), and one group project (20%). Labs are due in three weeks from the handout date. Late labs will be marked down by 10% per day. There is no makeup exam. The course grade will strictly follow the 90-80-70-60 breakdowns.

Extra Requirements: (1) Students need to prepare one zip disk for storing and turning in homework assignments. (2) Students will be paired to conduct the group project; therefore, choose your partner as early as possible. (3) Graduate students must assume the leadership of group projects.

Disabled Student Assistance: Any student who, because of a disabling condition, requires special arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact the instructor before the 4th class period of this semester to make necessary accommodations.

 

 

Course Outline: (Note: S – Schneider, G – Getting Started, B – Building Applications)

 Date

Major Topics

Assignments

1/14

Introduction to component GIS and basic concepts of objects and event-driven programming. VB: Integrated Development Environment (IDE), projects, forms, controls (Command Button, Label, TextBox, Frame, OptionButton), MsgBox, built-in functions.

S1-3.3, Append. B (How To)

Lab 1

1/21

Form properties, events, and methods. Modules. VB variables, operators, commands, keywords, and functions.  Modular design using subroutines. Error trapping and debugging.  MSDN online help (also see Appendix B). 

S3.4-4, Append. D and C

1/28

Decision and looping.  Comment statements. Tab orders.

S5-6

2/04

Arrays. Working with Status Bars, Toolbars, and Tabbed Dialogs.

S7, Lab 2

2/11

File Access. Working with MS Windows’ Common Dialog control and the OLE Container control.

S8

2/18

More controls - Checkboxes, Option Buttons, List Boxes, Combo Boxes. String concatenation. The Timer control. 

S11

2/25

The VB Application Wizard. Menus (typology and creation).  Databases and the Data control. The Visual Data Manager.

S12

Lab 3

3/4

Midterm Exam (7:30 – 8:50 PM, CSAM)

 

3/11

Understanding MapObjects basics (components, object model, diagram), Linking MapObjects to VB.

B1, G, MO Help Group Project

3/18

Spring Break!

 

3/25

Working with maps and layers: Layers collection (MapLayers, ImageLayers), DataConnection GeoDatasets, TrackingLayer, map extent and scale, map zooming, panning, and resizing.

B2-3, MO Help,

4/01

Cartographic rendering of map features: Symbol, TextSymbol, String collection, and Renderers.

B6, MO Help

Lab 4

4/08

Spatial and attribute data queries: Recordsets, Statistics, Query tools, relate and query external tables.

B7, MO Help

4/15

Creating and editing feature geometry and attribute data.

B4, MO Help

4/22

Map projection and coordinate transformation. Matching addresses and locating places.

B5, B8, MO Help

4/29

Group project presentation and evaluation

 

5/06

Final Exam (6:00 – 8:50 PM, CSAM)

All work due

 

 

Recommended Weekly Exercises from Schneider’s Book

 

Week 1: Exercises 3.1 – 7, 9, 29, 31, 33, and 37

              Exercises 3.2 – 1, 3, 5, 9, 21, 29, 35, and 39

              Exercises 3.3 – 1, 3, 5, 23, 25, 27, 29 and 57

Week 2: Exercises 3.4 – 1, 3, 7, 11, 13, 27, and 31

              Exercises 3.5 – 1, 3, 5, 11, 17, and 41

              Exercises 3.6 – 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 43

              Exercises 4.1 – 1, 3, 5, 11, and 39

              Exercises 4.2 – 1, 3, 5, 17, and 23

              Exercises 4.3 – 1, 3, 5, 9, and 11

Week 3: Exercises 5.1 – 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 17, 23, 27, and 37

              Exercises 5.2 – 1, 3, 5, 7, 23, 25, and 43

              Exercises 5.3 – 1, 3, 5, 17, and 25

              Exercises 6.1 – 1, 3, 5, and 21

              Exercises 6.2 – 1, 3, and 5

              Exercises 6.3 – 1, 3, and 5

Week 4: Exercises 7.1 – 1, 3, 5, and 11

              Exercises 7.3 – 1 and 3

              Exercises 7.5 – 1, 3, 5, and 7

Week 5: Exercises 8.1 – 1, 3, and 5

Week 6: Exercises 11.1 – 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 35

              Exercises 11.2 – 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9

              Exercises 11.3 – 69 and 75

Week 7: Exercises 12.1 – 1, 3, and 5