15251 Spatial Analysis in Planning and Property
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particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject introduces students to using geographic information systems (GIS) for spatial analysis in property development and planning. Students develop the skills to use standard ArcGIS software to manage and manipulate spatial data, create multidimensional thematic maps, perform simple statistical and other analyses of spatial relationships, and present spatial information in a form relevant to policy, regulatory, and development decisions. The subject introduces demographic, economic, environmental, topographic, and other physical data, and enables students to learn how to use these various data types to solve site analysis, development feasibility, market analysis, master planning, and social and economic planning problems.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
| 1. | Apply key GIS concepts, principles, tools and methods for spatial analysis using standard ArcGIS software in property development and planning applications. |
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| 2. | Articulate knowledge on data sourcing, collection and management, various database structure such as the Australian Census, and others, cadastral data, coordinate systems, and surface models. |
| 3. | Conduct tasks on geodatabase creation, building new information base and spatial analysis, mapping and visualisation, and provide recommendations. |
| 4. | Develop reporting and presentation skills for communicating spatial analysis outcomes. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:
- Communicate with people with a wide variety of cultural, social, economic, and political perspectives using verbal, written, and visual media (C.2)
- Apply a wide array of analytic tools (which may include spreadsheets, geographic information software, three-dimensional simulations, or negotiation tools) to determine constraints and opportunities (P.3)
- Interpret spatial relationships and evaluate the spatial and physical impacts of proposals (R.3)
- Determine the sources, limitations, and relationships of different data used to analyse problems and evaluate solutions (R.4)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
The term CAPRI is used for the five Design, Architecture and Building faculty graduate attribute categories where:
C = communication and groupwork
A = attitudes and values
P = practical and professional
R = research and critique
I = innovation and creativity.
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs) are linked to these categories using codes (e.g. C-1, A-3, P-4, etc.).
Teaching and learning strategies
The subject consists of five modules on GIS concepts, methods, and applications. The subject is delivered in six full days with each block consisting of a three-and-a-half-hour full day of classes. Each full day consists of either online lectures or on-campus workshops. Two three and a half hours workshops on integrating GIS methods and providing feedback on the final assessment. Lectures include key GIS concepts, data, and analysis methods, guest lectures from the GIS industry, and practical GIS case studies and applications from planning and property fields. Tutorials are focused on specific GIS methods and develop skills in students to use standard ArcGIS software as a spatial analysis tool confidently. Subject resources, lectures, and assessments are available on the UTS Canvas. The students are required to read relevant resources for each module available on the UTS Canvas before coming to the class. The students complete a multi-choice questionnaire individually on each module; actively participate in tutorials and also collaboratively work and make group presentations on practical case studies in class. Also, students are required to prepare individual reports for two assessments. Marks and detailed feedback on assessments and tutorials are given to the students through Canvas. Also, feedback on assessments is provided through emails, individual meetings, and in the classes.
Content (topics)
- This subject develops conceptual understanding of spatial data and spatial analysis principles, technical skills in using GIS software to manage data and analyse relationships, and practical application of conceptual understanding and technical skills to real world planning and property development problems.
- Class work will introduce students to the structure and uses of census data (and other secondary social and economic data), and the use of aerial photographs, cadastral, topographic, and other information about the physical characteristics of land.
- Hands on tutorials will teach students how to use ESRI ArcGIS 10 software, how to develop personal and file geodatabases, and how to integrate data from different sources. Introductory assessment tasks will enable students to learn how to perform basic operations such as joins and merges, running queries, defining buffers, and developing thematic maps.
- More advanced assessment tasks will develop students’ proficiency in using simple spatial statistics and other analytic tools to estimate impacts and guide policy, regulatory, and development decisions.
- Examples of applications include performing social, economic, or environmental impact analyses; analysing development potential and market characteristics; developing spatially refined development guidelines or regulations; and analysing the constraints and opportunities posed by a specific precinct or site.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Tutorial assignments on GIS methods and multi-choice questionnaires
| Intent: | This assessment teaches the different GIS methods to equip the students with the fundamental GIS skills for conducting spatial analysis and mapping. | ||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 3 and 4 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): C.2, R.3 and R.4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 30% | ||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Construct a series of simple thematic maps to answer a question
| Intent: | This assessment develops skills on how to generate new spatial data from georeferenced aerial photographs, create a geodatabase to store data systematically and prepare object oriented maps. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): C.2, P.3, R.3 and R.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 30% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 3: Perform an in-depth spatial analysis of a property or planning topic
| Intent: | This assessment develops skills on how to extract data from a database, conduct spatial analysis and mapping and formulate outcomes that could inform planning policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): C.2, P.3, R.3 and R.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 40% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
The DAB attendance policy requires students to attend no less than 80% of formal teaching sessions (lectures and tutorials) for each class they are enrolled in to remain eligible for assessment.
Students must obtain a total mark of 50% or more to pass the subject.
Students must attend at least 80% of all the timetabled hours.
Required texts
The required readings and resources will be available on UTS Canvas on the subject site. Students are expected to read a selection of online resources that will be updated annually.
Recommended texts
The recommended texts and additional readings and resources of interest will be available on the UTS Canvas. Students are expected to read a selection of online resources that will be updated annually.