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Advanced GIS

Code: 43381
Credits: 9
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems OP 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Xavier Pons Fernandez
Email :
xavier.pons@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Alaitz Zabala Torres

Teaching staff (external to UAB)

Alba Brobia
Joan Cristian Padró
Sergi Gumà
Joan Masó Pau

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are not required

Objectives

This optional module, increases the knowledge acquired in the spatial analysis module of the same master, focusing on the exploitation of geographic databases from the SQL language, as well as in specific practical cases. In addition, it adds concepts associated with the publication of cartography on the Internet taking into account international standards for data and metadata that allow interoperability including semantic, technologic, information, etc.

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Use different cartography publication tools on the Internet.
2. Know the advantages and limitations of the use of standards in the GIS world.
3. Apply international standards to the edition and publication of data and metadata on the Internet.
4. Master queries in databases using SQL language.
5. Design appropriately information systems for the use of data in a scientific, professional or informative context.

Learning outcomes

  • CA10 (Evaluate the adequacy of different data and metadata formats, assessing the importance of applying international standards in their documentation and publication in web environments.) Evaluate the adequacy of different data and metadata formats, assessing the importance of applying international standards in their documentation and publication in web environments.
  • CA11 (Generate relational and spatial databases in the context of GIS, including the development of conceptual models, logical and physical design, knowledge of Database Management Systems (DBMS), and the application of SQL language to consult and use geographic data.) Generate relational and spatial databases in the context of GIS, including the development of conceptual models, logical and physical design, knowledge of Database Management Systems (DBMS), and the application of SQL language to consult and use geographic data.
  • KA12 (Provide the concepts, methodologies and conceptual and logical design languages of alphanumeric and spatial databases.) Provide the concepts, methodologies and conceptual and logical design languages of alphanumeric and spatial databases.
  • KA13 (Properly recognise different data and metadata formats to interpret the importance of international standards in the documentation and publication of these on the Internet.) Properly recognise different data and metadata formats to interpret the importance of international standards in the documentation and publication of these on the Internet.
  • KA14 (Identify the structured processes of a GIS in professional environments: capture, processing and generation of geographical products.) Identify the structured processes of a GIS in professional environments: capture, processing and generation of geographical products.
  • SA14 (Use the SQL language to solve complex problems of querying, creating, manipulating and modifying a Database Management System (DBMS).) Use the SQL language to solve complex problems of querying, creating, manipulating and modifying a Database Management System (DBMS).
  • SA15 (Apply international standards (OGC, ISO), handling different tools for editing and publishing data and metadata on the Internet.) Apply international standards (OGC, ISO), handling different tools for editing and publishing data and metadata on the Internet.
  • SA16 (Develop suitable information systems for data management in a scientific, professional or informative context.) Develop suitable information systems for data management in a scientific, professional or informative context.

Contents

RELATIONAL DATABASES. SQL

Theory and exercises:

  1. Introduction to Relational Database Systems
  2. Databases and Geometry columns
  3. DB ecosystem in the GIS world
  4. Database model design
  5. Data creation and loading
  6. Alphanumeric SQL queries
  7. Spatial queries

Practical case:

  1. Installing PostgreSQL/PostGIS and administration with PGAdmin
  2. Data visualization with MiraMon (ODBC)
  3. Data visualization and loading with QGIS
  4. SQL queries with PGAdmin


CASE STUDIES IN GIS IMPLEMENTATIONS

Contents based on a series of conferences by representatives of different public and/or private organizations that explain the design and use of the GIS in their work environments

STANDARDS FOR DISTRIBUTED GEOSERVICES

1. Introduction

1.1. Interoperability and IDES

1.2. Standardization organizations

1.3. UML and XML

Exercise 1: Introduction to XML and XML Schema (Enterprise Architech XMLValidator Buddy)

2. Metadata standards

2.1. Introduction

2.2. Dublin Core

2.3. FGDC

2.4. ISO (19115, 19139)

2.5. IDEC profile

2.6. Profile NEM

2.7. INSPIRE profile

2.8. Metadata management applications

Exercise 2: Metadata documentation

3. Format standards

3.1. Modeling of data: UML and GML

Exercise 3: Introduction to GML, generation schemes from UML

3.2. Other format standards (SHP, MMZx, KML, GeoJSON, SWE Common, WaterML, ...)

Exercise 4: Google Earth, Google Mapsand KML

4. GEOSERVICES STANDARDS

4.1. Catalog services: CSW

4.2. Display services: WMS, WMTS, OWS Context

4.3. Download service: WCS, WFS, SOS

4.4. Processing service: WPS

Exercise 5: Connection with external WMS servers.


PUBLISHING CARTOGRAPHY ON THE INTERNET

1. Introduction

1.1. Protocols

1.1.1. Layers of protocol

1.1.2. Client server architecture

1.1.3. Most commonly used protocol layers

1.2. Technological evolution of distributed GIS

1.2.1. Static maps (theory for exercise 0)

1.2.2. Static webpages (theory for exercise 1)

1.2.3. Interactive web maps (theory for exercise 2)

1.2.4. Geoservices distributed

1.3. Nearby technological examples

2. ISO and OGC standards

2.1. Introduction to WxS or OWS

2.2. Services for the evaluation of information

2.2.1. Review of the Web Map Service (theory for exercises 3, 4, 5)

2.2.2. Use of several WMS clients

2.3. Services in the cloud (exercise 6)

3. Practice

3.1. Introduction to IIS

3.2. Static map publication

3.3. Dynamic map publication

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Preparation of works 90 3.6
Tutorials 4 0.16
Reading of articles / reports of interest 1 0.04
Classroom practices 60 2.4
Personal study 21 0.84
Master classes / exhibitions 49 1.96

Principal working language: spanish (spa), although the bibliographic materials may be in other languages, mostly English.

In this module there are 3 groups of learning activities:

  • Targeted activities consist of classes of theory and practices that will be carried out in a specialized computer room. At the beginning of each of the subjects that make up the module, the teachers will explain the structure of the theoretical-practical contents, as well as the evaluation method.
  • Supervised activities consist of classroom practices that will allow you to prepare the work and exercises of each subject, as well as tutorial sessions with the teachers in case the students request it.
  • Autonomous activities are a set of activities related to the elaboration of works, exercises and exams, such as the study of different material in the form of journal articles, reports, data, etc., defined according to the needs of autonomous work of each student.
Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Writing reports 100 0 0 CA10, CA11, KA12, KA13, KA14, SA14, SA15, SA16

This subject/module does not incorporate single assessment.

The evaluation of this subject consists of the following system:

  • The accomplishment of different writings reports proposed throughout the teaching of the module and delivered within the fixed term, that will be worth the 100% of the final note. A correct formal presentation and careful preparation will be assessed.

Aspects to take into account.

  • Regular class attendance is highly recommended in order to follow the lessons properly. Follow on through streaming is only justified in cases of physical impossibility for face-to-face assistance, since an important part of the experiences and learning are fully achieved through contact with the teaching staff and classmates.
  • If you have to deliver practical work, this delivery must be done within the deadlines for them to be evaluated.
  • On carrying out each evaluation activity, Lecturers will inform of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.

Extraordinary exams.

  • The exams or other evaluation procedures not reaching the minimum mark of 5 out of 10 must be repeated. This extraordinary exam is unique.
  • Students will have the opportunity to take a extraordinary exam the day or days scheduled by the faculty.

Cheating: Copies and plagiarisms.

The commission of any irregularity in an assessment activity (academic fraud, plagiarism or improper use of AI, unless such use is expressly authorised in the course guide) that may lead to a significant change in the grade will result in that assessment activity being graded with a 0. If the course guide stipulates that obtaining a minimum grade in that assessment activity is an essential requirement for passing the course, or if several irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0. In addition, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who incurs any of these irregularities.

Bibliography

Open Web Mapping Course. Author: Dr. Ian Turton, Senior Research Associate, GeoVISTA Center; Graduate Faculty member, Master of GIS Program. © 2007 The Pennsylvania State University. https://courseware.e-education.psu.edu/courses/geog585/content/home.html

Peng, Zhong-Ren and Ming-Hsiang Tsou (2003) Internet GIS: Distributed Geographic Information Services for the Internet and Wireless Networks. Wiley. 679p.

Mitchell T, (2005) Web Mapping Illustrated. Using Open Source GIS Toolkits. O'Reilly. 349 p.

Scharl A. and Tochtermann K (2007) The Geospatial Web: How Geobrowsers, Social Software and the Web 2.0 are Shaping the Network Society (Advanced Information and Knowledge Processing) Springer 282p.

Galdos System Inc (2003). Developing and Managing GML Application Schemas. A Best Practice Guide. TR2003-232-01. Editor: David S. Burggraf.

Gutiérrez Martínez, J. M., F. Palacios, J.A. Gutiérrez de Mesa (2003). El estándard XML y sus tecnologías asociadas. Danysoft. 506 pp.

Kresse, W. i K. Fadaie (2004). ISO Standards for Geographic Information. Ed. Springer. 322 pp.

Lake, R., D. Burggraf, M. Trninic, L. Rae (2004). Geography Mark-Up Language: Foundation for the Geo-Web. John Wiley & Sons. 406 pp.

Nogueras-Iso, J., F.J. Zarazaga-Soria i P.R. Muro-Medrano (2005). Geographic Information Metadata for Spatial Data Infrastructures: Resources, Interoperability and Information Retrieval. Ed. Springer. 264 pp.

Standards Guide ISO/TC211 Geographic Information/Geomatics https://geo.cepal.org/en/contenido/categoria-normas/institucional/archivos/pdf/iso_tc_211_standards_guidev2.pdf

OGC Reference Model (ORM) http://www.opengeospatial.org/standards/orm

Federal Geographic Data Committee (1998). Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata. CSDGM Version 2: FGDC-STD-001-1998. Washington.

International Organization for Standardization (2003): International Standard: Geographic information – Metadata. ISO 19115:2003. Technical Committee 211

International Organization for Standardization (2007): International Standard: Geographic information – Metadata XML Schema Implementation. ISO 19139:2007. Technical Committee 211

Subgrupo de Trabajo del Núcleo Español de Metadatos (2005): Núcleo Español de Metadatos (NEM v1.0). SGTNEM200501. https://idee.es/resources/presentaciones/JIDEE05/sesion_04_02.pdf

IDEC (2002), Estàndard ISO/TC 211 DIS 19115 – Metadades -- Esquema IDEC. http://www.geoportal-idec.net/geoportal/cat/docs/perfilidec.pdf

W3C Recommendation (2006), XML Extensible Markup Language (XML) 1.0 (Fourth Edition). https://www.w3.org/TR/xml/

W3C Recommendation (2006), Extensible Markup Language (XML) 1.1 (Second Edition). http://www.w3.org/TR/2006/REC-xml11-20060816

W3C Recommendation (2004), XML Schema Part 0: Primer Second Edition. http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/REC-xmlschema-0-20041028

W3C Recommendation (2004), XML Schema Part 1: Structures Second Edition. http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/REC-xmlschema-1-20041028

W3C Recommendation (2004), XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes Second Edition. http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/REC-xmlschema-2-20041028

OpenGIS® Geography Markup Language (GML) Encoding Specification v.3.2.1 http://portal.opengeospatial.org/files/?artifact_id=20509

GML 3.1.1 simple features profile v.1.0.0 http://portal.opengeospatial.org/files/?artifact_id=15201

OGC KML v.2.2.0 http://portal.opengeospatial.org/files/?artifact_id=27810

OpenGIS® Web Service (OWS) Common v.2.0.0 http://portal.opengeospatial.org/files/?artifact_id=38867

OpenGIS® Web Map Service (WMS) Implementation Specification v.1.3.0 http://portal.opengeospatial.org/files/?artifact_id=4756

OpenGIS® Web Coverage Service (WCS) Implementation Specification v.1.1.2 http://portal.opengeospatial.org/files/?artifact_id=27297

OpenGIS® Web Feature Service (WFS) Implementation Specification v.1.1.0 http://portal.opengeospatial.org/files/?artifact_id=8339

OpenGIS® Web Map Tile Service (WMTS) Standard v.1.0.0 http://portal.opengeospatial.org/files/?artifact_id=35326

Software

MiraMon, ArcGIS, QGIS, Enterprise Architech, XML Validator, GeoServer, MiraMonMapServer, Office Microsoft

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Spanish second semester afternoon
(PAULm) Classroom practices (master) 1 Spanish second semester afternoon