COURSE DESCRIPTION
1st Semester
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS01) (M, 6 ECTS)
This is a mandatory (M) course, the successful attendance of which will give 6 ECTS. The aim of the course is to homogenize the knowledge of students in topics of Geographic Information Systems, introducing them to the basic concepts, features, capabilities and applications of GIS. Students will become familiar with the simple procedures performed in a GIS and in particular with topics related to the collection, import, storage, management, analysis, processing and presentation of data. They will understand the characteristics of the different projection and coordinate systems, in order to gain an understanding of the cartographic representation of the earth surface on the map.
Advanced processes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS02) (M, 8 ECTS)
This is a mandatory (M) course, the successful attendance of which will give 8 ECTS. The aim of the course is to introduce students to complex processing in Geographic Information Systems. As students are already familiar with the basic procedures performed in a GIS, they will immerse themselves in complex processes of importing, storing, managing, retrieving, analyzing, processing and presenting data. They will become familiar with alternative ways of collecting and managing geographical information, conversion of projection systems, use and homogenization of data of different origins, scale, etc.
Geospatial Databases and Data Mining (GIS03) (M, 8 ECTS)
This is a mandatory (M) course, the successful attendance of which will give 8 ECTS. In this course students will learn how to design, use, link and associate geospatial databases. The course also provides hands-on experience with relational, object-oriented and other types of geospatial databases, so that students gain practical knowledge of the structure, development and management of geospatial data.
Cartography and Visualization (GIS04) (M, 8 ECTS)
This is a mandatory course (M), the successful attendance of which will give 8 ECTS. This course examines the principles of cartographic design and visualization. The training will concern the creation of maps, the cartographic composition, the correct use of symbols and the development of new symbols, the methods of visualization of quantitative and descriptive data and the creation of thematic maps. Students will gain experience in techniques for creating three-dimensional / continuous data, geo-visualization and representation of spatial data in 3D. At the end of the course students will have a better understanding of the concepts of mapping and data visualization and practical experience, to create and compile their own map.
2nd Semester
Geospatial Modelling and Analysis (GIS05) (M, 8 ECTS)
This is a mandatory course (M), the successful attendance of which will give 8 ECTS. This course emphasizes the fundamental statistical methods and procedures related to geographic data and spatial analysis. More specifically, it focuses on point, line and polygon trend analyzes, interpolation methods, spatial accuracy estimation, error estimation, etc. Students are introduced to the basic concepts of landscape modelling with GIS.
GIS and Remote Sensing (GIS06) (M, 8 ECTS)
This is a mandatory course (M), the successful attendance of which will give 8 ECTS. This course examines the principles and technology of remote sensing, the methods of obtaining remote sensing data, as well as the type of data and their role in GIS applications. Students will learn to apply and evaluate digital image processing methodologies. The course also examines the common uses of remote sensing data in various applications, such as human safety and environmental sciences.
Scientific Research on GIS (GIS07) (M, 6 ECTS)
This is a mandatory course (M), the successful attendance of which will give 6 ECTS. This course focuses on the research planning process, study planning, information gathering and analysis strategies. Students will focus on identifying design problems and appropriate research questions, developing simple conceptual models, getting ideas, and applying them to real-world situations.
This course will present the theoretical background on important geo-environmental issues. Students are then asked to select a modern problem, which they will develop entirely in GIS environment. They will be asked to evaluate the results of the research they will conduct and to provide a solution.
Spatial Statistics (GIS08) (M, 8 ECTS)
This is a mandatory course (M), the successful attendance of which will give 8 ECTS. GIS technology enables the organization, analysis, and display of spatial data, which often reveals relationships, patterns, and trends. Traditional GIS analysis techniques include spatial queries, geographic analysis, buffer zones analysis, interpolation, and proximity calculation. Spatial statistics includes a set of methods for describing and modelling spatial data. In many ways, it expands what the mind and eyes do, intuitively, to evaluate spatial patterns, distributions, trends, processes, and correlations. This course focuses on the methods and models that exist in spatial statistics, and students will become familiar with basic spatial data analysis methods.
3rd Semester
GIS Programming (GIS09) (Ε, 8 ECTS)
This is an elective course (E), the successful attendance of which will give 8 ECTS. This course introduces students on how to extend the operational capabilities of a Geographic Information System (GIS) through programming. The aim of the course is to provide students with experience in the use of programming tools for cases that a problem cannot be addressed with existing GIS functions, or for cases where existing GIS tools and functions need to be expanded or modified.
Web and Mobile GIS Applications and Programming (GIS10) (Ε, 8 ECTS)
This is an elective course (E), the successful attendance of which will give 8 ECTS. This course is designed to introduce students to the essential skills needed to develop web applications and program spatial analytics in a Web environment. This course will also help you to understand the pros and cons of using GIS mobile applications. Mobile GIS is the extension of office GIS technology to the field. A mobile GIS allows users working in the field to capture, store, update, manipulate, analyse, and view geographic information.
Students will acquire skills for developing network GIS and applications on mobile devices such as phones and tablets. These skills will enable students to develop web and mobile applications to support geospatial data access, analysis, sharing, and synthesis over the Internet.
GIS for Decision Making (GIS11) (Ε, 8 ECTS)
This is an elective course (E), the successful attendance of which will give 8 ECTS. This course will help students understand the usefulness of GIS in decision making, with the ultimate goal of solving contemporary societal problems. They will learn to recognize the problem they will be called to face, to determine the criteria for the decisions they will make to solve it, the possible alternatives offered and their implementation and finally its solution in a GIS environment.
Natural Hazard Modelling (GIS12) (Ε, 8 ECTS)
This is an elective course (E), the successful attendance of which will give 8 ECTS. The aim of the course is to deepen their knowledge in GIS methodologies with emphasis on natural hazards and includes methods of natural hazard modelling, creation of monitoring and impact maps, creation of crisis management plan maps (e.g., modelling of population evacuation zones) and modelling applied issues (e.g. flood risk, tourism applications).
GIS applications on geoenvironment (GIS13) (E, 6 ECTS)
This is an elective course (E), the successful attendance of which will give 6 ECTS. This course includes the presentation and analysis of GIS applications, focusing and deepening on geoenvironmental issues. The aim is for students to specialize in the evaluation of primary data, in their proper preparation, as well as to be trained in the use of modern methodologies of spatial analysis of environmental data and in the correct interpretation of results in order to ensure maximum reliability of final maps.
GIS applications on health science (GIS14) (E, 6 ECTS)
This is an elective course (E), the successful attendance of which will give 8 ECTS. This course includes the presentation and examination of GIS applications in health sciences, such as epidemiology. GIS tools related to data management, analysis and mapping, contribute to the study of the spatial distribution of health issues, highlighting their geographical dimension, thus providing information necessary to take public health protection measures, to correlate local health problems with environmental peculiarities, etc.
GIS applications on economy (GIS15) (E, 6 ECTS)
This is an elective course (E), the successful attendance of which will give 6 ECTS. This course includes the presentation and examination of GIS applications in socio-economic issues. This course presents tools and techniques for understanding and analysing spatial socio-economic phenomena in order to highlight management methods and draw conclusions and information, vital in decision-making processes.
GIS applications on history - archaeology (GIS16) (E, 6 ECTS)
This is an elective course (E), the successful attendance of which will give 6 ECTS. This course includes the presentation and examination of GIS applications in history - archaeology. As historical-archaeological data may relate to different spatial scales, the analysis, interpretation and correlation of spatial patterns based on such data play an important role in the practices of these sciences. GIS tools can enable the representation of palaeogeography and palaeo-relief to the creation of renewable and interactive historical maps.
4th Semester
Thesis (GIS17) (M, 30 ECTS)
This is a mandatory (M) course, the successful attendance of which will give 30 ECTS. The duration of this course is one semester. The purpose of the thesis is to enable the student to apply the knowledge acquired during his studies by negotiating a contemporary problem. These problems can combine quantitative and qualitative methods as well as theory with practice.