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Geospatial Analysis at the Nicholas School
Geospatial analysis skills are an absolute necessity to understand and solve complex environmental issues in our natural and built worlds. Discover how Duke's environmental master's degrees provide opportunities to gain cutting-edge skills in geographic information systems (GIS), satellite remote sensing and drone technology.
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Mapping the Future
Climate change threatens species worldwide. At the Nicholas School, we’re creating new geospatial tools that boost their odds of survival. With more than half of the world’s species now on the move because of climate change, finding solutions to these and related conservation challenges is increasingly urgent.
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using gis to study Antarctic coastal habitats
As part of a Bass Connections project team, Chelsea Tuohy MEM’22 worked with leading scientists to establish and integrate diverse remote sensing datasets in the study of rapidly shifting polar ecosystems amid global climate change.
Curricula
The curriculum is intended to augment the educational tracks of a wide number of students from across the Nicholas School. The Geospatial Certificate requires 3.5 courses from the geospatial curriculum.
Fundamentals: 1 course
ENVIRON 559 Fundamentals of Geospatial Analysis
This course is the gateway into more advanced training in the Geospatial Analysis curriculum. ENVIRON 559 covers fundamental aspects of geographic information systems and satellite remote sensing for environmental applications. Requires permission of instructor.
Semesters offered: Fall
Instructor: Pat Halpin / Peter Harrell
Lecture / Lab
4 credits
If you have a strong background in GIS, it is possible to skip ENV559: Fundamentals of Geospatial Analysis. This is determined on a case by case basis. However, you would still be required to fulfill the 3.5 course requirement from the remaining curriculum. Other courses may be allowable from Duke or other institutions - this must be discussed ahead of time with the geospatial faculty.
Topical Course: 1 course
Choose one of the following:
ENVIRON 761 Geospatial Analysis for Land and Water Management
This application course focuses on spatial analysis and image processing applications to support conservation management. The course covers habitat mapping, spatial analysis of animal movements, habitat modeling, and the optimization of nature reserve selection. The course requires a fundamental knowledge of geospatial analysis theory and analysis tools. Requires permission of instructor.
Semesters offered: Spring
Instructor: John Fay
Lecture / Lab
4 credits
ENVIRON 765 Geospatial Analysis for Coastal and Marine Management
This application course focuses on spatial analysis and image processing applications to support coastal and marine management. The course covers benthic habitat mapping, spatial analysis of marine animal movements, habitat modeling, and the optimization of marine protected areas. The course requires a fundamental knowledge of geospatial analysis theory and analysis tools. Requires permission of instructor.
Semesters offered: Spring
Instructor: Pat Halpin
Lecture / Lab
4 credits
Elective: 1 course
Choose one of the following:
ENVIRON 724 Landscape Analysis and Management
This course is a task-oriented perspective on landscape ecology and management. The tasks include habitat classification, sampling designs for inventory and monitoring, site selection and prioritization, modeling landscape change, and integrated assessment. These practical tasks are couched in the logical framework of adaptive management. Course consists of lectures and hands-on exercises in the computer lab. Prerequisite: ENVIRON 714 or consent of instructor.
Semester offered: Spring
Instructor: Dean Urban
Lecture / Lab
4 credits
ENVIRON 558 Satellite Remote Sensing for Environmental Analysis
Environmental analysis using primarily satellite remote sensing. Theoretical and technical underpinnings of remote sensing (georectification, image analysis, classification) coupled with practical applications (land cover mapping, change analysis, ground truth techniques). Strong emphasis on hands-on processing and analysis. Will include variety of image types: multi-spectral, hyper-spectral, radar and others. 4 credits.
Prerequisite: Environ 259 or previous GIS experience.
Semesters offered: Fall
Instructor: Jennifer Swenson
Lecture / Lab
4 credits
ENVIRON 859 Geospatial Data Analytics
This advanced lecture/laboratory course will provide training in more advanced skills such as: GIS database programming, modeling applications, spatial decision support systems and Internet Map Server technologies. The course requires a fundamental knowledge of geospatial analysis theory, analysis tools, and applications. Requires permission of instructor.
Semesters offered: Fall
Instructor: John Fay
Lecture / Lab - Offered by video-conference to the Marine Lab
3 credits
Field Skills Module: 1 course
Choose one of the following:
ENVIRON 701 Forest Measurements
This field course includes a GPS module that satisfies the GIS field skills requirement. Course is designed to provide field and analytical measurement skills expected of professionals working in forest ecosystem management. Additional emphasis on habitat assessment and forest vegetation and wildlife identification. Extensive field work required.
Semester offered: Fall
Instructor: Dan Richter/ Nicolette Cagle
Lecture
4 credits
ENVIRON 771 Geospatial Field Data Collection
This field module will provide training in field data collection and mapping skills: Creating geodatabases for field data collection, Using Trimble GPS units, differential correction of GPS data, mobile GIS interfaces (ArcPad). The course requires a fundamental knowledge of geospatial analysis theory, analysis tools, and applications. Requires permission of instructor.
Semesters offered: Spring
Instructor: Pete Harrell
Lab
2 credits
Master's Project / Dissertation / Independent Research
The certificate requires a research project showing use of geospatial analysis skills. This must include original analysis, not simply map making. The project generally is a student's MEM project or PhD dissertation, but an independent project can fulfill this requirement.
The geospatial project component must be written up as a document and approved by the supervisor of the project. An unwritten research analysis is not sufficient. To be certain your project qualifies, you should hand in a 1-2 page summary to Peter Harrell documenting what you are planning for your geospatial project no later than the semester prior to your graduation. This gives you time to adjust if the project does not meet requirements.
One of the main things that initially drew me to the Nic School was the impressive array of GIS coursework offered. In particular, I was really excited about the Geospatial Analysis for Coastal and Marine Management course taught by Dr. Pat Halpin, a marine GIS legend of his own right. I feel really fortunate to have a strong foundation in geospatial analysis and now have Pat as my MP advisor to guide me through my project.”
–Rabiya Dar, MEM’22, Coastal Environmental Management student
How to Pursue
Students who wish to pursue this certificate program should add the program through their Stellic account.
For more information on how to do so, please use the following links:
For more information on certificate courses, please contact the Certificate Director(s), Pat Halpin or Peter Harrell.
Forms
Faculty & Staff Training
As a service to the greater Duke University faculty and staff, the Geospatial Analysis program offers training in geospatial technologies. The skills gained are intended to benefit research opportunities for the university. Part of this training includes free access to the ESRI Virtual Campus, as part of the GIS site license. The following web page lists all free classes included in the Annual Users License: http://training.esri.com/gateway/index.cfm?fa=aul.premiumCourses
Please contact Pat Halpin or Peter Harrell for more information.
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