GEOG12022 - Geographic Information Systems

Showing: 2026 HE Term 2
General Information

Unit Synopsis

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) power Earth and human interaction decisions far beyond what we see in internet maps and vehicle navigation devices. Because GIS is a business tool in many organisations, you will be exposed to and acquire practical skills in making electronic maps and analysing geographical data. You will explore mapping concepts, spatial analysis processes and mapping communication standards that are as important today as they were for Gerardus Mercator in the 16th century.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 2
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites There are no pre-requisites for the unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 2 - 2026


Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Practical Assessment 20%
2. Practical Assessment 40%
3. Practical Assessment 40%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

Previous Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: Self-reflection
Feedback:
 Schedule a weekly tutorial to complement pre-recorded lectures and other materials provided on Moodle.

Recommendation:
 The scheduled weekly live tutorials should be continued, as students who attended sessions in Term 1 2025 found them to be highly beneficial.

Action Taken:
 Weekly live tutorials were maintained throughout T1 2026.
Source: Self-reflection
Feedback:
 This unit requires the use of GIS software, and students need basic computer skills to succeed.

Recommendation:
 Students who lack computer skills or need to refresh their knowledge will be encouraged to seek assistance from CQUniversity's Academic Learning Centre (ALC).

Action Taken:
 Support for IT issues and the GIS software was provided by both the Unit Coordinator and TaSAC. Students requiring assistance in basic computer skills were encouraged to seek assistance from CQUniversity's Academic Learning Centre (ALC).
Source: SUTE
Feedback:
 Provide more relevant practical examples

Recommendation:
 Provide more relevant practical examples, ensuring they reflect the diversity of courses in which students are enrolled.

Action Taken:
 In Progress
Source: SUTE/Self reflection
Feedback:
 Review and update learning materials and assessments

Recommendation:
 Review and update learning materials and assessments, ensuring they are distributed equitably throughout the term.

Action Taken:
 In Progress
Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Replicate a range of mapping operations using GIS data sets.
  2. Solve introductory spatial analysis problems using GIS data management and manipulation functions.
  3. Reproduce GIS-based maps that meet cartographic theory, standards and practice.

Nil

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Practical Assessment •
2 - Practical Assessment • •
3 - Practical Assessment •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Communication •
2 - Problem Solving • •
4 - Information Literacy •
6 - Information Technology Competence • •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10