Geospatial Science
Introduction to Geospatial Science
Geospatial technology encompasses a wide range of tools, methods, and disciplines used to understand where things are, how they are distributed across space, and how they change over time.
Geospatial approaches are used in nearly every field, from environmental science and public health to business, transportation, agriculture, emergency management, and urban planning. Whether you are interested in analyzing maps, studying environmental change, working with data, or building applications, geospatial skills can be useful across a wide range of careers.
What is Geospatial Science?
Geospatial science is the study of information that has a geographic or spatial component. In other words, it focuses on understanding where things are, how they relate to one another, and how those relationships change over time.
For example, a researcher might use geospatial data to ask:
- Where are different types of vegetation located?
- How far is one location from another?
- Which communities are most vulnerable to flooding?
- How has a glacier changed over the past 50 years?
- Where do animal species migrate throughout the year?
- How has a city expanded over time?
- Where are public services most accessible?
- How do environmental conditions vary across a landscape?
Geospatial science provides tools and techniques for answering these kinds of questions using maps, geographic data, satellite imagery, GPS, remote sensing, spatial analysis, and computer-based mapping technologies.
Getting Started
There are many ways to begin learning about geospatial science. You do not need to become an expert in every area of the field.
A good starting point is to identify what you want to accomplish and then learn the tools that support that goal.
For example:
- Want to make maps? Start with GIS and cartography.
- Interested in satellite imagery? Explore remote sensing.
- Want to analyze geographic data? Learn spatial analysis and statistics.
- Interested in automation? Explore Python or R.
- Want to build interactive maps? Learn JavaScript and web mapping.
- Interested in field data collection? Explore GPS/GNSS and mobile mapping.
- Working with very large datasets? Explore geospatial data science and cloud computing.
Geospatial science is a broad and continually evolving field. You can start with the area that is most relevant to your interests and gradually develop additional skills as your projects require them.
Next Steps
The CSU Coding Support Hub and other CSU resources provide opportunities to learn the technical skills needed to work with geospatial data.
As you explore these resources, consider starting with a specific question or project. Learning geospatial technology is often easiest when you have a problem you want to solve.
Whether you are interested in environmental change, mapping, research, data science, programming, or another field entirely, geospatial technology can provide a powerful set of tools for understanding where things are, how they are connected, and how they change over time.
CSU Geospatial Courses
View CSU Course Tree
Resources
Books / eBooks
| Resource | Author / Provider | Best for (goal) | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials of Geographic Information Systems | Open Textbook LIbrary | Introductory book for mapping and GIS | Beginner |
Applied / Domain-Specific Resources
| Resource | Author / Provider | Best for (goal) | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| GIS Basics (Log in required) | ESRI | Learning basic GIS skills via ArcGIS | Beginner |
| Haonen Chen: Github | Haonen Chen | Learning to use Python for remote sensing and grounding applications using Mast3r software | Intermediate |
| Jessica Oconnell: Github | Jessica Oconnell | Using R for remote sensing applications | Intermediate |
| Kai Jeffreys : Github | Kai Jeffreys | Learning to use Python to build raster layers | Intermediate |
| Kai Jeffreys : Github | Kai Jeffreys | Building raster layers using R | Intermediate |
| Spatial Data Science with R and "terra" | Spatial Data Science | Learning to use GIS related R packages and R for various different branches of GIS | Intermediate |
| Caitlin Mothes: Github | Caitlin Mothes | Applying R Code to various environmental justice, GIS, and research | Advanced |
| Ryan Smith: Remote Sensing Hydrology Research Group | Ryan Smith | Applying remote sensing to hydrology applications | Advanced |
| Steve Leisz: ResearchGate | Steve Leisz | Learning geospatial applications for land use vegetation change | Advanced |
| Trent Pearce: Github | Trent Pearce | using R Code to map chemical exposure | Advanced |
| Geo University Online Platform (Pay Wall) | Geo University | Accessing any and all GIS materials | Beginner - Advanced |
| R as GIS for Economists | T. Mieno | Applying R To GIS concepts and application | Beginner - Advanced |
Online Courses / Structured Learning Paths
| Resource | Author / Provider | Best for (goal) | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| GIS For Natural Resource Management | University of Minnesota | Accessing supplementary course materials on GIS | Intermediate |
| Python Scripting for Geoprocessing Workflows (Log in Required) | ESRI | Learning to use ArcPy and python scripting for GIS processes | Advanced |
Video Courses / Structured Learning Paths
| Resource | Author / Provider | Best for (goal) | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geospatial Data Science with R | Watch&Learn with Dr. XP | Learning to use R Studio for GIS applications | Beginner |
| Programming for GIS 1 - ArcPy | Elizabeth Tulanowski | Learning to use ArcPy and Python for GIS | Intermediate |