Overview
This project-based capstone course requires students to apply the complete geospatial data science workflow to an authentic environmental, urban, social, or resource-management problem. Students define a defensible spatial research question, identify stakeholders, acquire and evaluate heterogeneous spatial datasets, and design a reproducible analytical workflow using relevant programming, GIS, spatial database, remote sensing, or volunteered geographic information techniques.
The course addresses metadata and data provenance, coordinate reference systems, geoprocessing, exploratory spatial data analysis, spatial statistics, visualization, uncertainty assessment, version control, research ethics, privacy, and professional communication. Students produce a documented final project and communicate findings to technical and nontechnical audiences through a written report, professional maps and visualizations, and an oral presentation.
Learning Outcomes
- Formulate a defensible and researchable geospatial question in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
- Evaluate the quality, provenance, spatial reference, completeness, bias, and ethical implications of heterogeneous geospatial datasets.
- Develop reproducible workflows to acquire, clean, integrate, analyse, and document geospatial data using appropriate programming and GIS tools.
- Select and justify geospatial analytical methods, including spatial statistics, remote sensing, or volunteered geographic information techniques, in relation to project objectives.
- Assess uncertainty, privacy risks, limitations, and potential social or environmental impacts associated with geospatial analyses.
- Produce professional maps, visualizations, technical documentation, and metadata appropriate to specified audiences.
- Synthesize analytical findings into a well-supported written report and oral presentation.
- Defend project decisions and respond constructively to peer and stakeholder feedback.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Lab | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Project proposal | 10.00% |
| Assignment | Literature and data review | 15.00% |
| Deliverable | Progress demonstrations (2 × 10%) | 20.00% |
| Assignment | Technical documentation | 15.00% |
| Capstone | Final report | 25.00% |
| Deliverable | Final presentation | 10.00% |
| Tutorial | Peer and stakeholder feedback | 5.00% |
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.