Faculty Contact Information

To Find out more about GIS via the World Wide Web

Future Training Sessions:
Introduction to ArcGIS I (for ArcView 9, ArcEditor 9, and ArcInfo 9)
Dates TBD
Fee: $500 ($450 for CIRGIS members)
Contact Paul Van Zuyle to register (Please include name, email, phone, and organization. He will reply with additional information)

Introduction to ArcGIS II (for ArcView 9, ArcEditor 9, and ArcInfo 9)
Dates TBD
Fee: $750 ($700 for CIRGIS members)
Contact Paul Van Zuyle to register (Please include name, email, phone, and organization. He will reply with additional information)

Past Training Sessions:
Migrating from ArcView 3.x to ArcGIS 8
Introduction to ArcView 3

Next Meetings:

• Friday, November 21, 2008. 8:00-4:00 Ventura College, Science Building (part of GIS Day)

• To register for future events and get more information visit the ESRI seminar web site (http://gis.esri.com/events/seminarlist.cfm).

Past Meetings:

• May 29, 2008: Ventura/Santa Barbara ArcGIS Users Group "State of GIS in Ventura and Santa Barbara" lunch session hosted by Professor Mike Goodchild in association with his new Spatial@UCSB Center Grand Opening at the Univ. of CA, Santa Barbara.
• Feburary, 2008, Agenda
• November, 2007, Combined with our annual GIS Day conference.
• August, 2007, Agenda
• May 2007, Agenda
• February 2007, Agenda
• June 2006, Agenda
• February 2006, Agenda
• December 2005, Agenda
• September 2005, Agenda, Note's from presentation: Editing Tips-n-tricks file
• May 2005, Agenda
• February 2005, Agenda

GIS is a rapidly growing industry.  It combines the power of maps with the functionality of a interactive computer database.  It allows for the input, manipulation, analysis, and output of any data located by real world coordinates (eg, Longitude/Latitude).  What is GIS?  To Find out more about GIS via the World Wide Web

Ventura College first offered courses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in fall 1998.
The first course was, Introduction to Geographic Information Systems.  That course is now numbered Geog 26 and is titled, Introduction to GIS Software (see below).  Now we also offer a course titled Fundamentals of Mapping and Geographic Information Systems(see below). The college hired the instructor who designed the initial course, Steve Palladino, as a full time faculty member in Geography and GIS for Spring 1999.  Steve is the primary contact for the VC GIS Program.

GIS Courses
Fundamentals of Mapping and Geographic Information Systems (Geog/GIS 22). This course focuses on understanding what GIS is and how it can be used.  It also explores the other geotechnologies (map reading and analysis, remote sensing, GPS, digital cartography) which are related to GIS.  Although it can be taken after Geog 26, in most cases it would be best to take this course first, as it provides the background to work effectively with GIS software.  This course also is transferable to UCSB and CSU.  (It was known for 1 semester as Geog 89B.)  Both entry level classes include hands-on practice with the software (though GEOG/GIS 26 is more hands-on).

Introduction to GIS Software (Geog/GIS 26) is designed to provide direct access to GIS software skills, by introducing an industry standard GIS package (ArcVGIS 9.2)  During this 8-week course, student, review and practice the basic functionality of ArcView.  By the end of this course the student is ready to begin applying the software to mapping and analyzing their environment.  (It is recommended that GEOG/GIS 22 be taken prior to, with, or soon after taking GEOG/GIS 26).

GIS Applications: Project Development (Geog/GIS 28) This course is an exploration of various, more advanced GIS techniques and concepts though an active learning project-based approach.  Students work with the instructor and each other to define, propose, design, and execute a project that incorporates GIS skills and knowledge. (Pre-requisite: GEOG/GIS. 26, both GEOG/GIS. 22 and/ GEOG/GIS. 26 are preferred; need to be proficient with ArcView 3 or ArcGIS).

Introduction to GPS (Geog/GIS 24): GEOG/GIS24 is a 3-day introduction to basic GPS concepts and the uses of GPS receivers. This 16-hour course is designed to introduce GPS to those who are considering using it in recreational, work, and research activities.  The course will combine classroom instruction and practical hands-on exercises, with participants working in small teams.  Hand-held GPS receivers, new integrated PDA/GPS units (Trimble GeoXTs), and a professional backpack model are used in this class.

• Fundamentals of Mapping and GIS (Geog/GIS 22) (3 units, 13 weeks, Fall 2009)
• Introduction to GIS Software (Geog/GIS 26) (2 units, 8 weeks, MW 7:00-8:50pm, started August 18)
• GIS Applications: Project Development (Geog/GIS 28) (1.5 units, 8 weeks, MW 7:00pm-9:50pm, starts October 15)
• Introduction to GPS (Global Positioning Systems) (Geog/GIS 24) (.5 units, Friday, October 17, 6-8:50pm and Saturdays, October 18/25, 8:30-3:30.)

• Fundamentals of Mapping and GIS (3 units, 13 weeks, Next class January 12, 2009)
• Introduction to GIS Software (Geog/GIS 26) (2 units, 8 weeks, MW 5:00-6:50pm, Starts January 12)
• GIS Applications: Project Development (Geog/GIS 28) (1.5 units, 8 weeks, MW 5:30-8:20pm, Starts March 16)
• Introduction to GPS (Global Positioning Systems) (Geog/GIS 24) (.5 units, one Friday & 2 Saturdays)

Completing the suite of GIS courses at Ventura College, qualifies a student for this department awarded Proficiency Award certificate.  Contact Steve Palladino for more information.

The breakdown of course requirements is as follows:

REQUIRED COURSES:	Course #	Title	Units
	GEOG/GIS V22	Fundamentals of Mapping and Geographic Information Systems	3
	GEOG/GIS V26	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Software	2
	GEOG/GIS V28	GIS Applications: Project Development	1.5
REQUIRED ADDITIONAL COURSES:		Select one and one-half (1.5) units from the following courses
	GEOG/GIS V28	GIS Applications: Project Development(2nd time)	1.5
	GEOG/GIS V24	Introduction to Global Positioning Systems	.5
	GEOG/GIS V90	Directed Studies (w/ GIS topic)	1-1.5
		Total Units	8

Steve Palladino , GIS Director, GIS/Geography/ESRM Instructor

Bill Budke, GPS/Geography/Agriculture/ESRM Instructor.

Paul Van Zuyle, Part-time GIS Instructor, GIS manager at Penfield & Smith Engineers.

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