GIS-1402 Assignment 2 | Applied GIS And Spatial Analysis

GIS-1402 2025 Assignment 2

Geographic Information System

Contents

1. Assignment information 3

• Introduction 3
• Course Learning Objectives 3
• Assignment topics 4
• Assignment Value 4
• Due Date 4
• Late penalty 5
• Assignment presentation guidelines 5
• Submission Instructions 5
• Plagiarism & Academic Misconduct 5
  • Artificial Intelligence 6
  • Further questions 6
    2. Assignment Body 7

Question 1. Applied GIS Concepts and Vector Fundamentals (100 Marks) 7

Question 2. Spatial Analysis and Visualisation (120 Marks) 7

Question 3. Transport Network Mapping Queensland (80 Marks) 8

Question 4. Forest Site Selection Using DEM (100 Marks) 8

Question 5. Boolean Overlay and Tree Analysis (100 Marks) 8

3. Assessment Rubric 10

1. Assignment information

This assignment information sheet contains all details you will need to complete and the assignment. Please read the assignment general information, due dates, submission requirements and questionnaire clearly before submitting your responses.

1.1. Introduction

This assessment is an individual assignment and potentially contributes up to 50% (500/1000 marks) of your final grade for this course. The course objectives assessed in this assignment are detailed in the course specification for this course.

1.2. Course Learning Objectives

This assessment addresses the following Course Learning Objectives :

1.3. Assignment topics

The table below shows how course modules are linked to the assignment questions

Table 1: Assignment Topics Module Linkage

For more information on the course topics that this assignment relates to, please see the course specification page.

This is linked through the course StudyDesk. Individual courses can be searched here.

1.4. Assignment Value

This assessment potentially contributes 50% (500/1000 marks) to your final grade for this course. A summary of mark distribution for the assignment is given in Table 2.

Table 2: Mark distribution for Assignment

1.5. Due Date

This assignment is due at 11:55 PM on 21 November (Friday) , as per the StudyDesk Assessment information.

For more information on the assignment due date, please see the course specification page. This is linked through the course StudyDesk. Individual courses can be searched here.

1.6. Late penalty

Information on extensions can be found here, and late penalties here.

In this course the late penalty is 5% per day or part there of . No assignment will be accepted after 10 days has expired from the due date. Please refer to the University Procedure for Assessment -

https://policy.usq.edu.au/documents/14749PL

1.7. Assignment presentation guidelines

Where a referencing style is required, the style guide can be located on the UniSQ library website

https://www.unisq.edu.au/library/referencing.

1.8. Submission Instructions

• Submit a single PDF report for the whole assignment clearly organised into sections corresponding to each question.
• Include labelled screenshots, maps with legends, captions, and short explanations as
• Make sure your figures are clear, and your maps are readable at 100%
• Filename format: pdf

For example: [Assignment N is submitted on-line. It must be in a PDF format with the file naming convention S urname_Firstname_studentnumber_XXXNNNN_AssN.pdf. It will be submitted electronically through the study desk.

1.9. Plagiarism & Academic Misconduct

All assessable work in a course is to be the individual students own work, unless advised otherwise in the Course Specification. It is unacceptable for students to share solutions to assessable work on this Study Desk site, or in any other manner. Violations of this principle are regarded as Academic Misconduct and will be dealt with under the USQ Academic Regulations.

For guidance on what constitutes Academic Misconduct and its various categories, at USQ refer to Academic Regulation 5.1 Definitions.

http://policy.usq.edu.au/portal/default/detail/student- academic-misconduct/

1.10. Artificial Intelligence

You should be aware of UniSQs expectations for academic integrity as they apply to this assessment.

Select 1 of the below depending on the requirements of your assessment

Description: Artificial intelligence (AI) is not to be used in this Assessment Item beyond basic editing features (spelling, grammar and text prediction) in Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, Grammarly and similar tools. There are many websites and apps that use AI text generation. Some websites will make small changes to ensure your grammar is correct, however, use of any websites or applications to re-write or paraphrase your work for you is poor academic practice and is an inappropriate and unauthorised use of AI.

Additional Information Required: It is good practice to regularly save drafts of your Assessment

Items as you work on them, as these can be used by you to support any claims that you have not used AI beyond what is permitted for this level.

1.11. Further questions

If you have any questions about the assignment (for example, if you dont understand what the task is asking you to do), please contact the course coordinator, Bikram Banerjee, using the Forums on Study Desk (if it is a general question) or by email (if it is of a personal nature about your capacity to complete the assignment due to extenuating circumstances): bikram.banerjee@unisq.edu.au.

2. Assignment Body

Question 1. Applied GIS Concepts and Vector Fundamentals (100 Marks)

1a. GIS Applications and Data Sources (40 marks)

List three real-world applications that can be conducted using open-source GIS tools and freely available spatial data. For each application, describe its purpose in 23 sentences and identify up to two possible data sources (e.g., open data portals or government datasets). To illustrate, include one simple map or screenshot for any one of the applications described. Keep the total response between 160 and 200 words.

1b. Vector Data Types and Visualisation (60 marks)

Provide a concise explanation of the three primary vector data types in GIS: points, lines, and polygons. Create one map that demonstrates all three types for a chosen study region. The map must include labels, a legend, scale bar, and figure caption. The accompanying explanation should be approximately 250 300 words.

(Note: Use a study region different from datasets in Assignment 01 or Question 2 of this assignment.)

Question 2. Spatial Analysis and Visualisation (120 Marks)

Use the dataset provided as Q2_data.zip.

2.1. Land Cover Classification (40 marks)

Produce a land cover map showing the three most dominant land categories by area using the natural attribute field Use colour schemes appropriate to natural environments

(e.g., green for vegetation, blue for water). The map should include title, legend, scale, and north arrow.

2.2. Clipped Path Overlay (40 marks)

Buffer all points by 200 metres and dissolve the result. Clip the line dataset using the dissolved buffer.

Present one map that shows only the clipped path sections within the buffer zone, clearly symbolised.

2.3. Polygon and Point Intersection Map (40 marks)

Identify polygons classified as heath under the natural attribute. Identify the points water_well under the man_made attribute tag. Present one map displaying these polygons, and the intersecting points, with all layers clearly distinguishable.

Question 3. Transport Network Mapping Queensland (80 Marks)

Create a transport network map of Queensland using vector data from a reputable open-source portal (such as Natural Earth https://www.naturalearthdata.com/downloads/10m-cultural-vectors/ ). Include major roads, railways, airports, and populated places. Use clear and distinct symbology for each feature type. All maps should include title, legend, scale bar, and north arrow. The focus should be on producing a clean thematic map where transport features are clearly represented.

Question 4. Forest Site Selection Using DEM (100 Marks)

Use the raster dataset Q4_DEM.tif and OpenStreetMap data available within QGIS. You are tasked with locating two new forest reservation areas that meet the following criteria:

• Thefirst region must fall between 300 and 400 metres elevation and cover between 900 and 1100 square metres.
• Thesecond region must > 400 metres elevation and cover between 1500 and 2000 square
• Bothareas should be near rivers or streamlines (visible in OSM), and must not cross major

Create a map with the DEM as a base layer, overlaid with 100 m contour intervals. Highlight the two

selected forest reservation areas, ensuring elevation classes and criteria are visually clear. Include all standard map elements (legend, scale, north arrow, title).

Question 5. Boolean Overlay and Tree Analysis (100 Marks)

The Q5 is provided with a data set around Springsure and Rolleston townships in Queensland. Your task is to collect quantitative information on trees after generating two buffer zones around Springsure and Rolleston. For this operation, you will be given the following three vector files in a zip folder (Q5_data.zip).

• Springsure.shp
• Rolleston.shp
• shp (an updated data set)

Create 2 buffers for Springsure and Rolleston. For Springsure , 50 km buffer = Buf1

For Rolleston , 40 km buffer = Buf2

Then, count the number of trees under 5 Boolean operations in the table. Fill in the answers in the table below.

Then, copy this table into your Assignment 02 submission document under the answer for Q5. The Q5 answer also must include screenshots of 5 selections of trees with the respective buffers. You need to work on how to isolate trees under each Boolean condition . Please note that several clipping operations and options under QGIS Geoprocessing Tools (Union, Dissolve, Difference, Clip, etc.) will be required to achieve correct answers.

Hint: Use the Union function to produce a combined buffer polygon. You can also use Difference

(and Symmetrical difference ) to build the required combinations.

Table to complete (counts of trees):

1. Buf1 AND Buf2 =
2. Buf1 NOT Buf2 =
3. Buf2 NOT Buf1 =
4. Buf1 XOR Buf2 =
5. Buf1 OR Buf2 =

3. Assessment Rubric

Check separate attachment for rubric.