Introduction to Geomatics

CCE 114 Geomatics
Dr. Dan Ames • Dr. James Halgren

CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

Overview

center

  • Course title: Geomatics
  • Credits: 2
  • Purpose: learn the basics of digital map data and geographic information systems
  • Instructor: Dr. Dan Ames and Dr. James Halgren
  • Learning Approach: In Class Discussions + Independent Readings & Quizzes + Hands-on Laboratory Assignments
  • Material: All will be on Learning Suite
CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

Why this course?

Random sample Civil/Environmental/Construction jobs from Monster.com…

CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

In-Class Discussions

  • Discuss and reinforce concepts learned in the book and labs
  • Real-time feedback and discussion
  • Attendance and participation count for your grade
  • Mark your attendance each week
  • Sign up for a mini-devotional on the class activity sheet →

Class activity sheet

CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

Mapping Readings & Quizzes

  • Each week, a reading will be assigned – generally from GIS Fundamentals by Bolstad & Manson, 7th Edition (Eider Press). Earlier editions are usable, but you're responsible for finding the right pages.
  • If you don't have the book yet, buy it now — you will need it. About $44 in print, $26.50 as an eBook. You will use it again in CCE 414.
  • Quizzes are open book. Read the assigned pages/materials, then take the quiz online on Learning Suite by Saturday at 11:59 pm. Quizzes cannot be submitted late.
CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

Laboratory Assignments

  • New lab assignment each week
  • Assigned/introduced in class on Tuesday
  • You are responsible to work independently on your lab starting as soon as it is assigned.
  • Due Saturday at 11:59 pm
  • Submit online on Learning Suite
  • Use your lab session hours
  • Zoom office hours available with TA's
  • Professor office hours by email/appt.
  • Ames office hours: calendly.com/dan-ames/office-hours

CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

How You're Graded

  • Your grade comes from three things:
    • Weekly readings + open-book quizzes on Learning Suite
    • Weekly hands-on lab assignments
    • In-class discussion, attendance, and participation
  • Attendance and participation are worth 25 points across the semester.
  • Point totals for labs and quizzes may shift as we adjust assignments — the current scale is always the one posted on Learning Suite.
  • Check Learning Suite for scores, due dates, and every course material.

CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

Using AI in This Course

  • You are encouraged to use AI tools — responsibly.
  • Use AI to help you learn:
    • Figuring out how to do something in QGIS
    • Working through a problem you're stuck on
    • Explaining a concept from the reading
  • Do the GIS work yourself: build your own maps, run your own analysis, and solve the problems with your own brain.
  • Always report it when you used AI to improve your report writing or to help solve any problems.
  • Full policy: byu-hydroinformatics.github.io/cce114-geomatics/policies/ai-policy

CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

Introductions

Dr. Dan Ames • Dr. James Halgren

CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

Dr. Dan Ames

  • Idaho Falls, Los Angeles, Hailey Idaho, Logan Utah
  • Scotland Edinburgh Mission
  • Utah State University
  • Idaho State University
  • BYU
  • GIS, Water Resources, Hydroinformatics
  • Environmental Modelling & Software
CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

Dr. James Halgren

  • Rhode Island, Arvada (Denver), Provo, Fort Collins, DC, Tuscaloosa, Taylorsville
  • Chile Santiago South Mission
  • BYU, Colorado State University
  • National Weather Service, EDAW, RTi, RTI, Lynker, UA
  • Roll Tide!!!
  • Flood Mapping, Operational Hydrology
  • Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology
CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

Your Teaching Assistants

HS
Harrison Stewart
Labs and lab hours · leads the Web Mapping with AI kickoff
IF
Isabel Fullam
Labs and lab hours · grades the Community and Professional Map Experience
AC
Adriene Cope
Labs and lab hours · new to the course this semester

Office hours, locations, and contact details are on Learning Suite. Come to lab hours early in the week, not the night before a lab is due.

CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

Who are you?

Your academic status is:

A. Freshman
B. Sophomore
C. Junior
D. Senior
E. It's complicated

CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

Who are you?

You are from:

A. Utah
B. California
C. Other U.S.
D. International
E. It's complicated

CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

Who are you?

Your tax filing status is:

A. Single
B. Married, filing jointly
C. It's complicated

CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

Who are you?

At BYU you're most likely to be found attending:

A. Football game
B. International Cinema
C. Play
D. Devotional
E. None of the above, I just stay in the engineering building

CCE 114 · Day 1 — Course Introduction

Attendance and participation are 25 points across the semester. Be explicit that the total point scale can move as labs are adjusted — Learning Suite is always authoritative.

Read this one out loud rather than skimming it. The line that matters: use AI to learn, not to produce. They must do the GIS work themselves and disclose AI help with report writing.

TODO: photos. No pictures of the TAs exist in any source deck. When Harrison, Isabel, and Adriene send photos, save them as images/ci-ta-harrison.jpg, images/ci-ta-isabel.jpg, and images/ci-ta-adriene.jpg and replace the three placeholder <div>s below with <img src="..." style="width:100%; height:260px; object-fit:cover; border-radius:8px;" />.

The TAs are your first stop for lab help. Names are from the Fall 2026 Learning Suite syllabus; hours and rooms live on Learning Suite so this slide does not go stale.