Geographic information systems

Refreshing knowledge of basic terms and rules in GIS and introducing advanced approaches in GIS. Learning advanced theoretical spatial informatics rules that will be applied in tutorial. Additional objective of the course is to educate students for advanced daily use of GIS for solving environmental challenges. Students will test their competences during tutorial/exercises or their seminars.

The purpose of the course is to upgrade existing spatial information knowledge hence the basic understanding form the field of spatial informatics is necessary. This course is related to the course Environmental Information Systems and GIS (1OK008) and is its upgrade.

• Refreshing of GIS basics
• Data, representation and cartography in GIS
• Object creation and advanced editing in GIS
• Data quality control in GIS
• Advanced operations and analyses in GIS
• Basic modelling with raster data
• Basic concepts of geostatistical analysis
• Basics of model building in GIS
• GIS project planning

Knowledge and understanding:
Students are introduced to: the advanced operations in GIS; creation and complex editing of spatial data; analysis of spatial data; basics of spatial statistics; they learn: performing advanced editing of spatial data; performing mathematical, logical and other operations on spatial data; to build simple models in GIS. Gained knowledge is useful as a tool for solving spatially related challenges in their study of the environment.

GIS literature for beginners:

• Bolstad, P. (2025). GIS fundamentals: A first text on geographic information systems (7th ed.). Eider Press. E-version One of the best general GIS textbooks for beginners. Unlike books tied to specific software, it covers the fundamental principles of GIS: i) spatial data models, ii) coordinate systems, iii) projections, iv) GNSS, v) remote sensing, vi) attribute data, vii) raster and vector analysis, viii) surface analysis, ix) interpolation, x) modeling, xi) standards, and xii) data quality.
• Law, M., & Collins, A. (2026). Getting to know ArcGIS Pro 3.6. Esri Press. Probably the best practical introduction to ArcGIS Pro. It presents and explains the basic concepts of GIS while also introducing practical tasks such as data management, geoprocessing, map layouts, and spatial analysis. It is explicitly intended for students, self-directed learners, and professionals.
• Buckley, A. R., Kimerling, A. J., & Kennelly, P. J. (2026). Map use: Map reading and design (9th ed., Vol. 1). Esri Press. Very useful for understanding the cartographic aspects of GIS, including scale, projections, thematic mapping, map design, relief representation, imagery, and how maps communicate information.

GIS literature for somewhat more advanced users:

• Law, M., & Collins, A. (2024). Getting to know ArcGIS Pro 3.2. Esri Press. The previous edition of Law, M., & Collins, A. (2026), listed above. Nevertheless, it remains useful for beginners. It covers geodatabases, mapping, 3D GIS, geoprocessing, Python programming, and spatiotemporal analysis.
• Gorr, W. L., & Kurland, K. S. (2025). GIS tutorial for ArcGIS Pro 3.4. Esri Press. E-version An excellently structured workbook for beginners. It covers map creation, file geodatabases, geoprocessing, geocoding, and spatial analysis step by step. It is well suited to practical exercises.
• Fu, P. (2025). Getting to know mobile GIS. Esri Press. E-version A good introductory book for understanding how GIS extends beyond desktop mapping, while also explaining field data collection, mobile workflows, location sharing, and web GIS. Its straightforward explanations are accessible even to beginners.
• Esri. (2025). A to Z GIS: An illustrated dictionary of geographic information systems (3rd ed.). Esri Press. A very useful companion reference for beginners. It contains nearly 3,000 GIS terms and hundreds of illustrations, making it helpful for learning terminology such as topology, geodatabase, raster, geocoding, spatial join, datum, and projection.
• Carpenter, C., Lange, J., & Szukalski, B. (2024). Top 20 essential skills for ArcGIS Online. Esri Press. A very practical introduction to web GIS. It teaches how to use ArcGIS Online to create layers, web maps, and professional visualizations. The chapters are intentionally short and task-oriented, making the book especially suitable for beginners.

Attendance of the tutorial 80% (40% of the final grade) Seminar paper or written examination (60% of the final grade)

Dr. Marko Komac is an Associate professor in field of Geology at Univesity of Nova Gorica.

1. KOMAC, Marko. Regional landslide susceptibility model using the Monte Carlo approach - the case of Slovenia. Geological Quarterly, ISSN 1641-7291, 2012, vol. 56, no. 1, str. 41-54. [COBISS.SI-ID 2015829]; kategorija: 1A3 (Z1); točke: 67.38

2. KOMAC, Marko, URBANC, Janko. Assessment of spatial properties of karst areas on a regional scale using GIS and statistics - the case of Slovenia. Journal of caves and karst studies, ISSN 1090-6924, 2012, vol. 74, no. 3, str. 251-261, doi: 10.4311/2010ES0188R. [COBISS.SI-ID 2093909]; kategorija: 1A4 (Z1); točke: 25.66, št. avtorjev: 2

3. JEMEC AUFLIČ, Mateja, KOMAC, Marko. From national landslide database to national hazard assessment. V: MAMBRETTI, S. (ur.). Landslides, (Safety & Security Engineering Series, ISSN 2047-7686). Southampton; Boston: Wit Press, cop. 2012, str. 11-26. [COBISS.SI-ID 1983317]; kategorija: 3B (Z1); točke: 15

4. KOMAC, Marko, URBANC, Janko. Karta površinske razširjenosti in stopnje zakraselosti kraških območij v Sloveniji 1:250.000 = Map of the spatial distribution and karstification intensity of surficial karst areas in Slovenia 1:250.000. Ljubljana: Geološki zavod Slovenije, 2013. 1 zvd., barve. ISBN 978-961-6498-40-1. [COBISS.SI-ID 269747456]; kategorija: 2C (Z2); točke: 10

5. KOMAC, Marko, KUMELJ, Špela, RIBIČIČ, Mihael. Zemljevid dovzetnosti za pojavljanje drobirskih tokov v Sloveniji 1:250.000 = Debris-flow susceptibility map of Slovenia 1:250.000. Ljubljana: Geološki zavod Slovenije: = Geological survey of Slovenia, 2010. 1 zvd, barve. ISBN 978-961-6498-17-3. [COBISS.SI-ID 246759936]; kategorija: 2C (Z2); točke: 6.67

6. HE, Xiaogang, HONG, Yang, YU, Xiaodi, CERATO, Amy B., ZHANG, Xinhua, KOMAC, Marko. Landslides susceptibility mapping in Oklahoma state using GIS-based weighted linear combination method. V: SASSA, Kyoji (ur.), CANUTI, Paolo (ur.), YIN, Yueping (ur.). Landslide science for a safer geoenvironment. Vol. 2, Methods of landslide studies. Cham ... [etc.]: Springer, cop. 2014, str. 371-377, doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-05050-8_58. [COBISS.SI-ID 2281045]; kategorija: 4C (Z2); točke: 4.17

7. VERBOVŠEK, Timotej, KOMAC, Marko. Študijsko gradivo za predmet GIS v geologiji : (prosojnice s predavanj in vaj) : avtor in nosilec predmeta: doc. dr. Timotej Verbovšek : poglavje o daljinskem zaznavanju: doc. dr. Marko Komac. Ljubljana: Univ. v Ljubljani, NTF, Odd. za geologijo, avg. 2010. 267 str., ilustr. http://www.geo.ntf.uni-lj.si/tverbovsek/. [COBISS.SI-ID 835678]; kategorija: SU (S) Drugo učno gradivo; točke: 1

8. KOMAC, Marko, KUMELJ, Špela, RIBIČIČ, Mihael. Model dovzetnosti za pojavljanje drobirskih tokov v Sloveniji v merilu 1: 250.000 = Debris-flow susceptibility model of Slovenia at scale 1: 250,000. Geologija, ISSN 0016-7789. [Tiskana izd.], 2009, vol. 52, no. 1, str. 87-104. [COBISS.SI-ID 1649493]; kategorija: 1C (Z2); točke: 10