803F Fall 2026 Spatial Information: Where Am I?

National economics often go through four stages, from hunters and gatherers to agriculture, to manufacturing, and to information. The United States is increasingly an information-based economy where individuals are being employed in one capacity or another to work with information. Information often has a spatial component or association which is basically the science of geography. This course will review the various components of locational geography as a science. It will focus specifically on current technical geography which is primarily cartography, Geographic Information Systems, Global Positioning Systems, spatial statistics, and remote sensing. Spatial information is a significant part of our day-to-day activities but is often underappreciated. The intent of this course will be to explain these topics and thus make us more informed consumers and avoid being lost.

Barry Haack is a geographer and a career GMU faculty member. His primary academic interest is the use of satellites to map resources and the environment. He has conducted these activities in almost thirty countries, providing an opportunity to explore multiple locations and aspects of geography.