EarthSys144: Fundamentals of GIScience

Spring 2026 Lab Syllabus (Draft Mode)

Course Description

"Everything is somewhere, and that somewhere matters."

EarthSys144: Fundamentals of GIScience introduces core ideas and methods in Geographic Information Science (GIScience), with an emphasis on practical workflows for creating, managing, analyzing, and presenting spatial data. Students work with contemporary GIS tools and real-world datasets to build spatial reasoning and technical fluency.

Primary topics include:

• Geographic data models and spatial thinking
• Coordinate systems and map projections
• Data creation, editing, and field collection
• Tabular operations, SQL, and data integration
• Raster and vector analysis workflows
• Cartographic design and communication
• Introductory remote sensing and web mapping

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Use GIS software and cloud geospatial tools in academic and applied settings.
2. Evaluate spatial data quality, coordinate systems, metadata, and fitness for use.
3. Build reproducible workflows for data creation, cleaning, analysis, and visualization.
4. Communicate spatial evidence through clear maps, graphics, and written interpretation.
5. Apply foundational geospatial methods to a student-defined spatial question.

Teaching Team

Instructor

• Stace Maples (maples@stanford.edu)

Teaching Assistants

• Zoie Chang (zochang@stanford.edu)
• Maya Passmore (marykwas@stanford.edu)
• Serena Turner (serena25@stanford.edu)

Course Logistics

Lecture

• Days/Time: Monday and Wednesday, 1:30 PM - 2:50 PM
• Location: Building 380, Room 380Y

Lab Sections

Students should enroll in one lab section. If you have conflicts with the current Lab Section offerings. TA Lab assignments are subject to adjustment.

Cross-listed sections (ESS 164 and EARTHSYS 144) share the same meeting times and spaces.

Final Exam (Registrar Scheduled)

• Opens: Wed, June 5, 2026
• Closes: Jun 10, 11:59pm
• Location: Online/Canvas
• Format: Open/Resubmits allowed

Office Hours and Contact

• Office hours: Weekly times will be announced in Week 1 and posted on Canvas.
• Format: Office hours will be held in person and by Zoom.
• Quick help: Use the EarthSys144 Slack workspace for short questions.
• Email: For course support, email the instructor and TAs together and include EARTHSYS 144 in the subject line.

Grading (Boilerplate)

• Weekly Labs and Exercises: 50%
• Midterm Assessment: 20%
• Final Assessment: 20%
• Mini-Project: 10%

Grading Philosophy and Policies

Everyone can get an A+ in this course, simply by making use of the resources we provide you with.

Late Work and Resubmissions

• We have due dates, but we do not dock points for late submissions.
• Resubmissions are allowed and can regain any points docked from a previous submission. Take the feedback, learn from it, and resubmit.

Exams

• Exams are open notes, open slides, open book, open internet — use whatever resources you have.
• Exams are released in Canvas and open for one week.
• Exams may be resubmitted an unlimited number of times for perfect marks. Exam resubmissions are really my final opportunity to teach you the things I think you need to know.

Hard Deadlines

There are a few deadlines that must be met for final grading purposes and for the sanity of the teaching team. These will be clearly marked. Otherwise, you are free to pace yourself.

Why?

I do this because I would rather give you the opportunity to go back and correct, or learn what you missed, rather than having you move along without it. My job is to teach you — not to be your supervisor — and I don't believe in punitive grading as a pedagogical tool.

A Word of Advice

Don't let things get away from you. While everyone is capable of doing the lab work ahead of us, it is time-consuming and often iterative. Waiting until the last week is a terrible strategy for success. Use the due dates as a guide to keep yourself on track.

Assignments and Assessments

• Lab work is assigned weekly and typically due the following week.
• Midterm assessment: Released Friday, May 1, 2026 (12:00 AM), due Sunday, May 10, 2026 (11:59 PM).
• Final assessment aligns with university final exam policy and/or assigned take-home format (see announcements).
• Mini-project proposal and final deliverable dates: see Key Dates section.

Important Dates and Deadlines (Spring 2026)

University and Enrollment Deadlines

• March 30 (Mon): First day of instruction
• March 30 (Mon, 5:00 PM): Preliminary Study List deadline
• April 17 (Fri, 5:00 PM): Final Study List deadline (last day to add/drop classes)
• May 11 (Mon, 5:00 PM): Term withdrawal deadline
• May 22 (Fri, 5:00 PM): Change of grading basis deadline
• May 22 (Fri, 5:00 PM): Course withdrawal deadline
• May 25 (Mon): Memorial Day holiday (no classes)
• June 3 (Wed): Last day of classes
• June 5-10 (Fri-Wed): End-quarter examination period

Course and Exam Milestones

• Mini-project proposal due: Friday, May 1, 2026 (11:59 PM)
• Midterm released: Friday, May 1, 2026 (12:00 AM)
• Midterm due: Sunday, May 10, 2026 (11:59 PM)
• June 8 (Mon, 3:30-6:30 PM): Scheduled final exam slot
• Finals week: Final assessment due (if take-home format is used)
• Mini-project final deliverable due: Sunday, June 7, 2026 (11:59 PM)

Grading System Deadlines

• May 26 (Tue): Grade rosters open for Spring quarter
• June 12 (Fri, 11:59 PM): Grades due for graduating students
• June 16 (Tue, 11:59 PM): Grades due for non-graduating students

Tentative 10-Week Course Schedule (Spring 2026)

Software and Materials

• Required: QGIS (latest release)
• Used in course: Google Earth Engine, ArcGIS Online, and selected open-source tools
• Hardware: Laptop computer with reliable internet access

Textbook Requirements

Required Text

1. Bolstad, Paul. GIS Fundamentals: A First Text on Geographic Information Systems. 4th Edition. White Bear Lake, MN: Eider Press, 2012.
   • Availability: 2 print copies will be on 2-hour reserve at Branner library, courtesy of the instructor.
   • Read-only Online Copy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CaigAPkcnFoKh2-gbWq_-y04REdYIyTE/view?usp=drive_link
   • Stanford Bookstore: Available

Recommended Texts

1. Tomlin, C. Dana. GIS and Cartographic Modeling. Redlands, CA: Esri Press, 2013.
   • Availability: 1 print copy will be on 2-hour reserve at Branner library, courtesy of the instructor.
   • Chapter 1, Read-only Copy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hbccbdCkNZyppvGy8vDlJVR_lBca7jqO/view?usp=drive_link
2. Cardille, Jeffrey A., Morgan A. Crowley, David Saah, and Nicholas E. Clinton, editors. Cloud-Based Remote Sensing with Google Earth Engine: Fundamentals and Applications. Cham: Springer, 2024.
   • Availability: Full text available online https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-26588-4. No print copies will be provided.
3. Graser, Anita, and Gretchen N. Peterson. QGIS Map Design. 2nd Edition. Chugiak, AK: Locate Press, 2018.
   • Availability: 1 print copy will be on 2-hour reserve at Branner library, courtesy of the instructor.

Access and Accommodations

I work hard to make this course accessible to as many students as possible. Because the course has very flexible homework and exam submission policies, most students should have ample time to complete and submit all work comfortably. My goal is to ensure that any Stanford student can take this class and succeed in it, because I strongly believe these technologies can meaningfully improve the work you go on to do in the future.

If you feel you need additional accommodations beyond the flexibility already built into the course, please contact me directly. I am happy to work with you to support your learning

Stanford's Access and Accommodations Statement

Stanford is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for disabled students. Disabled students are a valued and essential part of the Stanford community. We welcome you to our class.If you experience disability, please register with the Office of Accessible Education (OAE). Professional staff will evaluate your needs, support appropriate and reasonable accommodations, and prepare an Academic Accommodation Letter for faculty. To get started, or to re-initiate services, please visit oae.stanford.edu. If you already have an Academic Accommodation Letter, we invite you to share your letter with us. Academic Accommodation Letters should be shared at the earliest possible opportunity so we may partner with you and OAE to identify any barriers to access and inclusion that might be encountered in your experience of this course.

Notes

• This is a boilerplate syllabus draft and is subject to revision.
• Course policies, assignment details, and exact due dates may be updated in class and on Canvas.