The course aims at introducing students with Cartography and Geographic Information Systems technologies. By the end of this course the students will be able to:

• recognize different types of maps and to interpret their contents.
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of basic principles and concepts related to Cartography and GIS.
• define the geographical data as vectors and rasters and information as spatial and non- spatial.
• study maps of Greece and to recognize the projection systems.
• use geographic data in a GIS environment, to process it and to produce maps.
• generate DEM from digitized contour lines and to construct topographic and elevation profiles.
• value the significance of maps as tools of communication, information exchange and decision-making on a diachronic basis.

By the end of this course the student will, furthermore, have developed the following skills:

• Locate his position in the field and on the map
• Georeference satellite remote sensing data, airphotos, maps and digitize data
• Import, save, process spatial and non spatial data in GIS environment
• Produce simple digital maps

• Searching, analysis and synthesis of facts and information, as well as using the necessary technologies
• Decision making
• Autonomous (Independent) work
• Work in an international enviroment
• Work in an interdisciplinary enviroment
• Work design and management
• Respect to natural environment 

The course is organized in 4 teaching circles which are described below. 

The course is organized in 3 teaching circles which are described below. 

 Circle Α:

• Cartography – Typology and components of maps.
• History of Cartography.
• Basic principles of cartographic design – Scale – Spatial Resolution.
• Map Projection. Introductory concepts (geoid, spheroid, ellipsoid, geographic coordinates, datum, grid systems, types of projection, parameters).
• Hellenic Geodetic Reference Systems.
• Distortions, Mathematic models for geometric correction and resampling. Geometric correction of maps and satellite images.

Circle Β:

• Theory of GIS, History, Structure.
• Spatial and non- spatial data, Digitization,
• Raster and vector data, structure of GIS system
• Transformation of vector data to raster data
• Thematic layer and thematic maps

Circle C:                               

• Topology
• Introduction to Spatial Analysis
• Introduction to Digital Elevation/ Surface Models
• Construction of topographic and elevation profiles.

Circle D:

• Case studies of the use of Geographic Information Systems in Geology.
• Global Navigation Satellite Systems or Global Positioning Systems.
• Combined use of GIS and GNSS

Written examination after the end of the semester (G_th70%)

Written reports for each laboratory exercise (G_lab30%)

Minimum passing grade:  5.

Final Course Grade (FCG)

1. "Cartography and introduction to GIS)" Nikolakopoulos, 2018.University of Patras Editions (in Greek language)
2. Laboratory Notes: "Laboratory exercise of cartography and GIS", K. Nikolakopoulos, H Simoni, 2018.University of Patras Editions (in Greek language)
3. Laboratory Notes: "Laboratory exercise of digital processing of Remote Sensing data combined with GIS", D. Vaiopoulos G. Skianis K. Nikolakopoulos, Athens University Publ. 2006, p. 178. (in Greek language).