Introduction to MassGIS and Urban Mapping Fundamentals

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are essential for modern urban planning, environmental analysis, and municipal decision-making. This text-based course introduces you to MassGIS, the comprehensive state database for geographic information, and teaches you how to leverage spatial data to analyze cities and regions. You will start by mastering foundational GIS concepts, understanding coordinate systems, and exploring spatial data structures before moving into practical analysis. What you'll learn: Understand key GIS terminology, map projections, and spatial data models; Navigate and extract data from the MassGIS repository for urban planning projects; Analyze spatial relationships to address city infrastructure and environmental challenges; Create clean, readable thematic maps using modern cartographic design principles; Apply data filtering and querying techniques to solve real-world urban planning scenarios. You will progress from learning basic spatial definitions to reviewing step-by-step workflows for data visualization and analysis. This course is designed for beginners, urban studies enthusiasts, and aspiring planners with no prior GIS experience or technical mapping background. Start building your spatial analysis skills and learn to read the landscape of cities today.