Cartography, GIS, and Geospatial Technology
The science and technology of mapping the world, from classical projections to satellite imagery and geographic information systems.
All modules are unlocked from the start — study them in any order you like.
Already know this?
Take a 2-minute diagnostic and skip what you already know.
How the curved surface of the Earth is translated onto a flat map, and the unavoidable trade-offs and distortions of shape, area, distance, and direction that every projection and cartographic method involves.
An introduction to GIS as a tool for storing, analyzing, and visualizing spatial data across every field of geography, from the vector and raster data models that encode the world to the software, databases, and careers built on top of them.
A survey of how satellites and aerial sensors capture data about Earth's surface, atmosphere, and oceans, from the physics of passive and active sensing to the major programs, spectral techniques, and disaster and environmental applications built on their imagery.
An exploration of satellite positioning systems and the science of measuring the Earth's precise shape and location, from ancient surveying to modern GNSS constellations.
A survey of the consumer mapping platforms and location-aware technologies that have transformed everyday navigation, from web maps and GPS-enabled apps to ride-sharing, augmented reality, and the smart-city sensor networks built on top of them.
A journey through the history of mapmaking, from ancient clay tablets and papyrus surveys to the first accurate world maps and today's digital, satellite-driven geospatial systems.
How elevation data and digital tools turn flat maps into interactive, three-dimensional representations of landscape, from raw terrain datasets to immersive, web-based, and dashboard-driven visualization platforms.