University of Kentucky GIS and Mapping

Welcome to UKy Mapping and GIS

We make maps in the Department of Geography at the University of Kentucky. This repository showcases the opportunities and successes that students have at the University to learn map making and GIS.

Welcome to UKy Mapping and GIS

Location of UKy GEO

Lexington is the second largest city in Kentucky and home to the University of Kentucky. This aerial photograph from 1971 shows central campus, the home of UK Geography.]

Lexington created an urban service area in the late 1950s, the first in the nation. This 2010 population density map created in GEO 309 shows the abrupt transition between urban and rural census blocks around Lexington.

Geography Department’s 75th Anniversary

We are celebrating our 75th Anniversary during the 2018-2019 school year. The Department of Geography was established in 1944 and is “ranked among leading geography graduate programs in the United States.” (Wikipedia)

Stories and maps

Slide show for the early years of the Department and campus
Georeferenced historic maps of campustown
Geocache challenge

History of the Geography Department

History of the Geography Department
Karl Raitz’s Photography of Kentucky

Wikipedia entry and departmental home page entry
Other resources

Course opportunities

The university offers numerous paths to learn mapping and GIS, from a minor for undergraduates and graduate certificate for those with a bachelor’s degree. The below list isn’t comprehensive but shows many of the opportunities.

Hillshade animation
Examples from GEO 409

Master of Science (MS) and Graduate Certificate in in Digital Mapping

The Department of Geography’s New Maps Plus graduate programs at the University of Kentucky offer students a challenging, intensive, digital mapping curriculum that emphasizes the acquisition of technical skills—coding, GIS, web development—while also preparing students to critically address the complexity of today’s information ecosystem.

Mapping and GIS - Undergraduate Minor

The College of Arts & Sciences Department of Geography offers a 18 hour (6 course) minor. The following three courses are required and form the foundation of the program’s curriculum:

GEO 109 - Digital Mapping OR GEO 164 - Worlds: Global Information Geographies [3 hours]
GEO 309 - Introduction to GIS [3 hours]
GEO 409 - Advanced GIS [3 hours]

Link to all available courses in minor

Mapshop

The Department of Geography’s Mapshop provides an opportunity for community and campus organizations to work directly with students, faculty, and cartographic staff in the production of geographic representations. Mapshop is part of the larger University of Kentucky’s New Mappings Collaboratory which is committed to innovations in mapping.

Short courses

Occasionally we offer one-day instruction in various mapping technologies. Here is a past list of courses taught.

QGIS instruction

Video on Vimeo

Examples of student work

Preview	Description
	A map of maps; undergraduate student mapping projects from various classes. Link
	Animation of a lidar point cloud. By Maddy Blandford in Fall 2019, GEO 409. Link
	A lidar point cloud rendered in the browser. By Alex Eberle in Fall 2019, GEO 409. Link
	Measuring an elevation profile in the browser with Potree. By Jerry Montgomery in Fall 2019, GEO 409. Link
	A random collection of student projects from our graduate certificate program. Link
	Arches of the Red River Gorge mapped and visualized by GEO 409 Fall 2018 students. Link
	Bluegrass region parks and adventures mapped in many ways by GEO 409 Spring 2018 students. Link
	Lidar tree heights in specific neighborhood associations in Lexington, Kentucky to feature ecosystem services provided by urban tree canopy. Link
	A web page that showcases work in mapping, photographing, and researching the Town Branch Trail and its surroundings. Link
	Scenic and topographic analysis of Pilot Knob State Nature Preserve. Link
	Pine Mountain canopy tour at Pine Mountain State Resort Park. Link
	Arboretum Woods tree census where 15 student teams mapped and measured trees in approx. 15 ac. Link
	Examples from Laura Greenfield. Link
	Work displayed here was created by Mapshop staff and students in collaboration with community partners. Link
	Examples from New Maps Plus students. Link
	Bike/Pedestrian vs. Car Collision Analysis Link
	Lexington tree canopy study: patterns of vacant property tree canopy cover Link
	U.S. Wildfires: An analysis of wildfire activity as reported by the national Fire Program Analysis (FPA) system Link
	Old Seattle Haunts Link
	Portland: “Beervana” Oregon Link
	Amtrak Usage by State Link
	2015 Bay Area Car vs. Bike/Pedestrian Collisions Link