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GEOG 387Spatial Databases

Units
0.50
Faculty
Environment
Subject
Geography and Environmental Management
Cross-listed
PLAN 387

Not in the current Undergraduate Calendar. Shown as it appeared in 2025–26.

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

This course focuses on design and development of a GIS database. It addresses theoretical issues regarding data models used in GIS and data modeling techniques used in designing spatial databases. It considers the processing required to input data from a variety of sources and clean and edit a multi-theme database and introduces students to creation and use of internet map services.

Prerequisites

  • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
    • GEOG281 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (0.50)
    • PLAN281 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

Reviewed on UW Flow

70% liked it35% easy89% useful

From 30 ratings and 8 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Overall some useful GIS concepts, labs weren't too difficult but took a lot of time to complete as ArcGIS often didn't work properly. Course content isn't overly interesting.

    Dec 2022 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The course was not hard. There is just too much work. Also, do your labs on time otherwise you will have to go through sleepless nights on campus.

    Mar 2016 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • assignments are pretty easy, went into exam with a 95. final exam is straightforward, just know terms; same as geog 381/281. but u need to go to office hours to get your assignments rechecked because TAs make mistakes. professor farrugia the goat

    Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Decent class. In terms of difficulty, nothing was hard to understand or do but everything took a super long time. In terms of enjoyment, lecture material was pretty dry but the labs were interesting and had applications in the real world. Final was easy but involved a lot of memorizing.

    Dec 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Assignments take an extremely long time, but they're not difficult at all. Start early and you should be fine. Final was easy, just need to make sure all of the concepts make sense to you. TAs are super helpful as well. The content explored in this course is super useful so 100% recommend students to pay super close attention to the content.

    Nov 2021 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

20 posts and comments in 15 threads mention GEOG 387, June 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Winter 2021

Best environment courses/professors? 2 points, 13 comments

“From experience, what are some must take environment courses? Alternatively, any professor recommendations within the faculty? …”

u/perkornah: “Most GIS courses are interesting (GEOG 281, 387, etc). Maybe you’ll like ENVS 200 (field ecology) or ENVS 195 (introduction to environmental studies)”

u/hkfotan: “Did you take GEOG 387 online and how was it? If you don’t mind me asking”

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Fall 2020

Fall 2019

Geography and Environmental Management(GEM) Careers? 1 point, 5 comments

“I am in Planning but am really considering switching to Geography soon, and am wondering if any GEM students here can speak to this program and what careers it can lead to? …”

u/applepill: “… For GEOG 387, the only main point is to really grind at the assignments. They’re really not that hard, but they’re really time consuming. The main benefit on switching from Planning to GEM IMO is the fact that there’s a lot more electives. …”

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Spring 2019

Can more new grads post their undergrad stats please? 26 points, 64 comments

“They're fun to read.”

u/Scryfish: “Lets go Program: 3-year general Geography (computing option) Highest grade: 86 in GEOG187 Lowest grade: 60 in GEOG387 and GEOG293 CGPA: 73 Favorite elective: phil284 Least favorite elective: CS200 Number of courses dropped: 2 Coops: 5 ottawa (geo) TO (qa) TO (data platforms) 2x …”

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Fall 2017

Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments

“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”

u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”

u/Jackhofmann: “… GEOG 303 GEOG 309 GEOG 310 GEOG 311 GEOG 316 GEOG 319 GEOG 340 GEOG 356 GEOG 371 GEOG 374 GEOG 387 GEOG 404 GEOG 405 GEOG 428 GEOG 453 GEOG 474 GEOG 490A GEOG 490B GEOG 600 GEOG 602 GEOG 604 GEOG 615 GEOG 619 GEOG 620 GEOG 621 GEOG 640 GEOG 641 GEOG 651 GEOG 669 GEOG 675 GEOG …”

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Spring 2017

Easiest/Most Bird GEOG Courses (Mainly for Fall 2017) 1 point, 10 comments

“Hello, So I'm currently looking for about 1-2 GEOG courses (above the 200 level) to take as some electives for the Fall 2017 term. Any suggestions? I was thinking GEOG 203 so far”

u/slivor23: “… GEOG 387 - Easy when I took it, straightforward class with majority of marks going to assignments. …”

u/Karrottz: “Everyone I've ever talked to who took GEOG387 (and me) thinks it's one of the most difficult GEOG courses. OP if you enjoy having free time don't take this course.”

u/Waterwoogem: “… GEOG 294 is generally considered more interesting GEOG 381 formatted similar to 387 Below (281 as prereq) GEOG 387 assumes the individual has taken 281 (as it is a prereq) and is generally 4x20% Labs + Final Test”

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Winter 2017

Feridun interaction and a midterm 11 points, 11 comments

u/trash_dumpyard: “I sat down to write GEOG387 midterm and Feridun was sitting next to the window wearing a super cute outfit. He was literally my type and who I was searching for in this university. He instantly became my crush! I was sitting there peeking at his face. …”

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Fall 2016

Do geomatics peoole get a job? 7 points, 26 comments

“I heard their coop rate is pretty high. What about after graduation? Still good? FYI I'm from GEM.”

u/ghostofstuff: “Serious answer here. I'm entering my first coop this next term and many of my other friends in geomatics got jobs too. …”

u/geomemetic: “Oh.. can I ask you where you will be working at? I only know few people in that program, and they were saying most people get jobs.. but that wasn't true..!! How are the couses? I heard geog 387 drop rate was 50% this term.... So scary.. how hard is the program?”

u/ghostofstuff: “… In the case of GEOG387 it was a very useful course (I used an assignment from it and landed the job with it as I was in it this term) and you learn a lot of practical uses for GIS and databases. …”

u/Odzinic: “GEOG 387 is being considered a harder course now? I took it two years ago and I feel like it was one of the easier GEOG courses. Who's teaching it now?”

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Winter 2016

Geomatics to now be offered under the math faculty for 2016-17, students in the Geomatics in the environment faculty can transfer given few prerequisites 105 points, 19 comments

u/Huex3: “… 371 Advanced Remote Sensing Techniques GEOG 381 Advanced Geographic Information Systems GEOG 387 Spatial Databases GEOG 471 Remote Sensing Project (1.0 unit) GEOG 481 Geographic Information Systems Project (1.0 unit) Two additional courses chosen from CO 370 Deterministic OR …”

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Free Talk Friday 19 points, 111 comments

“Welcome to Free Talk Friday, where you are able to talk about whatever you want. Please keep it respectful and remember that subreddit rules still apply.”

u/Geomatical: “I'm in Geomatics AMA :D”

u/Odzinic: “AKA Taking GEOG 387”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar