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PLAN 281Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Units
0.50
Faculty
Environment
Subject
Planning
Cross-listed
GDS 281

When it runs

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

Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Introduction to the fundamental concepts and use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Students learn about the nature of geographic information and how to store, manipulate and analyze spatial data in a range of application areas. Students will learn underlying theory in lectures and gain a working knowledge of GIS software in lab sessions.

Prerequisites

  • Complete 1 of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • GDS181 - Designing Effective Maps (0.50)
      • GDS187 - Geospatial Data Science (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
    • Enrolled in H-Planning

Antirequisites

  • Not completed any of the following:

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00156069 / 10T 10:30–12:20
LAB 10178042 / 2M 16:30–18:20
LAB 10278052 / 2M 18:30–20:20
LAB 10378061 / 2T 18:30–20:20
LAB 10478072 / 2F 08:30–10:20
LAB 10578082 / 2W 10:30–12:20

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00152870 / 200F 10:30–12:20
LEC 7012095158 / 9999Online or by arrangement
LAB 10152880 / 19M 12:30–14:20
LAB 10252890 / 19M 16:30–18:20
LAB 10352990 / 18M 18:30–20:20
LAB 10453000 / 18T 08:30–10:20
LAB 10553010 / 18T 16:30–18:20
LAB 10653080 / 18T 18:30–20:20
LAB 10753090 / 18W 16:30–18:20
LAB 10853100 / 18W 18:30–20:20
LAB 10953260 / 18Th 16:30–18:20
LAB 11054370 / 18Th 18:30–20:20
LAB 11172800 / 18F 08:30–10:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

43% liked it35% easy82% useful

From 49 ratings and 10 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • This class was fairly straightforward and easy. The material you learn is very useful. You do not need the textbook it is essentially useless and does not add much to the course.
    Do not skip the labs they are important. Each lab is worth 6 percent, and there are about 11 labs, with an additional 1 percent attendance mark for each one. Because of this, it is important to attend all of them. The TAs are very helpful they will guide you closely and often point you in the right direction.
    The midterm and final exam were both straightforward. They were not easy, but not overly difficult either. The workload was also simple and direct. Attending them helps a lot, especially for learning ArcGIS…

    Apr 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • While the course lectures were dense and unengaging, the concepts are important for anyone pursuing careers that require GIS knowledge. The lab sessions are skippable work periods and the lectures are skippable as well because the prof just reads off the slides. The lab assignments felt like a chore at times and caused frequent frustration for me. Compared to GEOG 181, the content focuses on the dry, technical concepts of GIS instead of interesting concepts such as cartography and map design.

    Apr 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This course was very well-organized and interesting (if you're into GIS). Dr. Tan's slides were easy to follow and had good structure. I found listening to her so interesting because it was clear she knows her stuff. Enjoyed this course and found it somewhat easy (having taken GEOG 181)

    Dec 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Just... a headache to get through. I personally found the lab work quite easy and the content mild, it was mostly how it was taught that left a very sour taste.

    Jul 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Let people specialize in this rather than make it required - I guarantee I will not be asked about the difference between two datums later in my career (that's what you pay other people to do).

    Feb 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

12 posts and comments in 10 threads mention PLAN 281, February 2012 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.

Spring 2024

Spring 2023

Fall 2022

Winter 2022

see you all on february 7th 88 points, 10 comments

u/Dimtar_: “… Jerome’s) SOC 101 (Conrad Grebel) ECE 222 ECE 250 ECE 350 ECE 402 ECE 459 ECE 498B ME 400B MTE 400B ENVS 178 (Lectures) GEOG/PLAN 281 AHS 100 GERON 310 HLTH 310 KIN 310 GERON 352 HLTH 352 KIN 352 REC 362 SOC 352 GSJ 380 HLTH 380 HLTH 102 HLTH 344 HLTH 370 HLTH 430 KIN 146 KIN …”

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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/applepill: “GEOG/PLAN 281 - Basic fundamental GIS course, and actually easy and interesting. (Leads to 381, 387 - both pretty interesting courses) ENVS 200 - Basic field course, but super interesting if you’re into that side of the environment. …”

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Spring 2019

Waterloo Geography and Environmental Management (co-op) v.s. Ryerson Urban and Regional Planning 4 points, 10 comments

“I got an offer from Ryerson for Urban and Regional Planning and an alternative offer from Waterloo for Geography and Environmental Management. I originally applied to Planning. …”

u/-MrGoose-: “Courses mentioned in this thread: GEOG100 PLAN281”

u/AdventurousNotice: “This is actually crazy bc the same thing happened to me last year! I ended up picking GEM at Waterloo and I’m really glad I did. …”

u/AdventurousNotice: “… I’m not sure if you’ve taken PLAN 281 yet, but when I got there I found out the job was exactly the same as the lab where you go out and map streetlights on campus. …”

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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: “… PHYS 777 PHYS 781 PHYS 786 PHYS 788 PLAN 100 PLAN 102 PLAN 104 PLAN 105 PLAN 210 PLAN 262 PLAN 281 PLAN 300 PLAN 309 PLAN 320 PLAN 340 PLAN 351 PLAN 362 PLAN 387 PLAN 418 PLAN 451 PLAN 453 PLAN 474 PLAN 485 PLAN 490 PLAN 615 PLAN 619 PLAN 621 PLAN 625 PLAN 646 PLAN 674 PLAN 675 …”

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Winter 2016

Winter 2012

Has anybody taken GEOG/PLAN 281? 3 points, 6 comments

u/angrysaki: “I'm looking for interesting general education courses, and came accross this one which seems pretty interesting. How accessible is GEOG 281 for somebody outside of the geography department? (It doesn't seem to have any prerequisites)”

u/chefboyohboy: “PLAN 281 was an interesting course. It's a good into into GIS analysis and the relevant software. Once you've taken that, I highly recommend PLAN 416 (modeling the city). Deals with programming computer models to simulate land-use change and impacts of change.”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar