Characteristics and types of GIS data: types of data; concept of information. Maps and projections: principles of cartography, ellipsoids, cartographic projections, coordinate systems, types, and scales; accuracy of maps. GPS concepts, techniques, systems, applications. GIS principles: concepts and principles of GIS: GIS models, GIS components, inputs to GIS; GIS database design and organization; integration in GIS, querying in GIS, GIS outputs and visualization, accuracy of data in GIS, GIS integration errors. 3- dimensional GIS: representing 3rd dimension in GIS, 3- dimensional analysis, and derivatives. Concepts of temporal GIS, decision support systems, GIS modeling, visualization techniques, virtual reality, mobile mapping, World Wide Web-GIS. Illustrations and overview of GIS applications. Spatial data infrastructures: metadata, search/access, data warehousing, data mining, standards, specific programmes of countries (United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/Global Resource Information Database (GRID), digital Earth, global spatial data infrastructure (GSDI), global mapping etc.); common standards: open GIS, ISO-TC211