这门课安排了实习训练和研习的环境，目的是为了帮助学生对规划及公共管理用途的地理信息系统(GIS) 有完整的理解。目标是帮助学生:

• 取得GIS 软件的使用技术技能。
• 在资料和文件整合上，分析资讯，和提出结果上，利用定性的方法与技巧。
• 探讨在一般典型的规划和可行性评估应用上GIS 技术的潜力和可行性。

这个研习课程中教授GIS 技术和基本的数据库管理，在基本的主题制图和资料操作技能上市城市规划硕士学位（MCP ）核心课程的延伸(即11.204 和11.220) 。我们不将课程集中制作一张主题图上，学生将在无固定解决方案的计划议题上加以深入研究并且探讨并且选择相关的资料和制图技术，在官方纪录中结合和匹配摘录的资料（例如人口调查资料、局部资料和地方就业和人口预测)运用空间分析技术例如环域分析，地址对位，叠合。在主题制作之外使用其它模式和视觉技术，并且能够提出支援各种各样的地方和区域计划范围分析的关于技能、策略的问题。

研究生应该注册在课程编号11.520；大学生应该注册在课程编号11.188。两者课程时间相同课程内容相似。

This class uses lab exercises and a workshop setting to help students develop a solid understanding of the planning and public management uses of geographic information systems (GIS). The goals are to help students:

• Acquire technical skills in the use of GIS software.
• Acquire qualitative methods skills in data and document gathering, analyzing information, and presenting results.
• Investigate the potential and practicality of GIS technologies in a typical planning setting and evaluate possible applications.

The workshop teaches GIS techniques and basic database management at a level that extends somewhat beyond the basic thematic mapping and data manipulation skills included in the MCP core classes (viz. 11.204 and 11.220). Instead of focusing on one thematic map of a single variable, students will concentrate on more open-ended planning questions that invite spatial analysis but will require judgment and exploration to select relevant data and mapping techniques, involve mixing and matching new, local data with extracts from official records (such as census data, parcel data and regional employment and population forecasts), utilize spatial analysis techniques such as buffering, address matching, overlays use other modeling and visualization techniques beyond thematic mapping, and raise questions about the skills, strategy, and organizational support needed to sustain such analytic capability within a variety of local and regional planning settings.

Students seeking graduate credit should enroll in the subject 11.520; undergraduates should enroll in the subject 11.188. The subjects meet together and have nearly identical content.