Resources
Bloomsbury Learning Environment (BLE)/Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)/Blackboard
The Bloomsbury Learning Environment, is the Blackboard virtual learning enviroment (VLE) used by Birkbeck to deliver learning materials; submit coursework; and provide you with programme information, personal feedback and a discussion forum for you to interact with your fellow students and tutors.
Software for Practicals
You will encounter a number of practical exercises in the curriculum. You will need access to ArcGIS (9.3) and IDRISI (Taiga) GIS software to complete many of the practicals. These software are installed in computer labs throughout the college.
Eduserv agrees terms of software provision for UK higher education institutions. Under their CHEST agreement, the Birkbeck Geography ArcGIS site licence allows us to provide ArcGIS software to your UK postal address for you to use at home for your coursework.
- ArcGIS software: free for the duration of your enrolment on this programme.
- IDRISI GIS software is available for US$147.50, plus shipping.
These discounted rates are only available to enrolled students. You will need these software from the start of each academic year.
Practicals
Some of the practical exercises in the curriculum will involve completing ArcGIS and IDRISI practicals.
- ArcGIS practicals will be available to you through our subscription to ESRI Training and Education.
- IDRISI practicals are built into the software.
Textbooks
From the first week, to supplement the curriculum, we recommend that you have access to at least one of these three textbooks:
- Chang, K.-T. (2005) Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3rd edition, paperback). Boston: McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 007124428X. Synopsis: good technical text (US based).
- **UPDATED**Longley, P.A., et. al (2010) (3rd Edition), Geographic Information Systems and Science (Chichester: John Wiley and Sons Ltd). ISBN: 9780470721445. Synopsis: good general text (UK based). If you have already purchased the 2005 edition, previously mentioned here, that will be fine too.
- Heywood, I., Cornelius, S. and S. Carver (2006) (3rd Edition), An Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (Prentice-Hall). ISBN: 0131293176. Synopsis: good general text (Australian based).
In addition, we provide a list of optional textbooks that focus on spatial data analysis, real world examples, programming, remote sensing etc. You may choose to purchase any of those.
Library facilities
The Birkbeck Library offers a variety of facilities, including an eLibrary containing numerous ejournals. Throughout the curriculum we refer to eLibrary resources to supplement your learning.