FutureLearn

Maps and the Geospatial Revolution (FutureLearn)

Offered by University of Pennsylvania,
Maps and the Geospatial Revolution (FutureLearn)

Learn to make maps and analyze geographic patterns using the latest geographic information systems (GIS) and cartographic tools.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

The past decade has seen an explosion of new ways to understand and use location information in widely-accessible technologies. This Geospatial Revolution has created new consumer GPS tools, interactive web maps and location-aware mobile devices. These advances make it possible for everyone to use, collect, and understand spatial information.
This online course brings together core concepts in cartography, geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial thinking, and uses real-world examples, to give you the fundamental skills to engage with geography beyond the surface-level.

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you will be able to:

  • Explain the Geospatial Revolution and its impact on the science of geography
  • Practice thinking spatially to solve geographic problems in environmental, social, and technical domains
  • Understand how spatial data is created
  • Apply spatial analysis techniques using interactive web maps
  • Explain the key elements of effective cartographic design

-Practice the art and science of mapmaking using interactive web maps.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Getting Started with CyberGIS (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Getting Started with CyberGIS (Coursera)

Statistics & Data Analysis Data Science

This course is intended to introduce students to CyberGIS—Geospatial Information Science and Systems (GIS)—based on advanced cyberinfrastructure as well as the state of the art in high-performance computing, big data, and cloud computing in the context of geospatial data science. Emphasis is placed on learning the cutting-edge advances of cyberGIS and its underlying geospatial data science principles.

Aug 31st 2026
4 Weeks
Big Data Geospatial Hadoop
Details
Design and Make Infographics (Project-Centered Course) (Coursera) Coursera
Michigan State University

Design and Make Infographics (Project-Centered Course) (Coursera)

Management & Leadership Business

In this project-centered course*, you will create a content-rich infographic on a topic of your choice using Adobe Illustrator (which you can download for a free, 30-day trial). You might choose to create a visual representation of data from the world of sports, entertainment, politics, or science, to explain a business trend or environmental issue, or even to present a theme or development from your personal life. Your finished infographic will engage your target audience and convey information clearly through effective use of design elements such as typography, color, and structure.

Aug 31st 2026
4 Weeks
Graphic Design Maps Charts
Details
Geohealth: Improving Public Health through Geographic Information (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Twente

Geohealth: Improving Public Health through Geographic Information (FutureLearn)

Health & Society CS: Information & Technology

Explore how spatial data and geographic information systems (GIS) can be used to understand and improve public health. The environment in which we live and work can have a profound effect on our health – an effect that is explored by the emerging field of geohealth. This free online course will introduce you to new developments in geohealth, looking at the latest thinking and methods for using spatial data and geographic information systems (GIS) in health settings.

No sessions available
4 Weeks
Public Health Geographic Information Systems GIS
Details
El lenguaje de los mapas (edX) EdX
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid,UAMx

El lenguaje de los mapas (edX)

Social Sciences Art and Culture

Los mapas están de moda. Forman parte de nuestra vida cotidiana. Los consultamos en el GPS y en Internet. Por eso es útil conocer su historia, su lenguaje secreto y su relación con el poder. Viajemos, pues, por el mundo de la cartografía para “ponernos en el mapa” del conocimiento.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Maps GPS Google Maps
Details
Introduction to GIS Mapping (Coursera) Coursera
University of Toronto

Introduction to GIS Mapping (Coursera)

Engineering Sci: Environment

Get started learning about the fascinating and useful world of geographic information systems (GIS)! In this first course of the specialization GIS, Mapping, and Spatial Analysis, you'll learn about what a GIS is, how to get started with the software yourself, how things we find in the real world can be represented on a map, how we record locations using coordinates, and how we can make a two-dimensional map from a three-dimensional Earth.

Aug 24th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Cartography Geographic Information Systems GIS
Details
Geographical Information Systems - Part 2 (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Geographical Information Systems - Part 2 (Coursera)

Sci: Environment

This course is the second part of a course dedicated to the theoretical and practical bases of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It offers an introduction to GIS that does not require prior computer skills. It gives the opportunity to quickly acquire the basics that allow you to create spatial databases and produce geographic maps. This is a practical course that relies on the use of free Open Source software (QGIS, Geoda).

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Cartography Geographic Information Systems GIS
Details
Internet of Things: Sensing and Actuation From Devices (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, San Diego

Internet of Things: Sensing and Actuation From Devices (Coursera)

Engineering Eng: Electronics

Have you wondered how information from physical devices in the real world gets communicated to Smartphone processors? Do you want to make informed design decisions about sampling frequencies and bit-width requirements for various kinds of sensors? Do you want to gain expertise to affect the real world with actuators such as stepper motors, LEDs and generate notifications? In this course, you will learn to interface common sensors and actuators to the DragonBoard™ 410c hardware. You will then develop software to acquire sensory data, process the data and actuate stepper motors, LEDs, etc. for use in mobile-enabled products.

Aug 24th 2026
5-12 Weeks
GPS Sensors IoT
Details
Programming Mobile Applications for Android Handheld Systems: Part 2 (Coursera) Coursera
University of Maryland, College Park

Programming Mobile Applications for Android Handheld Systems: Part 2 (Coursera)

CS: Software Engineering CS: Programming

This course introduces you to the design and implementation of Android applications for mobile devices. You will build upon concepts from the prior course, including handling notifications, using multimedia and graphics and incorporating touch and gestures into your apps.

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Programming Mobile Interface
Details
Introduction aux Systèmes d’Information Géographique - Partie 2 (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Introduction aux Systèmes d’Information Géographique - Partie 2 (Coursera)

Engineering Sci: Environment

Ce cours constitue la seconde partie d'un enseignement consacré aux bases théoriques et pratiques des systèmes d’information géographique. - Il propose une introduction aux systèmes d’information géographique qui ne requiert pas de connaissances préalables en informatique. - Il donne la possibilité d’acquérir rapidement les notions de base qui vous permettent de créer des bases de données spatiales et de fabriquer des cartes géographiques. - Il s’agit d’un cours pratique qui repose sur l’utilisation de logiciels libres, notamment QGIS.

Jun 29th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Data Modeling Maps Geographic Information Systems
Details