The main objective of the course is to train students for understanding, understanding and mastering current and relevant information and communication technologies, the structure and organization of spatial databases, and knowledge based on them for their application in spatial planning.

Students will acquire practical knowledge on the adequate application of information technology in the spatial planning proxy. What is what the IT provides to them, and why it is necessary to use the choice and application of various computer programs in an adequate way.

Theoretical lectures

1. Theoretical basics: What is data? What is information? How do we measure information? What is knowledge? How did knowledge increase during human history? What is wisdom?
2. What is an information system? What does a well-organized information system look like? What is a computer-based information system? What is technique and what technology?
3.  What is the significance of disruptive technologies? What is information technology? What is Informatics? What is a numerical system? What is code? Which measurement units are used in computer science?
4. Computer anatomy: What are the basic components of modern information technology? What is a computer? What is hardware for? Which events are significant in the development of computers? What does the von Neumann computer model look like?
5. What are the basic components of the computer? What are the basic subsystems of a hardware system? What does the conceptual diagram of a microcomputer look like? What does the processor do? What are CPU performance dependencies? What is Moore's law? What requirements are placed on the memory? What units are for measuring memory capacity? What is working memory?
6. What are interfaces? What is meant by the term peripherals? How do we divide input devices? How can the output devices be divided? What role does external memory have? What technologies are used to produce secondary technology? How have the trends in the development of computer systems changed throughout the generations?
7. Software Support: What is software for? What is a system software? What role does the operating system have? What function do program translators and other utility software have? How can we divide consumer software? What is standard user software for?
8. What are the most important software packages? What are the advantages of a computer in relation to a typewriter? What advantages does the computer have in relation to the classic archive?
9. What are the table programs for? How can we divide graphic programs? How can we divide programming languages? Which languages are used for programming WWW applications? How did software support change through the years?
10. Information technology and communications: What is communication? What does a basic model of a communication system look like? Which components make the communication system? What basic requirements should be met when it comes to the quality of communication? Where can communication interruptions occur?
11. What is the importance of personal contacts today? What is the main principle of cooperation? What is the purpose of wired communications? What are wireless communication for? What is telematics?
12. How are computers used in communications? What is a computer network? What are all the ways that computers can be connected to the network? How can networks be divided? How is a physical connection between computers forged? What is a protocol?
13. Application of computers in spatial planning; Information technology and it’s role in analyzing situations, modeling spaces, making decisions about its future use; What is the importance of multimedia in spatial planning?
14. What are the advantages of digital maps over analog? How can a computer be used to display cartographic information? How do we insert maps into a computer?
15. Geographic content on WWW; Maps on the Internet that show specific locations; Maps on the Internet that show changes; Internet maps created by the users themselves; Maps on the Internet that show the results of spatial analysis; Maps on the Internet showing the results of geoprocessing.

Practical lectures

1. Introductory class: Outlining the work routine, student’s duties and handing out tasks.
2. MS Internet Explorer: Launching the program. Address line. Options: Back, Forward, Stop, Delete, Home...
3. WEB search with the help of local and foreign search engines.
4. Ways to download data from the Internet. Download text data. Using and analyzing such data with a specific spatial planning task. Generalization of data.
5. Numerical databases: Where can numerical data be stored? Downloading data from different databases. How and where to enter it? Generalization of numerical data depending on the task.
6. Processing of numerical data, their analysis in the selected program. The difference between tables made in Word and Excel. Presentation of results of data analysis in different programs.
7. Preparation for practical work.
8. Presentation and grading of practical work.
9. Graphic data: Download or enter graphic data.
10. The difference between graphic data. Analog, scalar, vector, geocoded data.
11. Searching for data on the WWW.
12. Map processing in various programs.
13. Preparation for practical work.
14. Presentation and grading of practical work.
15. Review of software packages suitable for spatial planning.

Kukrika, M: Computer Applications in Geography, Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade, 1999.

Kukrika, M: Geographic Information Systems, Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade, 2000.

M. Kukrika: How to be competitive on the global market - Intellectual capital management, Fine GRAF, Belgrade, 2003.

M. Kukrika: Small Encyclopedia of Information Technology, Belgrade, 2004.

M. Kukrika: The Habit of Success, Belgrade, 2008.