University of Trinidad and

Tobago

Corinth CampusCourse: EDFN112B- Educational Technology

Student Name: Christina Sookdeo

Student ID: 52927

Assignment Due date: 17th February, 2011

Intstructor: Mr. R. Birbal

GEOGRAPIC

INFORMATION

SYSTEMS

(GIS)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEa

MzPo1Q7Q

INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHIC

INFORMATION SYSTEMS

• The first GIS was created in 1962 in Canada by the

federal Department of Forestry and Rural Development.

• It was developed by Dr Roger Tomlinson and called

the Canada Geographic Information System.

• GIS is mostly targeted towards organizations.

DEFINITION

WHAT IS A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

SYSTEM?A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a

collection of computer hardware, software

and geographic data used to analyse and

display geographically referenced

information.

GIS SOFTWARE PACKAGES

The most popular GIS software packages are:

ESRI

MapInfo

IDRISI

Manifold

InterGraph GeoMedia

SmallWorld

GRASS

MS MapPoint

ERDAS Imagine

WHAT CAN GIS DO?Map Locations

Mapping where things are lets you find places that have

the features you're looking for, and to see where to take

action.

GIS lets you:•Find a feature on a map

•Find patterns of distribution on a map

Map Quantities

WHAT CAN GIS DO?

(CONTINUED)

• People map quantities (like where the most and least are)

to find places that meet their criteria and take action, or to

see the relationships between places.

• This gives an additional level of information beyond

simply mapping the locations of features.

Map Densities

WHAT CAN GIS DO?

(CONTINUED)

•A density map lets you measure the number of features

using a uniform area unit, such as acres or square miles, so

you can clearly see the distribution.•Mapping density is especially useful when mapping areas,

such as census tracts or counties, which vary greatly in

size.

APPLICATIONS OF GIS

The possible applications of such a tool would be vast in number, but here are a few examples of the possible uses of GIS:

• Earthquake Mapping

• Market Research

• Demographics

• Health

• Research

• Census

Data

If you are curious…

Here are some links to webpages where you can

make you own GIS map online!

http://www.esri.com/mapping-for-everyone/index.html

http://mapapps.esri.com/create-map/index.html

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Esri- The GIS Software Leader, Mapping Software and Data, (1995-2011). Retrieved February 12, 2011, from

http://www.esri.com/what-is-gis/index.html

• GIS Lounge and DM Geographics, LLC, GIS Lounge.

Information about geographic information systems, GPS,

cartography, and geography. (1999 – 2011). Retrieved on

February 12, 2011 from

http://gislounge.com/what-is-gis/• GIS Development, Mapping GIS Milestones: 1960-1970.

Retrieved on February 12, 2011 from

http://www.gisdevelopment.net/history/1960-1970.htm

• GIS.com, the Guide to Geographic Information Systems.

(1995–2011 Esri). Retrieved on February 13, 2011 from

http://www.gis.com/