GIS Lab slides

Updated January 2010

Lab 1 Slide 2

Part 1: Data vs. Information

Data: raw facts or measurementsInformation: collection of facts organized/processed in such a way that they have value beyond the facts themselves.Adds meaning or context to achieve goal of user. 58008?? What is this?

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Data vs. information

Set of names in any order / class listSet of numbers / grades for lab

“When you control the the mail you control... information!”

Fig 1.2

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Information is the derivative of manipulating, organizing,

summarizing, and presenting data in a form suitable for decision-making or further

analysis.- Hutchinson/Coulthard

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Principle

MIS: The value of information is directly linked to how it helps decision makers achieve the organization’s goals

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The “Information Spectrum”

. Omniscience

. Wisdom

. Knowledge

. Information

. Data

Part 2: Data and Information characteristics

Often a trade-off between some of these attributes. Which ones are

critical to your application?

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C O R E D A T A Q U A L I T Y :A c c u ra te /V e rifia b le /C o m p le te /R e lia b le

D E L I V E R YT im e ly/A c c e s s ib le /S e c u re

U S A B I L I T Y :R e le v a n t/S im p le /F le x ib le /E c o n o m ic a l

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Friends ….

Secure and ReliableTimely and AccessibleReliable and Simple

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And Enemies

Accessible vs. SecureReliable/Accurate/Complete vs. Economical

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PART 3: What is GIS?

A Geographical Information System (GIS) is a compilation of computer hardware, software, data and personnel that collects, analyzes and presents information that is tied to a geographic location. Converts data into visual form Links geographical data with descriptive data and

forms the information into layers (coverages). The layers create themes that represent particular

features on a map and, when combined, form a complete picture.

Lab 1 Slide 13

Three Types of DataSpatial Made up of points lines and areas: Points- locations:

buildings, customers etc.

Lines- streets, rivers. elevations

Areas- polygons representing states, counties, market areas etc.

Tabular Lists, spreadsheets

and databases Can be linked to

spatial data Sales to a region

Image Satellite images,

aerial photographs and scanned data

One layer Cannot be broken

down

Lab 1 Slide 14

Data ModelsVector- spatial x,y coordinates Structured coordinates

represent the shape of a feature.

Highways, rivers etc.

Raster - image Matrix of cells with values Satellite imagery Color-coded to create a 3

dimensional image (elevations)

Digital camera, TV

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Uses

Business PlacementLaw enforcementEmergency ResponseCensus/DemographicsMarketingPollution remediationMedical (disease epidemiology)Facility management (utilities) &Much More!

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The original map drawn by Dr. John Snow (1813-1858), a British physician, showing cases of cholera in the London epidemics of 1854, clustered around the locations of water pumps. (Wikipedia)

Lab 1 Slide 17

Allow Pop-ups for these

Albany crime spots (updated weekly)

Sex offenders map for a Zip Code

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Albany Crime Map

Lab 1 Slide 19

GIS Lab

MapInfo overviewScavenger hunt – use MapInfo to answer geography questionsMap of WTC and Fire CompaniesMetadataThematic map of male:female ratioUse one screen to view instructions, other computer to do work