Why GIS Matters Almost everything happens somewhere Knowing where some things happen is critically...
-
Upload
anastasia-cameron -
Category
Documents
-
view
222 -
download
0
Transcript of Why GIS Matters Almost everything happens somewhere Knowing where some things happen is critically...
Why GIS Matters
Almost everything happens somewhere Knowing where some things happen is
critically important
Position of country boundaries Location of hospitals Routing delivery vehicles Management of forest stands
Allocation of funds for environmental concerns
Why GIS Matters
What are the distinguishing characteristics of geographic problems?
1. Scale of Inquiry
2. Intent or Purpose
Why GIS Matters
What are the distinguishing characteristics of geographic problems?
3. Basis of Time Scale
A) Operational, required for smooth functioning of an organization
B) Tactical, medium-term decisions
C) Strategic, long-term direction
Transactional, databases that require updating
Spatial is SpecialGeography is Great!
Geographic – Earth’s surface and near-surface
Spatial – any space (including geographic)
Geospatial – synonymous with geographic however, also has technological connotation
Why is Geographic Information Special?
Multidimensional, need 2 coordinates
Z
X,Y
Why is Geographic Information Special?
Voluminous, large databases
Sinusoidal
Cylindrical
Equal Area
Hammer-Aitoff
Behrmann
Why is Geographic Information Special?
Requires projection to flat surface
Unique (spatial) analysis methods
Why is Geographic Information Special?
Managing What We Know
Data, numbers, text, symbols, which in some sense are neutral and almost free context-free
Information, implies a degree of selection, organization and preparation for particular purpose
Degree of interpretation, given a “relation” to another data set
Knowledge, information to which value has been added
Interpretation based on context, experience, purpose
Codified Knowledge, written down and transferable
Tacit Knowledge, obtained little by little and complicated to transfer
Managing What We Know
Evidence: between information and knowledge information that has been validated
Wisdom: decisions made or advice given that is objective highly individualized
Managing What We Know
Information on the World
Software captures and implements the general
Database represents the specific
Nomothetic: general or universal laws
Idiographic: Individual or specific cases or events
Forms of General Knowledge
Classifications
Rule sets
Laws
Geographic laws are of much lower accuracy
Problem Solving
Stages:
1. Objective
2. Tangible vs. intangible
3. Multi-criteria decision-making techniques