UNIT 1: GIS DEFINITIONS AND APPLICATIONS
Topics covered in this unit Definitions of Geographic
Information Systems GI technologies GI systems GI science
Geographic Information
• what is where on the Earth's surface
Digital information
• Why use computers to store information?– easy to store, retrieve, query,
manipulate, send, receive, copy, display...
– faster
– can store various kinds on information: text, pictures, tables, music etc...
Information technologies
Technologies for collecting and dealing
with geographic information:
• Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Remote sensing• Computer Aided design (CAD)
• Land Information System (LIS)
• Geographic information system (GIS)
What is Geographic Information System?
• Geographic
– relates to places on the Earth's surface where something is
what is at a given location • Information System
– manipulate, summarize, query, edit, visualize
– work with information stored in computer databases
Definitions of GIS
• A system of hardware, software and
procedures
• used to input, storage, manipulate, analyze, model and display georeferenced data
• to solve complex problems about planning and managing of resources
Components of a GIS
• Hardware:– computer, [+digitizing board, scanner..]
• Software– various, price ranges from $ 0 - $50,000– developed by software companies, eg.
ESRI (ArcGIS)
• People– human expertise required for
processing and decision making
GIScience
• is the science behind the technology
• is a multidisciplinary field
Overview of GIS
Spatial data are organized into layers
Geo-spatial data
• Two main components:
– spatial component:• helpful to conceptualize as maps
– thematic component: attributes• helpful to conceptualize as tables
(and metadata too…)
How old is GIS?• 35,000 years ago: caves of
Lascaux (France)
• animal drawings• migration lines
•in GIS: graphic objectslinked to attributes
18th century:Early use of thematic mapping
1950s: The quantitative
revolution• Major crisis in geography• paradigm shift needed• introduction of computers
1960s: Canada GIS (CGIS)
• earliest GIS developed
• Department of Energy, Mines and Resources - developing land management plans
• mapping information about soils, agriculture, recreation, wildlife, waterfowl, forestry, and land use
Mid 1960’s:
• Harvard Laboratory For Computer Graphics And Spatial Analysis – general-purpose mapping packages/GISs:
• SYMAP
• CALFORM
• GRID
• ODYSSEY
• ESRI: founded in 1969
1970’s
• Bureau of the Census– first geocoded census developed
• USGS
1980’s-1990s:
• Development of GIS industry• micro-computer hardware• 1980: ArcInfo released
– command-driven, product-oriented user interface
• Commercial vendors: ESRI, MapINFO, etc..
2000 and beyond...
• geospatial technologies• open-source GIS:
– GRASS GIS, Google maps...
• viewing GIS data over the Internet
• fusion of remote sensing, GPS with GIS...
Google Maps: is this a GIS?
What is GIS used for?
• Government• Industry• Academics
TransportationHydrologyGeologyDemographicsCrimeHealth…
Who? What:
“Doing” GIS
• using the tools of Geographic Information Systems to solve a problem
GIS applications
• mapping locations
• mapping quantities
• mapping densities
• finding distances
• mapping and monitoring change
Functions of GIS
• Data entry• data display• data management• information retrieval• Analysis• Decision making
Stagesin
GISproject
In te rp re t &p re sen t resu lts
D o a n a lys is
G a th e r & cle and a ta
G e t so ftw a re& h a rd w a re
D e fine p ro b lem
And don’t forget
to HAVE FUN!!
Lecture 1 : Review
• define basic terms associated with geographic information: technologies, systems, science, studies
explain why ge ographic information systems are
important explain why a science of
geographic information is needed
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