geographic information systems g.i.s

Geographic Geographic Information Information

SystemsSystemsG.I.S.G.I.S.

ObjectiveObjectives:s:

G.I.S.G.I.S.

What exactly is GIS?What exactly is GIS?How does it work?How does it work?GIS TechnologiesGIS TechnologiesArcViewArcView

Geographic Information SystemsDescribing Our WorldDescribing Our World

• We can describe any element of our world in two ways: Attribute

Information:What is it?

Species: OakHeight: 15mAge: 75 Yrs

Location Information: Where is it?

51°N, 112°W

GIS - Links Data Sets• GIS software links the

location data and the attribute data:

GIS - Analysis• GIS software can answer

questions about our world:

What provinces border Saskatchewan?

Spatial Questions:

What provinces have more than 1.5 million people?

Attribute Questions:

GIS - Analysis• GIS can analyze

data in many ways:

• Base Map Data

GIS - Layers

• GIS contains many layers of information:

• Elevation• Surface Geology

These are just a few of the kinds of layers a GIS can contain:

GIS Technology

GISGIS• GIS borrows from other software technology:

TablesTables– Relational Database Management Systems

MapsMaps– Computer Assisted

Design and Graphics Software

QueryQuery– Statistical Analysis and Reporting Packages

Summary - What is GIS?• GIS is about using data to describe our

world in two ways:– Location Data - Where is it?– Attribute Data - What is it?

• GIS software maintains a link between layers of location and attribute data– With the Link, we can ask questions about

our world…We Can Explore it!

ArcView Basics ArcView Basics


The ArcView GUIThe ArcView GUI

Menus, Buttons, ToolsMenus, Buttons, ToolsDocument TypesDocument TypesActive vs. Visible ThemesActive vs. Visible Themes

Menus, Buttons, ToolsMenus, Buttons, ToolsWindow Title Bar:

Use to select a window and move

windows around the screen

Menu Bar: Contains ArcView pull-down menus

grouped by function type.

Tool Bar: Click a tool and it becomes active

(pushed in). Apply the tool inside a

document to execute the function.

Button Bar: Contains ArcView

command buttons. Click a button once to

execute a function. Tool Tips: Hold the mouse

pointer over a Button or Tool to get its name. Also

look in the Status Bar

ArcView Project WindowArcView Project Window• A Project is a file that organizes all the information you A Project is a file that organizes all the information you

need to do your work.need to do your work.• It lists the icons for ArcView’s five main documents.It lists the icons for ArcView’s five main documents.

Your documents are listed here.

Choose a document type

from these icons.

You open, print or create documents

using these buttons.

ArcView DocumentsArcView Documents• ViewsViews - Contain the map data or - Contain the map data or ThemesThemes. . • TablesTables - Tables show the attribute data - Tables show the attribute data

attached to your map data.attached to your map data.• ChartsCharts - These are Chart and Graph displays - These are Chart and Graph displays

of your data.of your data.• LayoutsLayouts - Layouts are where you assemble - Layouts are where you assemble

your map for printing - it’s your final printed your map for printing - it’s your final printed page.page.

• ScriptsScripts - These are used to enter Avenue - These are used to enter Avenue code to customize ArcView.code to customize ArcView.

The View DocumentThe View Document• Document where your working map is Document where your working map is

displayed.displayed.• You can: You can:

– pan and zoompan and zoom– create and edit featurescreate and edit features

– perform queriesperform queries– and more…and more…

The Table DocumentThe Table Document• Contains all the table manipulation controls.Contains all the table manipulation controls.• Manipulate, edit or create attribute data.Manipulate, edit or create attribute data.• You can: You can:

– join tablesjoin tables– perform queriesperform queries – summarize statisticssummarize statistics

– and more…and more…

The Chart DocumentThe Chart Document

• This document displays tabular data This document displays tabular data graphically.graphically.

• Charts are dynamically linked to Charts are dynamically linked to tables and views.tables and views.

The Layout Document

• Assemble all components of your project for printing.

• You can:– insert frames for views, tables, charts– add a scale bar and north arrow

• This where you can write Avenue scripts that will This where you can write Avenue scripts that will allow you to customize ArcView.allow you to customize ArcView.

• Some functions in ArcView are accessible Some functions in ArcView are accessible through the script document.through the script document.

• Mostly for advanced users.Mostly for advanced users.

The Script Document

ArcView - The “Active” GIS

• The “Active” The “Active” DocumentDocument::– Document window that you are currently Document window that you are currently

working with (View, Table…)working with (View, Table…)– The menus, buttons, and tools will look The menus, buttons, and tools will look

different with each document.different with each document.• Make documents “active” by:Make documents “active” by:

– Single-click on the document windowSingle-click on the document window– Choose document name from Choose document name from WindowWindow menu menu

ArcView - The “Active” GIS• The “Active” Theme:

– Not to be confused with “Visible”– Before you work with a theme, it

needs to be “active”.– Some tools only work with “active”

themes (e.g.. Identify tool).

Active

Not ActiveVisible Not Visible

Setting Theme Status

• Setting Visible or Active Status:– To make a theme “Visible”, single-

click on the Visibility Selector– To make a theme “Active”, single-

click on the Theme Name

Table of Contents

Theme NameView Area (map)

Visibility Selector

Window Title Bar


ArcView FunctionsArcView Functions

Data ManipulationData ManipulationData AnalysisData AnalysisData PresentationData PresentationCustomizationCustomization

Data CreationData Creation

• Table Digitizing traces Table Digitizing traces objects on a paper mapobjects on a paper map– Uses a digitizing tabletUses a digitizing tablet

• Heads-up Digitizing Heads-up Digitizing traces objects on the traces objects on the screenscreen– Scanned map, air photo Scanned map, air photo

or satellite imageor satellite image

ManipulationManipulationAnalysisPresentation

Data EditingData Editing

• Data stored in tables (spreadsheets)Data stored in tables (spreadsheets)– Tables composed of Tables composed of RecordsRecords– Records composed of Records composed of FieldsFields

• New tables can be created, and data New tables can be created, and data added and changed...added and changed...


Event Mapping• Tables often contain location information. Tables often contain location information.

This can be converted to points.This can be converted to points.


Address Matching• Matches address data to Matches address data to

streets to create points.streets to create points.


Table QueryTable Query• ArcView can answer questions about ArcView can answer questions about

the attribute data...the attribute data...– How many countries will have a population How many countries will have a population

of more than 30 million in the year 2000?of more than 30 million in the year 2000?

ManipulationAnalysisAnalysisPresentation

Joining Tables• Some data is stored external databasesSome data is stored external databases• To be used by a GIS, these tables must To be used by a GIS, these tables must

be joined to a map.be joined to a map.


Spatial QuerySpatial Query

• ArcView can answer questions ArcView can answer questions about the location of entities...about the location of entities...– How many customers live within How many customers live within

500m of a highway?500m of a highway?


Thematic MapsThematic Maps• ArcView supports thematic mapping...ArcView supports thematic mapping...

Graduated ColourGraduated Colour

Chart MapsChart Maps

ManipulationAnalysisPresentationPresentation

Graphs / ChartsGraphs / Charts• ArcView can also produce traditional charts and ArcView can also produce traditional charts and

graphs based on map data... graphs based on map data...

Pie ChartPie Chart


Map DesignMap Design• Bring everything together in a Layout...Bring everything together in a Layout...

Map ViewsMap Views LegendLegend

TextText

GraphsGraphsScale BarScale Bar

NorthNorthArrowArrow


Hot-Linking

• Objects on map Objects on map can be “Hot-can be “Hot-Linked” to other Linked” to other applications...applications...


CustomizationCustomization

• ArcView GIS includes Avenue™ArcView GIS includes Avenue™– Avenue is a true Object-Oriented Avenue is a true Object-Oriented

Programming languageProgramming language– ArcView’s Graphical User Interface ArcView’s Graphical User Interface

(GUI) can be fully customized(GUI) can be fully customized