Geographic Information Systems

(GIS)

An Introduction

Geographic Information Systems

• Information Systems: Systems designed to manipulate and analyse data in order to generate new derivative information

• GIS: Information systems that work with geographic or spatial data

What is GIS About?

• Is it mapping?

• GIS is about using data to describe & analyse our world in two ways:– Location Data - Where is it?– Attribute Data - What is it?

GIS: Links Data Sets

GIS software links the location data and the attribute data:

• Geography

GIS: LayersGIS can contain many layers of information:

• Census Data• Transportation

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

GIS: AnalysisGIS can analyse data in many ways:

Queries

What provinces border Saskatchewan?

Spatial Questions:What provinces have more than 1.5 million people?

Attribute Questions:

Other Analytical Techniques

• Proximity• Buffers• Neighbourhoods• Overlays• Network analysis• Cost Distances

GIS & Technology

• Geography has become a hi-tech discipline– Geographic Information Systems (GIS)– Earth Observation (Remote Sensing)– Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

Earth Observation

Sault Ste. Marie, OntarioSault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Global Positioning Systems

• GPS is a positioning system

– 24 satellites orbiting the earth

– Provide location within cm.’s anywhere on the globe.

Who’s Using GIS?

• Environmental• Park Management• Agriculture• Public Utilities• Health Care• Emergency 911

• Real Estate• Marketing• Economic Development• Internet• Insurance• Appraisal & Assessment

• And …..And …..

Environmental

• What are the effects of global warming?

Land cover & temperature relationships are made clear when the data are seen at once using GIS, or can be statistically analysed.

What addresses within an urban area may be prone to flooding, & how much are the potential damages?

Floodplain Delineation

Park Management

• Will the new building spoil the park scenery?

Park planners use GIS to determine whether a new Visitor Centre can be seen from the peak.

Agriculture

• How can food production be improved?

GIS is used in making crop management decisions to

maximize yields & minimize fertilizer input.

Public Utilities

• Identify facilities & connecting networks

A proposed excavation, identified by address, is compared to pipelines in the area using GIS.

Health Care

• What communities are at risk from disease?

GIS identifies communities at risk of water borne diseases & helps determine the effectiveness of the

treatment plans.

Emergency 911

• What is the fastest route to the hospital?

GIS can choose the fastest route to a hospital,

including traffic & other impediments.

Real Estate

• Where is the best location?

With GIS, suitable locations can be identified, a map of a neighbourhood produced, as well as pictures or videos of the actual properties.

Marketing

• Optimise marketing campaigns

GIS can query a database & identify only those areas with the highest household income within a specified distance of a store.

Economic Development

• Data from the municipal government can be made more accessible

GIS can provide data on available properties, traffic counts, re-development project areas, & demographics over the net.

New Business Applications are developed each month

GIS an example of a Technology meeting

evolving Business needs