Geography 417/517: Geography 417/517: Introduction to Introduction to GISGISIntroductory MaterialsIntroductory Materials

Course TopicsCourse Topics Motivation: Why GIS?Motivation: Why GIS? Data ModelsData Models Map Projections and Map Projections and

Coordinate SystemsCoordinate Systems Data entry - DigitizingData entry - Digitizing Data entry - GPSData entry - GPS Data entry - Digital dataData entry - Digital data Image dataImage data

TablesTables Basic Spatial AnalysisBasic Spatial Analysis Raster AnalysesRaster Analyses Spatial Models and Spatial Models and

ModelingModeling Data QualityData Quality The FutureThe Future

Why does GIS matter?Why does GIS matter?

Health CareHealth Care Locate new Locate new

clinics/hospitalsclinics/hospitals

Delivery CompaniesDelivery Companies Routes and schedulesRoutes and schedules

TransportationTransportation New highwaysNew highways

ForestryForestry Where to cut, plant, or Where to cut, plant, or

buildbuild

GovernmentsGovernments Allocate fundsAllocate funds

TravelersTravelers Driving directions, hotelsDriving directions, hotels

FarmersFarmers Fertilizer and pesticidesFertilizer and pesticides

Why Learn GIS? GIS is Everywhere

 

Why computerize manual Why computerize manual methods?methods?

To bring together data from multiple sources (synthesis)

Analytical power measure distance, density, area overlay and buffer adjacency and proximity vicinity (neighborhood) networks visibility

Flexibility Output Quality

Why GIS?Why GIS?

Resource Resource depletion/degradationdepletion/degradation

Increased problem Increased problem complexitycomplexity

Demands by the Demands by the political bodypolitical body

Improved capabilitiesImproved capabilities Increased competitionIncreased competition

Why GIS?Why GIS?

Expanded Expanded capabilitiescapabilities Do the impossibleDo the impossible

Improved efficiencyImproved efficiency Reduce speed of Reduce speed of

analysis 10-fold or analysis 10-fold or moremore

Why GIS?Why GIS?

Convenient storage and retrieval (paper Convenient storage and retrieval (paper maps)maps) Some issues with paper mapsSome issues with paper maps

Difficult to update/editDifficult to update/edit Many types of analysis are Many types of analysis are

problematic/complexproblematic/complex e.g. overlay, proximity analysise.g. overlay, proximity analysis

Data integration is difficultData integration is difficult Large volumes of dataLarge volumes of data

Why GIS?Why GIS?

GIS providesGIS provides Data integration and standardizationData integration and standardization

Methods for managing large volumes of dataMethods for managing large volumes of data

Why GIS?Why GIS?

GIS providesGIS provides Advanced spatial analysis capabilitiesAdvanced spatial analysis capabilities

Why GIS?Why GIS?

GIS providesGIS provides Automation of repetitive tasksAutomation of repetitive tasks

Sophisticated means of communication: distribution Sophisticated means of communication: distribution and outputand output

Applications of GISApplications of GIS

Four basic categories:Four basic categories: Environmental/natural resource managementEnvironmental/natural resource management Urban and regional managementUrban and regional management Infrastructure managementInfrastructure management CommercialCommercial

Monitoring and Mapping Sea Icein near Real Time

Why GIS?

Pavement quality inventory and monitoring

Why GIS?Why GIS?

Sustaining Lobster Sustaining Lobster Fisheries in Fisheries in Penobscot BayPenobscot Bay

Why is it important?Why is it important? Fisheries stocks Fisheries stocks

dwindling lobster dwindling lobster population, an population, an economic mainstay economic mainstay with sustainable with sustainable harvestsharvests

From Observations and Process Knowledge to Prediction and

Action

What is a GIS?What is a GIS? Geographic Information SystemGeographic Information System

What is a GIS?What is a GIS? Geographic Information SystemGeographic Information System

Overview of GIS Overview of GIS ArchitectureArchitecture

Spatial data are Spatial data are

organized into organized into

layerslayers

Overview of GIS Overview of GIS ArchitectureArchitecture

Spatial data Spatial data layers are layers are registeredregistered

statesstates countiescounties roadsroads riversrivers citiescities

Overview of GIS Overview of GIS ArchitectureArchitecture

Attribute data Attribute data are are associated associated with spatial with spatial featurefeature

State: New Jersey

Pop: 7,730,188

Gov: C. Whitman

Overview of GIS Overview of GIS ArchitectureArchitecture

Attribute data Attribute data are stored in are stored in tablestables

State

Name Population Governor

New Jersey 7,730,188 C. Whitman

Pennsylvania 11,881,643 T. Ridge

Etc…

Spatial data and attribute table are Spatial data and attribute table are ‘‘linkedlinked’’ togethertogether

State

Name Population Governor

New Jersey 7,730,188 C. Whitman

Pennsylvania 11,881,643 T. Ridge

Etc…

Overview of GIS Overview of GIS ArchitectureArchitecture

We usually understand GIS to be We usually understand GIS to be computer-facilitated systemcomputer-facilitated system

GIS is NOT only software/hardwareGIS is NOT only software/hardware

Also includes:Also includes: Trained personnelTrained personnel Supporting InstitutionSupporting Institution Protocols for useProtocols for use

Overview of GIS ArchitectureOverview of GIS Architecture