mapping data an introduction to geographic information systems (gis) an introduction to geographic...

Mapping DataMapping Data

An Introduction to An Introduction to Geographic Information Geographic Information

Systems (GIS) Systems (GIS)

Fri. November 28, 2003

Marcel FortinGIS & Map LibrarianUniversity of [email protected]

AgendaAgenda

IntroductionsIntroductions Objectives Objectives What is a GIS?What is a GIS? Examples of GIS?Examples of GIS? Issues and problems/obstacles to using Issues and problems/obstacles to using

GISGIS QuestionsQuestions ExercisesExercises

ObjectivesObjectives

Learn the basics of GIS software Learn the basics of GIS software and databasesand databases

Learn the basics of different Learn the basics of different geographic datasetsgeographic datasets

Most importantly, you will learn to Most importantly, you will learn to ask new and unique questions ask new and unique questions about subjects and dataabout subjects and data

What is a GIS? What is a GIS?

A GIS is a computer application A GIS is a computer application with the capacity to assemble, with the capacity to assemble, store, manipulate, analyze, and store, manipulate, analyze, and display geographically referenced display geographically referenced informationinformation

What is not a GIS?What is not a GIS?

A GIS is not a digital map (a A GIS is not a digital map (a digital map is only one of the digital map is only one of the outputs of a GIS)outputs of a GIS)

A GIS is not a graphic design toolA GIS is not a graphic design tool A GIS is not a replacement for A GIS is not a replacement for

mapsmaps

GIS - an analogyGIS - an analogy

GIS is to geographic display what GIS is to geographic display what a word processor is to writinga word processor is to writing

Using word processing software Using word processing software does not make you a professional does not make you a professional writerwriter

Using GIS software does not make Using GIS software does not make you a cartographeryou a cartographer

Why use a GIS?Why use a GIS?

Being able to use a word processor Being able to use a word processor allows many of us to produce allows many of us to produce better reports, deliver better better reports, deliver better papers, and to store informationpapers, and to store information

In the same respect a GIS allows In the same respect a GIS allows you to bring your work further. It you to bring your work further. It allows you to interpret and display allows you to interpret and display data in a different lightdata in a different light

How do I know if GIS can How do I know if GIS can help me?help me?

About 80% of data have a About 80% of data have a geographic component to themgeographic component to them

GIS can help you create GIS can help you create intelligent, dynamic displays intelligent, dynamic displays using data with a geographic using data with a geographic component component

If you ever find yourself asking If you ever find yourself asking the question “where?”the question “where?”

What is geographic What is geographic data?data?

In order to use a GIS, your data has to In order to use a GIS, your data has to fit in the software in one way or anotherfit in the software in one way or another

Data is georeferenced if it has a Data is georeferenced if it has a geographic field. These are more geographic field. These are more numerous than you imaginenumerous than you imagine

postal codespostal codes ProvinceProvince CityCity longitude and latitudelongitude and latitude lot numberslot numbers concession numbersconcession numbers census tractcensus tract wards wards etc.etc.

How can GIS help me?How can GIS help me?

The combination of spatial and The combination of spatial and attribute data allows users to ask attribute data allows users to ask unique spatial/geographic questionsunique spatial/geographic questions

Once users understand their data and Once users understand their data and the GIS software they can answer the GIS software they can answer these questions and create unique these questions and create unique displaysdisplays

The software/hardware facilitates The software/hardware facilitates storing and the querying of users’ datastoring and the querying of users’ data

Example of a GISExample of a GIS

www.mapquest.comwww.mapquest.com


0.50000000.00000000.0000000-0.5000000627995.12502494836671.8749751

1999 Orthorectified Aerial photograph


DMTI Spatial’s Street Network File for Ontario


1999 Orthorectified Aerial photograph overlayed with the DMTI Spatial’s Street Network file for Ontario


Map of French Language Population in Toronto, Census of Canada 2001


1870’s Map of Toronto with the Gardiner Expressway overlayed. Note the highway’s location!


1870’s map of Toronto showing current lots in the city of Toronto. Note the lots set on top of a lost stream (Garrison Creek)

Complex GIS examplesComplex GIS examples

Digital Elevation Model / 3d View data of mountains in Digital Elevation Model / 3d View data of mountains in the Eastern Townships, Québecthe Eastern Townships, Québec

ncols 1370ncols 1370nrows 996nrows 996xllcorner 656445.92xllcorner 656445.92yllcorner 4984392.2yllcorner 4984392.2cellsize 30cellsize 30NODATA_value -9999NODATA_value -99999999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999

Complex GIS examplesComplex GIS examples

Digital Elevation Model of Mountains in the Eastern Townships, Québec

GIS SoftwareGIS Software

We will be using ESRI’s ArcMap. We will be using ESRI’s ArcMap. Industry leader but also the Industry leader but also the Microsoft of GISMicrosoft of GIS

Many other brands of software Many other brands of software running on many different running on many different platforms, including Mapinfo, platforms, including Mapinfo, Idrisi, PCI, Microsoft MapPoint, Idrisi, PCI, Microsoft MapPoint, and othersand others

GIS IssuesGIS Issues

Data Access, availability, and Data Access, availability, and price in Canada (Data Culture)price in Canada (Data Culture)

Data QualityData Quality Software access and priceSoftware access and price ComputingComputing TrainingTraining

GIS Data AccessGIS Data Access

Data is expensiveData is expensive Data is often inaccessibleData is often inaccessible Data often does not exist (soil Data often does not exist (soil

attribute data)attribute data) Licensing issuesLicensing issues Reproduction issues (copyright)Reproduction issues (copyright)

GIS Data Access – Free GIS Data Access – Free DataData www.geobase.cawww.geobase.ca www.geogratis.comwww.geogratis.com www.geographynetwork.comwww.geographynetwork.com www.geographynetwork.cawww.geographynetwork.ca www.gisdatadepot.comwww.gisdatadepot.com University of Toronto Map Library (if University of Toronto Map Library (if

affiliated) affiliated) www.library.utoronto.ca/maplibwww.library.utoronto.ca/maplib University of Toronto Data Library (if University of Toronto Data Library (if

affiliated) affiliated) chass.utoronto.ca/datalibchass.utoronto.ca/datalib www.statcan.cawww.statcan.ca

Data QualityData Quality

Government creates most dataGovernment creates most data Third party vendors (DMTI Spatial, Third party vendors (DMTI Spatial,

GDT etc.)GDT etc.)

Data QualityData Quality

Source: NTS Sheet 32c011st edition 2nd edition

Software issuesSoftware issues

GIS software licenses available GIS software licenses available across most campuses in Canadaacross most campuses in Canada

Price of software can be Price of software can be prohibitive otherwiseprohibitive otherwise

Learning curve is steepLearning curve is steep

Computing IssuesComputing Issues

Extra RAMExtra RAM Extra processing speedExtra processing speed Good quality (expensive) Video Good quality (expensive) Video

CardCard Extra large ScreenExtra large Screen UpgradesUpgrades

GIS Issues - TrainingGIS Issues - Training

Community College diplomasCommunity College diplomas University of Toronto/Ryerson University of Toronto/Ryerson

undergraduate and graduate undergraduate and graduate programsprograms

ESRI Canada ESRI Canada www.esricanada.comwww.esricanada.com coursescourses

ESRI Virtual campus coursesESRI Virtual campus courses University map libraries University map libraries

What specifically are you What specifically are you going to be doing?going to be doing?

Module 1 - Getting to know ArcMapModule 1 - Getting to know ArcMap Module 1.5 – Learn how to create a printable Module 1.5 – Learn how to create a printable

mapmap Module 2 - Using different types of datasets Module 2 - Using different types of datasets

together in a GIStogether in a GIS Module 3 - Learn how to make a thematic mapModule 3 - Learn how to make a thematic map Module 4 - Manipulate and modify GIS datasetsModule 4 - Manipulate and modify GIS datasets Module 5 - Create new datasets and convert Module 5 - Create new datasets and convert

them to GIS layersthem to GIS layers Module 6 - Drawing GIS layers using an air Module 6 - Drawing GIS layers using an air

photophoto Module 7 – Georeference an image to convert Module 7 – Georeference an image to convert

it to a GIS layerit to a GIS layer

Questions?

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