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