Advanced Algorithms for Geographic Information

Systems

CPSC 695

Think about ―Geography‖

• What is Geography

The 3 ―W‘s‖ of Geography

–What is where

–Why is it there

–Why do I care

Data - Data - DataWe all ‗got data‘

• Location Data – How Many – What Kind – Where

• Scale of Data – Local to Global

• Data Presentation

– Words, Charts, Graphs, Tables, or Maps

Exploring data using GIS turns data into information into knowledge

GIS is a System of computer software, hardware

and data, and personnel to help manipulate,

analyze and present information that is tied to a

spatial location –

• spatial location – usually a geographic location

• information – visualization of analysis of data

• system – linking software, hardware, data

• personnel – a thinking explorer who is key to

the power of GIS

Geographic Information Systems

A Definition of GIS

What is Not GIS ?

• GPS – Global Positioning System

• A static map – paper or digital

– Maps are often a ―product‖ of a GIS

– A way to visualize the analysis

• A software package

GIS History

• About 15,500 years ago:

On the walls of caves near Lascaux, France, Cro-Magnon

hunters drew pictures of the animals they hunted. Associated

with the animal drawings are track lines and tallies thought to

depict migration routes.

• In 1854:

John Snow depicted a cholera outbreak in London using

points to represent the locations of some individual cases,

possibly the earliest use of the geographic method.

GIS History

• In 1962:

Dr. Roger Tomlinson developed the world's first true

operational GIS in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada by the federal

Department of Forestry and Rural Development.

It was called the "Canada Geographic Information System"

(CGIS) and was used to store, analyze, and manipulate data

collected for the Canada Land Inventory (CLI)—an initiative to

determine the land capability for rural Canada by mapping

information about soils, agriculture, recreation, wildlife,

waterfowl, forestry, and land use at a scale of 1:50,000. A

rating classification factor was also added to permit analysis.

GIS History

• In 1964:

Howard T Fisher formed the Laboratory for Computer

Graphics and Spatial Analysis at the Harvard Graduate School

of Design (LCGSA 1965-1991), where a number of important

theoretical concepts in spatial data handling were developed.

• Early 1980s:

M&S Computing (later Intergraph), Environmental Systems

Research Institute (ESRI) and CARIS (Computer Aided

Resource Information System) emerged as commercial

vendors of GIS software .

Spatial Data

• Estimates are that 80% of all data has a spatial component

– Data from most sciences can be analyzed ―spatially‖

What is GIS ?

• A method to visualize, manipulate, analyze, and display spatial data

• ―Smart Maps‖ linking a database to the map

Database―Not Easy to Interpret‖

Visualization ―Worth a Thousand Words‖

Two Ways to Input and Visualize DataThe World in GIS

• Raster – Grid– ―pixels‖– a location and value

– Satellite images and aerial photos are already in this format

• Vector – Linear– Points, lines & polygons– ―Features‖ (house, lake, etc.)

– Attributes– size, type, length, etc.

Real world

Combining Data From Many Sources

Data for GIS Applications

• Digitized and Scanned Maps– purchased, donated, free (Internet)

– created by user

• Data Bases – Tables of data

• GPS – Global Positioning System

– accurate locations

• Field Sampling of Attributes

• Remote Sensing & Aerial Photography

States

Five Data Layers ―Alike‖ Features

Roads

CapitalsRivers

Lakes

―Spatial Analysis‖ – not just a map

Turning Data Into Information

Asking a Question – Interaction

Maps and Database are ―Interactive‖

Multiple Databases can be Linked and Related

Some Ways GIS is Used

• Emergency Services – Fire & Police

• Environmental – Monitoring & Modeling

• Business – Site Location, Delivery Systems

• Industry – Transportation, Communication,

Mining, Pipelines, Healthcare

• Government – Local, State, Federal, Military

• Education – Research, Teaching Tool, Administration

Wherever Spatial Data Analysis is Needed

Network Solutions

Ecosystem Management

3D Mine with Well Data

Environmental MonitoringToxic Plume

Combining Various Display Methods

Oil Spill and Contamination

Site Location and Client Distance

Modeling of Future Trends

Clusters and Comparison of Data

Loma Linda Hospital Facilities

Types of GIS

• Classic GIS

• Applied GIS

• Emerging GIS

Classic GIS

• Databases

• Data representation

• Querying

• Spatial statistic analysis

• Visualization

• Conclusions/predictions

Applied GIS

• Maps

• Path planning

• Terrain visualization

• Medical GIS

• Educational GIS

Emerging GIS

• Sensor networks

• Distributed GIS

• Google maps

• Hand-held GIS

• Web-based GIS

GIS on the Internet

• Olympics

— http://citymap.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/

• National Geographic Map Machine

— http://www.nationalgeographic.com/maps.index.html

• Find a Home — http://www.realtor.com

• ATM Locator — http://www.visa.com

• Store Locator — http://www.godiva.com

• GIS Info — http://www.gis.com

You might be a GIS Professional If…

- you hear the words SPATIAL and ENTERPRISE and do

not think of Star Trek

- your idea of curling up with a good book is with a Rand

McNally Street Atlas

- you are the only person that realizes the term 'GIS

system' contains a redundancy

- FGDC metadata does not put you to sleep

- you find yourself critiquing Mapquest maps

- you notice inconsistent signage on streets

- you can navigate a southbound trip without turning the

map upside down

GIS Professionals

- you are not amazed that a dispatcher knows where your

cell phone call is coming from

- when told to turn 'East' you know which way to go

- you can give directions without mentioning McDonalds or

Starbucks

- you laugh at the folks climbing Mt. Elbert (highest point

in Colorado - over 14,000 feet) who say "we're almost

there, the GPS says it's just few hundred feet away"

- you find errors on the AAA travel atlas and try to get a

refund

Adapted from ‘ewolf’ at www.gisnuts.com

GIS Professionals

Questions?