An Introduction to GIS - Virginia Geospatial Extension …gep.frec.vt.edu/VCCS/materials/PDFs/1.1-Clayton_Intro2...VCCS Geospatial Institute Chapter 1 ‐Overview and Introduction

VCCS Geospatial Institute Chapter 1 ‐ Overview and Introduction to Geospatial Technologies

Blacksburg, VAJuly 24th – 30th, 2010 An Introduction to GIS | Page 1

An Introduction to GIS

With support from:

Prepared by:

Rodney Clayton, [email protected]

in partnership with:

NSF DUE-0903270

Geospatial Technician Education Through Virginia’s Community Colleges (GTEVCC)

Explore Your World

The Power of Visualization

You Are Here



World Population Density

ArcGlobe

World Population Density

Explore Landforms

Grand Canyon, CO



Explore Topography

Mount of the Holy Cross, CO

ArcGlobe & Google Earth

“Coming Soon to a classroom near you!”

A Brief History



GIS – “A Brief History”

• 1854 – First GIS Map– John Snow depicted a cholera outbreak in London– Used points on a map to represent the locations of

individual cases of cholera.– Studying the distribution of points led to the source

of the outbreak.– First time cartographic elements were used to depict

clusters of a geographically dependent phenomena.

• 1964 – The father of GIS– Roger Tomlinson developed the first computer-based

system to store, analyze, and manipulate geographic data

– Used for the Canada Land Inventory initiative.– Tomlinson called it “Canadian Geographic Information

Systems” (CGIS)– The first true operational GIS

What is GIS?

• “GIS” – What is it?

Geographic Information System

• Definitions:– “…GIS is a set of computer-based systems for managing

geographic data and using these data to solve spatial problems.” – Lo and Yeung 2002

• Keywords– Hardware– Software

“GIS Defined”

Lo and Yeung, 2002

– “…a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographically referenced information, i.e., data identified according to their locations” – USGS, 1997

– “…a system of hardware, software, and procedures designed to support the capture, management, manipulation, analysis, modeling, and display of spatially referenced data for solving complex planning and management problems” – Rhind, 1989

– Procedures– Capture– Management– Manipulation, Analysis,

and Modeling– Display – Spatially Referenced

Data



• Keywords

“Geographic Coordinate System”

39o 58’ 45.1” N59o 59’ 10.3” W

– Spatially Referenced Data

(After Charton, 1988)

Attribute Table

The Geographic Information System

Representing the Real-World

Vector and Raster



“GIS Data Models”

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 90 R T

Real World

Vector RepresentationRaster Representation

How GIS models the World- Concept of Vector and Raster

0 R T1 R T2 H R3 R4 R R5 R6 R T T H7 R T T8 R9 R

line

polygon

point

(Source: Dr. Ronald Briggs, University of Texas)

Street Network layer: lines

Vector

Layers


Raster

“Overlay Analysis” - Overhead vs. GIS




“The Vector Model in Use”


“The Raster Model in Use”

NASA LandSat seriesMount St. Helens(False Color Infrared)

1983

1992

The Mississippi Delta


“The Raster Model in Use”

NASA LandSat series

1973 1989 2003



GIS Applications



Modeling the Terrain

Digital Elevation ModelTriangular Irregular Network



Digital Elevation Model

Modeling Terrain

TIN

DEM

“GIS Data Models” - Environmental Analysis

“The Digital Elevation Model in Use”



• “GIS” – What types of information can be derived from it?– Identification (Object/entity/phenomenon)– Location (where relative to Earth’s surface)– Condition (attributes)– Temporal Changes (What has changed since…?)– Spatial Patterns (Is there a relationship?)

• “GIS” – What type of questions does it answer?– “What If” scenarios (modeling the real-world)– Ideal Site location (for businesses, schools, public works, etc...)– Existence of natural/human-made hazards – Best evacuation route

DataGIS• Input• Storage

Information

Geo-SpatialDatabase

“Geospatial Analysis”

• Storage• Manipulation• Query• Analyze• Visualization

“Hazardous Emissions Analysis”

– Not easy to interpretAbility to analyze and Visualize Spatial Data

Hazardous Emissions Compared to Minority Population:Hennepin County, MN 2000 Census Tracts

Modified: Md. Khalequzzaman, Ph.D., Lock Haven University

Pollutants by Pounds

Minority Population



Choropleth Maps

Mapping Census 2000

Mapping Census 2000

Mapping Census 2000



Mapping Census 2000

Mapping Census 2000

World Geography

Exploring Standard of Living and

Quality of Life



“World Geography” - Infant Mortality Rate

“World Geography” - Standard of Living

“World Geography” - Life Expectancy



World Geography

Exploring Standard of Living and Quality of Life

Demonstration

“Components of GIS”

• The Components of a GIS include:• Data• Technology• Application• People

“Geographic Information Technologies”

• Global Positioning Systems (GPS)– a network of satellites in orbit around the Earth which are used to provide

precise (100 meters to sub-centimeter) location on the Earth’s surface (in Latitude and Longitude).

• Remote Sensing (RS)– Use of satellites or aircraft to capture information

about Earth’s surface.



Global Positioning System

TCC Tree SurveywithGPS

“Knowledge Base for GIS”

Knowledge Base for GIS

Application Area:geology

bli d i

Computer Science:graphicsvisualization databasesystem administrationsecurity

The convergence of technological fields and traditional disciplines.

GIS public admin.planningmineral explorationforestrysite selectionmarketingcivil engineeringcriminal justicesurveying

secu ity

Geography:cartographygeodesyphotogrammetrylandformsspatial statistics Modified: Dr. Ronald Briggs, University of Texas

• “GIS” – What can it do for teachers?– Equips teachers with technology that engages students

– Compels students to become proactive in the learning process

– Allows students to achieve higher levels of learning (Bloom’s Taxonomy)• Problem Solving and Decision Making Skills

– Connection to Standards of Learning in Earth Sciences

“GIS for Educators”

Bloom’s Taxonomy



“GIS and Standards of Learning” – Earth Science

Excerpts:ES.1 The student will plan and conduct investigations in which

– b) technologies including computers, probeware, and global positioning systems (GPS), are used to collect, analyze, and report data and to demonstrate concepts and simulate experimental condition

– c) scales, diagrams, maps, charts, graphs, tables, and profiles are constructed and interpreted

ES.3 The student will investigate and understand how to read and interpret maps, globes, models, charts, and imagery. Key concepts include

– a) maps (bathymetric, geologic, topographic, and weather) and star charts– b) imagery (aerial photography and satellite images)– c) direction and measurements of distance on any map or globe– d) location by latitude and longitude and topographic profiles

“GIS and Standards of Learning” – Geography

Excerpts:WG.1 The student will use maps, globes, photographs, and pictures in order to

a) obtain geographical information and apply the concepts of location, scale, and orientation;b) develop and refine his or her mental maps of world regions;c) create and compare political, physical, and thematic maps;d) analyze and explain how different cultures develop different perspectives on the world and its

problems;e) recognize different map projections and explain the concept of distortion.

WG.8 The student will distinguish between developed and developing countries and relate the level of economic development to the standard of living and quality of life.

Excerpts:

• “GIS” – Why it is important to students?

– 80 % of local government activities estimated to be geographically based• plats, zoning, public works (streets, water supply, sewers), garbage collection, land

ownership and valuation

– businesses use GIS for a very wide array of applications• retail site selection & customer analysis• logistics: vehicle tracking & routing

“GIS for Students”

• logistics: vehicle tracking & routing• natural resource exploration (petroleum, etc.)• precision agriculture• civil engineering and construction

– scientific research employs GIS• geography, geology, botany • anthropology, sociology, economics, political science• epidemiology, criminology

(Source: Dr. Ronald Briggs, University of Texas)



“GIS for Education”

• “GIS” – The Educational Promise of GIS?

– GIS can play a role in educational reform• Teachers and students can both be active learners at the same time• “The” answer is not contained or presented, it requires critical thinking

– GIS is a vocational tool• Helps develop basic computer literacy• Helps develop basic computer literacy• GIS activities provide actual training for many careers

– GIS engages and exercises multiple capacities and intelligences• Critical thinking (ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate)• Logical-mathematical intelligence

– GIS relies on an fosters a mindset of exploration

(Source: GIS in K-12 Education, ESRI)

GIS Application Interface

The Software

GIS Application Interface – “The Software” – “ArcGIS”



GIS – Explore Your World

Questions?

Rodney ClaytonEmail: [email protected] Ph. 757-822-7089

Documents

An Introduction to GIS - Virginia Geospatial Extension …gep.frec.vt.edu/VCCS/materials/PDFs/1.1-Clayton_Intro2...VCCS Geospatial Institute Chapter 1 ‐Overview and Introduction