Experiment No.: I

AIM: Introduction to geographic information system and its applications.

THEORY:WHAT IS GIS?

A geographic information system (GIS) is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographical data. The acronym GIS is sometimes used for geographical information science or geospatial information studies to refer to the academic discipline or career of working with geographic information systems and is a large domain within the broader academic discipline of Geoinformatics. In the simplest terms, GIS is the merging of cartography, statistical analysis, and computer science technology.

A GIS can be thought of as a system—it digitally creates and "manipulates" spatial areas that may be jurisdictional, purpose, or application-oriented. Generally, a GIS is custom-designed for an organization. Hence, a GIS developed for an application, jurisdiction, enterprise, or purpose may not be necessarily interoperable or compatible with a GIS that has been developed for some other application, jurisdiction, enterprise, or purpose. What goes beyond a GIS is a spatial data infrastructure, a concept that has no such restrictive boundaries.

In a general sense, the term describes any information system that integrates, stores, edits, analyzes, shares, and displays geographic information for informing decision making. GIS applications are tools that allow users to create interactive queries (user-created searches), analyze spatial information, edit data in maps, and present the results of all these operations. Geographic information science is the science underlying geographic concepts, applications, and systems.

GIS is a relatively broad term that can refer to a number of different technologies, processes, and methods. It is attached to many operations and has many applications related to engineering, planning, management, transport/logistics, insurance, telecommunications, and business. For that reason, GIS and location intelligence applications can be the foundation for many location-enabled services that rely on analysis, visualization and dissemination of results for collaborative decision making.

APPLICATION OF

GIS GIS APPLICATION IN FORESTRY:

GIS applications in forestry in India is the indispensable method by means of which the total forest area in India is measured. Digital mapping has brought about a revolutionary change in the entire Geographical Information System (GIS). The rudimentary method of depending on paper maps has been changed and at present, one depends on digital maps, which in fact have been playing a significant role in the monitoring and management of the forests.The Geographical Information System, Global Positioning System, and Remote Sensing are important technological applications used in various areas of life in today's era of modern communication.

The GIS Applications in forestry has come up with excellent results in the decision making in the field level. There are different types of GIS Applications in forestry, such as -

Supervising of afforestation plans Monitoring of plantation schemes Corridor mapping for animal migration Habitat mapping Land capability mapping

GIS applications in forestry are also used for the prevention of trespassers in the forests. This is done with the help of satellite imageries. The total forest area in India is under danger from various quarters today. GIS applications in forestry are also very useful in the protection of forests. With the help of such applications in the GIS system, accurate information can be remotely and easily obtained. The geo-spatial data is organized to make important decisions. The data should be accurate as any type of error within the GIS calculations would misguide the users.

The modern day use of digital maps is more user friendly than the paper maps, as there is enough space for corrections and modifications within the digital maps. For preparing digital maps, one has to count upon aerial photography and satellite imageries. Nevertheless, the main drawback regarding the GIS applications in forestry is that the applications are more used further for preparing working plans and making thematic maps.

Some other useful purposes for which GIS applications in forestry can be used are the selection of locations for plantation or for supervising the

ongoing danger of encroachments. Moreover, issues like burning of forests and 'jhum' cultivation can be regulated. The expansion of infrastructure and communication networks are also taken care of by GIS applications. Managing the forests and village are also aided by these applications.