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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? - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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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