Geographic Information Systems
(GIS)
An Introduction
Geographic Information Systems
• Information Systems: Systems designed to manipulate and analyse data in order to generate new derivative information
• GIS: Information systems that work with geographic or spatial data
What is GIS About?
• Is it mapping?
• GIS is about using data to describe & analyse our world in two ways:– Location Data - Where is it?– Attribute Data - What is it?
GIS: Links Data Sets
GIS software links the location data and the attribute data:
• Geography
GIS: LayersGIS can contain many layers of information:
• Census Data• Transportation
These are just a few of the kinds of layers a GIS can contain:
GIS: AnalysisGIS can analyse data in many ways:
Queries
What provinces border Saskatchewan?
Spatial Questions:What provinces have more than 1.5 million people?
Attribute Questions:
Other Analytical Techniques
• Proximity• Buffers• Neighbourhoods• Overlays• Network analysis• Cost Distances
GIS & Technology
• Geography has become a hi-tech discipline– Geographic Information Systems (GIS)– Earth Observation (Remote Sensing)– Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
Earth Observation
Sault Ste. Marie, OntarioSault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Global Positioning Systems
• GPS is a positioning system
– 24 satellites orbiting the earth
– Provide location within cm.’s anywhere on the globe.
Who’s Using GIS?
• Environmental• Park Management• Agriculture• Public Utilities• Health Care• Emergency 911
• Real Estate• Marketing• Economic Development• Internet• Insurance• Appraisal & Assessment
• And …..And …..
Environmental
• What are the effects of global warming?
Land cover & temperature relationships are made clear when the data are seen at once using GIS, or can be statistically analysed.
What addresses within an urban area may be prone to flooding, & how much are the potential damages?
Floodplain Delineation
Park Management
• Will the new building spoil the park scenery?
Park planners use GIS to determine whether a new Visitor Centre can be seen from the peak.
Agriculture
• How can food production be improved?
GIS is used in making crop management decisions to
maximize yields & minimize fertilizer input.
Public Utilities
• Identify facilities & connecting networks
A proposed excavation, identified by address, is compared to pipelines in the area using GIS.
Health Care
• What communities are at risk from disease?
GIS identifies communities at risk of water borne diseases & helps determine the effectiveness of the
treatment plans.
Emergency 911
• What is the fastest route to the hospital?
GIS can choose the fastest route to a hospital,
including traffic & other impediments.
Real Estate
• Where is the best location?
With GIS, suitable locations can be identified, a map of a neighbourhood produced, as well as pictures or videos of the actual properties.
Marketing
• Optimise marketing campaigns
GIS can query a database & identify only those areas with the highest household income within a specified distance of a store.
Economic Development
• Data from the municipal government can be made more accessible
GIS can provide data on available properties, traffic counts, re-development project areas, & demographics over the net.
New Business Applications are developed each month
GIS an example of a Technology meeting
evolving Business needs