Population

What is G.I.S.????

G.I.S.= Geographic Information System

G.I.S is the

Coolest!

GIS allows us to visualize, interpret, and question data in a variety of ways that

demonstrate relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts.

A GIS helps you answer questions and solve problems by looking at your data in a way that is quickly understood and easily shared with

others.1

Say what??!

A Geographic Information System has so many applications that it is difficult to give a specific, straight answer to what a Geographic Information System does…. If you break down the title, it’s a bit easier to understand.

GEOGRAPHIC:Part of GIS tells us where things are, the location of things such as parks, city buildings, roads, and anything else we may be interested in. GIS can even give direct coordinates in latitude and longitude measurements (often measured either in decimal degrees or in degrees, minutes, and seconds) to identify exact locations.

INFORMATION:GIS also tells us what these things are, since we know the location, we need to know what is at these locations, and, if needed, more details about a place. With a simple click of a mouse on an area of a map, the GIS “Information” tool can give more details about a place such as when a building was built or the name of a building or even how many employees work there.

SYSTEMSThe last component of the acronym “G.I.S.” are the computers, software, and data, along with the people using the system, that allow us to observe, evaluate, and combine geographic information in ways that were not possible in the past. A Geographic Information System shows us where things are located, and can tell us information about these places, objects, and landscapes; ultimately creating geographic models. 2

What Does GIS Do?

A geographic information system (GIS) integrates software, hardware, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. 1

What Can You Do With It?By merging data and applying some analytic rules, you can create a model that helps answer the query you have asked.

The image below is from the ESRI GIS website. The image shows how GPS and GIS were used to accurately model the expected location and distribution of debris for the Space Shuttle Columbia, which blew up upon re-entry over eastern Texas on February 1, 2003. 1

What Can you do with it? (cont’d)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG6XsFi4gfo

Pretty cool... What Can I do With GIS?

As stated earlier, pretty much anything you want to find or map out can be done with GIS.

Examples:

• See how your hometown has changed over the years and what it will look like in the future (urban sprawl?)

• Find a good location for a wind turbine in your county and save your neighborhood tons of money in electricity bills

• Become the town hero by mapping out where storms occur and save people in danger zones (floods, tornadoes, etc)

• Find a place in your city where there is space to build an arcade, a park, or your favorite store and be able to have the information necessary to convince your town council that it would be a good idea to build it. ( you can show how it can raise economy, how the highest age population in your town is mostly 10-28 year olds and that they will benefit from such a project, etc.)

Lois is here

Nice. Can we check it out?Yes.

We are going to go up to Allegheny College’s GIS Laboratory today. We will not be using the G.I.S. software yet (we might in April), but we will be using Google Earth.

I chose to use Google Earth so you can apply the skills you learn today and use it on your home computer (free to download).

DA Rules:

Chris Shaffer, the GIS coordinator of the college will let us use the lab if you follow these simple rules:

1) Computers and lab equipment are VERY EXPENSIVE please be careful with the machines.

2) Stick with the task at hand. I will give you time at the end to play with the software.

3) Be respectful. You are invited guests into the lab.

Sources1. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., " The Guide To Geographic Information Systems: What Is

GIS." ESRI GIS and Mapping Software. 2009. Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). 20 Mar 2009. <http://www.gis.com/index.html>.

2. The School District of Palm Beach County. “GIS Kids Slideshow.” The School District of Palm Beach County. PowerPoint. 2000. 20 March 2009. <http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/Maps/gis/slide_1.htm>