Geographic Information SystemsGeographic Information Systems

GIS Definition

1. GIS is Important1. GIS is Important

Because most information has a spatial componentESRI, GE SmallWorld

LocationsLocations

NetworksNetworks

AreasAreas

GIS is ImportantGIS is Important

It helps temporal reasoning as wellS. H. Gage, J. Helly and M. Colunga, GIS/EM4 2000

GIS is UsefulGIS is Useful

The “W” questions

Where, what, when, why, how, who, what if…

GIS shows “what” are “where”, and helps us to think other “W”s

It helps generate and test hypothesis

Social FactorsSocial Factors

BiodiversityBiodiversity

EngineeringEngineering

Land UseLand Use

EnvironmentalEnvironmentalConsiderationsConsiderations

It allows us to see the “whole”It allows us to see the “whole”Courtesy: USGSCourtesy: USGS

GIS integrates various informationGIS integrates various information

GIS is UsefulGIS is Useful

GIS is used by a wide range of disciplines

It changed the way we operate

It opened many opportunities

A Few FactsA Few Facts

NCGIA/NSF grants

GIS programs in government agencies

GIS consulting firms and contracts

GIS conferences, journals, and professional societies

http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/gis_poster http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu http://www.ucgis.org

2. What is a GIS2. What is a GIS

An early effort, Ian McHarg, 1969

What is a GISWhat is a GIS

A process oriented definition:

A GIS is a computer-based system that provides for the collection, storage, analysis, and display of geo-referenced data.

A problem solving oriented definition:

A decision support system involving the integration of spatially referenced data in a problem solving

environment.

What is a GISWhat is a GIS

Data Information Knowledge Intelligence (DIKI)

What is a GISWhat is a GIS

GISystems and GIScience

 GISystems refers to

software and hardware, and is used as a tool to support a project

  GIScience refers to the particular field of scientific studyhttp://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu http://www.ucgis.org

PeopleSoftware

Data

Procedures

Hardware

Network

3. Related Fields3. Related Fields

Manual cartography

DBMS (Data base management system)

CAD (Computer-aided drafting)

Computer Mapping

AM/FM (Automated Mapping/Facility Management)

LIS (Land information system)

GIS  

Spatial OperationsSpatial Operations

GIS is not just mapping. It does spatial operations. For example, it helps to find:

Where is object A?

Where is A in relation to place B?

How many occurrences of type A are there within

distance D of B?

How many cardiovascular patients have a cardiologist within 5 miles?

ESRI, GE SmallWorld

Identification and Awareness of Hazardous Waste Sites

Spatial OperationsSpatial Operations

What is the value of function Z at position X?

How large is B (area, perimeter, count of inclusions)?

What is the result of intersecting various kinds of spatial data?

Geographic Analysis of Disease RiskGeographic Analysis of Disease Risk

Where are the potential areas of disease?

Who are the populations at risk now and in the future?

Spatial OperationsSpatial Operations

What is the path of least cost, resistance, or

distance along the ground from X to Y along pathway P?

What is at point X1, X2?

What objects are next to objects having certain

combinations of attributes?

Dispatching delivery vans, taxis, or repair trucksDispatching delivery vans, taxis, or repair trucks

5. Readings5. Readings

Chpt 1