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Fundamentals of GIS

Introduction to the course January 9, 2012. Fundamentals of GIS. Points to Cover. What is GIS? GIS and Geographic Information Science Components of GIS Spatial data. Defining GIS. Many definitions exist Three main points: GIS is a computer system consisting of hardware and software

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Fundamentals of GIS

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  1. Introduction to the course January 9, 2012 Fundamentals of GIS

  2. Points to Cover • What is GIS? • GIS and Geographic Information Science • Components of GIS • Spatial data

  3. Defining GIS • Many definitions exist • Three main points: • GIS is a computer system consisting of hardware and software • GIS works with spatially referenced data • GIS carries out various management and analysis tasks on these data • GIS is much more than a graphic package or a mapping system • Turn raw data into information

  4. GIS and Geographic Information Science • Geographic Information Science refers to the body of knowledge underpinning GIS • Draws and synthesizes knowledge and methods created by other disciplines • Involves research into: • Fundamental issues arising from the creation, handling, storage and use of geographic information (Longley et al., 2005) • Impacts of GIS on individuals and society and the influences of society on GIS (Goodchild, 1997)

  5. Components of a GIS • Various points of view exist • More comprehensive definitions include: • Computer system • Hardware and operating system • Software • Spatial data • Data management and analysis procedures • Organizational environment

  6. Computer System • GIS run on a variety of computer systems • Essential elements of the hardware (Burrough, 1986) • Processor with sufficient power • Sufficient RAM • Good quality graphic interface, including a good videocard • Data input and output devices

  7. Software • GIS software includes the following basic modules: • Data input and verification • Data storage and database management • Data output • Data transformation tools • Data analysis and manipulation tools

  8. Spatial Data: Concept of Data • Data are observations from monitoring the real world • Hourly temperature readings at the Regina airport • Total number of new social assistance recipients per month • Raw numbers • Data taken by itself is relatively useless for making decisions

  9. Spatial Data: Data and Information Data → Processing & Display → Information • Data are observations from monitoring the • Data processing may include • Summary/aggregation • Analysis • Adding context such as subject, scale or unit of measurement • Metadata • Information that describes the content, quality, condition, origin, and other characteristics of data or other pieces of information. • Communication is an important step in converting data into information

  10. Spatial Data: Dimensions of Data • Data has three dimension (modes) • Temporal: provides a record of when the data were collected • Thematic: ties the data to the real world feature or event • Spatial:references the location of the features • The data can be classified based on the dimension that is used to organize it • Thematic data: data organized by theme

  11. Spatial data: Structure • Ways of structuring data in a GIS • Layer-based approach: • Layers containing data related to the same theme or on the same type of features • Defined extent • Object-oriented approach: • Spatial entities are regarded as discrete objects with empty spaces between them

  12. Spatial data: Structure • ArcGIS software uses the layer-based approach to structuring spatial data • Layers can be stored as collection of interrelated files • Coverages • Shapefiles • Layers can be stored as a feature class in a geodatabase • The geodatabase storage model is based on a series of relational database concepts • The multitier architecture of the geodatabase is sometimes referred to as an object-relational model (ArcGIS Help files, ESRI ,1995-2010).

  13. Data management and analysis • GIS handles two types of data • Spatial data • Gets visualized in the graphic interface as map features • Non-spatial attribute data • Provide information about features • Functions performed by GIS • Data input, management and output • Data transformation and analysis • Transformation is a process of changing how the data are represented

  14. Data management and analysis • GIS handles two types of data • Spatial data • Gets visualized in the graphic interface as map features • Non-spatial attribute data • Provide information about features • Functions performed by GIS • Data input, management and output • Data transformation and analysis

  15. Organizational Environment • GIS utilization ranges • From small research projects carried out be a single person • To large-scale corporate distributed systems designed and used by different groups of users • Introducing GIS into an organization brings changes to all aspects of business • Successful implementation of GIS requires taking into account existing needs and available resources

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