Geographic Information Systems GIS Definition 1 GIS

Geographic Information Systems GIS Definition

1. GIS is Important Locations Networks Areas Because most information has a spatial component ESRI, GE Small. World

GIS is Important. . It helps temporal reasoning as well S. H. Gage, J. Helly and M. Colunga, GIS/EM 4 2000

GIS is Useful The “W” questions Where, what, when, why, how, who, what if… ► ► GIS shows “what” are “where”, and helps us think other “W”s ► It helps generate and test hypothesis

GIS integrates various information Social Factors Biodiversity Engineering Land Use Environmental Considerations It allows us to see the “whole” Courtesy: USGS

GIS is Useful. . ► GIS is used by a wide range of disciplines ► It changed the way we operate ► It opened many opportunities

A Few Facts ► NCGIA/NSF grants ► GIS programs in government agencies ► GIS consulting firms and contracts ► GIS conferences, journals, and professional societies http: //www. ncgia. buffalo. edu ► http: //www. ucgis. org ►

A Few Facts. . GIS is a big deal ► In the journal of Nature http: //www. acsu. buffalo. edu/~lbian/nature_googleearth. pdf At CNN web site ► In Department of Labor ► http: //www. acsu. buffalo. edu/~lbian/gisworkforce. pdf http: //geospatialrevolution. psu. edu/episode 1

2. What is a GIS ► An early effort, Ian Mc. Harg, 1969

What 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 GIS. . Data ► Information ► Knowledge ► Intelligence ► (DIKI) ►

What is a GIS. . ► GISystems and GIScience Software People Data GISystems refers to software and hardware, and is used as a tool to support a project Network Procedures Hardware GIScience refers to the particular field of scientific study http: //www. ncgia. buffalo. edu http: //www. ucgis. org

3. 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) ► Remote sensing ► ► GIS

Spatial 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? ►

Where are the populations at risk? ► Where are the potential areas of disease? ► Geographic Analysis of Disease Risk

How many cardiovascular patients have a cardiologist within 5 miles? ESRI, GE Small. World

Identification and Awareness of Hazardous Waste Sites

Spatial 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?

Spatial 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 X 1, X 2? ► What objects are next to objects having certain combinations of attributes?

5. Readings ► Chpt 1

Dispatching delivery vans, taxis, or repair trucks