What is GIS? G stands for geographic, so we know that GIS has something to do with geography.
I stands for information, so we know that GIS has something to do
with information, namely geographic information.
S stands for system, so we know that GIS is an integrated system of
geography and information tied together. Most people agree that over 80% of the information related to government operations have a geographic component. Therefore, a system that integrates this information together is quite valuable. We shall see how a geographic information system tied geography and information together.
What is GIS ? A computer system for - collecting, - storing, - manipulating, - analyzing, - displaying, and - querying geographically related information.
In general GIS cover 3 components
Computer system
Hardware
Computer, plotter, printer, digitizer
Software and appropriate procedures
Spatially referenced or geographic data People to carry out various management and analysis tasks
Well-designed GIS should provide
Quick and easy access to large volumes of data The ability to:
Select detail by area or theme Link or merge one dataset with another Analyze spatial characteristics of data Search for particular characteristics or features in an area Update data quickly and cheaply Model data and assess alternatives
Output capabilities tailored to meet particular needs
Geographic Data
Geospatial data tells you where it is and attribute data tells you what it is. Metadata describes both geospatial and attribute data.
In GIS, we call geographic data as GIS data or spatial data
Traditional method
To represent the geographic data is paper-based maps
Geology map Topographic map City street map (we still use it a lot) ...
In GIS: new fashion
Raster: is a grid consisting of individual cells or pixels. Each cell holds a value (elevation, radiance, reflectance, rainfall, or land use type,). the resolution of the data is the size on the ground by each cell.
Vector: points, lines, and polygons
Ways for Collecting GIS Data
And many more such as weather station observations water meter readings, sampler analysis results, daily sale amounts census results ..
Power of GIS - integration
Why GIS ?
Provides powerful tools for - data process, analysis, and visualization - data management and retrieval
One of the fastest growing high-tech career fields
GIS growing very fast
1981, 1st ESRI user conference only 18 people 2003, 23rd . 12,000 people, the theme of the year is serving our world with GIS
Historical Development of GIS
Pioneer research period (late 1950s to early 1970s)-- advances in computer technology Govt. Agency research and development (1970s to early 80s) Commercial development period (1980s to present)
desktop, which supports enhanced professional productivity; multipurpose and database systems with many clients accessing, updating, and using them; and distributed and shared Web services
Stand Alone GIS
Networked GIS (Local)
Networked GIS (Global)
Figure ESRI
Geographic Information Will Be Increasingly Available and Interrelated
General Education Higher Education Special Interest Groups National Agencies Local Government Agencies Business International Organization The Public
Figure ESRI
Product families of main GIS software providers
Autodesk Professional Desktop View er CAD Hand-held Component DB server Internet Vis ion MapGuide World AutoCAD LT AutoCAD MAP OnSite *
ESRI
Intergraph GeoMedia Pro
MapInfo
GE Smallwold
AutoCAD/World ArcInfo
Mapinfo Profes s ional Sm allworld GIS MapInfo Profes s ional Spatial intelligence ProViewer * MapXtend MapX, MapJ Cus tom Part of Sm allworld GIS Scount Part of Sm allworld GIS Part of Sm allworld GIS Sm allworld internet application s erver
ArcView, ArcGIS GeoMedia ArcExplorer ArcCAD ArcPad MapObjects ArcSDE ArcIMS GeoMedia Viewer * In developm ent Part of GeoMedia
Us es Oracle Spatial SpatialWare GeoMedia Web Map MapXtrem e and and Web Enterpris e MapXs ite
* Featured in several products
Modified from: p171 of Longley el al. 2001
Family of ArcGIS Desktop
1.
ArcView 8.x ArcEditor 8.x ArcInfo 8.x
These products have the same interface and share much of their functionality. ArcEditor does everything ArcView does and goes beyond it; ArcInfo does everything ArcEditor does and goes beyond it ArcEditor can create and edit certain spatial data formats, but ArcView can not ArcInfo can edit more spatial data formats, with a ArcInfo workstation together
Agriculture Archaeology Business Environment Geology Health Hydrology Land Information System Military Natural Hazard Management Natural Resource Management Urban Planning Many more http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/index.htm
Main References
ESRI, http://www.esri.com GIS development, http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/index.htm Paul A. Longley et al., 2001, Geographic Information Systems and Science, John Wiley & Sons press. Kang-tsung Change, 2003, Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (2nd Edition), McGraw-Hill Higher Education press. Arthur Lembo, http://www.css.cornell.edu/courses/420/css420.html Heywood et al., 2006. An introduction to GIS, 3rd edition, Prentice Hall
