Introduction to GIS

What is GIS

A Geographic Information System (GIS) integrates hardware, software, and

data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of

geographically referenced information. It is a computerized data management

system used to capture, store, manage, retrieve, analyze, and display spatial

information. GIS is a technological field that incorporates geographical

features with tabular data in order to map, analyze, and assess real-world

problems. With a GIS it is possible to map, model, query and analyze large

quantities of data. A GIS helps you answer questions and solve problems by

looking at your data in a way that is quickly understood and easily shared.

There are three integrating part in a GIS:

Geographic : The spatial realities of the real world

Information : The meaning and use of data

Systems : The computer technology and support infrastructure

Definition of GIS

“A geographic information system is a special case of information systems

where the database consists of observations on spatially distributed features,

activities or events, which are definable in space as points, lines, or areas. A

geographic information system manipulates data about these points, lines,

and areas to retrieve data for ad hoc queries and analyses” (Kenneth

Dueker, Portland State University, 1979).

“A powerful set of tools for collection, storing, retrieving at will

transforming and displaying spatial data from the real world”

Burrough,1986

“A system for capturing , storing, checking, integrating, manipulating,

analyzing and displaying data which are spatially referenced on the earth ”

Chorley, 1987

Definition of GIS

“GIS is a configuration of computer hardware and software specifically

designed for the acquisition, maintenance and use of cartographic data”

Tomlin,1990

A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for

mapping and analyzing things that exist and events that happen on earth. GIS

technology integrates common database operations such as query and

statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic analysis

benefits offered by maps.” ESRI

“GIS is an integrated system of computer hardware, software, and trained

personnel linking topographic, demographic, utility, facility, image and other

resource data that is geographically referenced.” NASA

History of GIS

One of the first applications of spatial analysis in epidemiology is the 1832

"Rapport sur la marche et les effets du choléra dans Paris et le département

de la Seine". The French geographer Charles Piquet represented the

48 districts of the city of Paris by halftone color gradient according to the

percentage of deaths by cholera per 1,000 inhabitants.

In 1854 John Snow depicted a cholera outbreak in London using points to

represent the locations of some individual cases, possibly the earliest use of a

geographic methodology in epidemiology. His study of the distribution of

cholera led to the source of the disease, a contaminated water pump (the Broad

Street Pump, whose handle he disconnected, thus terminating the outbreak).

History of GIS

The early 20th century saw the development of photozincography, which

allowed maps to be split into layers, for example one layer for vegetation and

another for water. This was particularly used for printing contours – drawing

these was a labor-intensive task but having them on a separate layer meant they

could be worked on without the other layers to confuse the draughtsman.

The year 1960 saw the development of the world's first true operational GIS in

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada by the federal Department of Forestry and Rural

Development. Developed by Dr. Roger Tomlinson, it was called the Canada

Geographic Information System (CGIS) and was used to store, analyze, and

manipulate data collected for the Canada Land Inventory – an effort to

determine the land capability for rural Canada by mapping information about

soils, agriculture, recreation, wildlife, waterfowl, forestry and land use at a

scale of 1:50,000.

History of GIS

In 1986, Mapping Display and Analysis System (MIDAS), the first desktop

GIS product emerged for the DOS operating system. This was renamed in

1990 to MapInfo for Windows when it was ported to the Microsoft Windows

platform. This began the process of moving GIS from the research

department into the business environment.

The first known use of the term "Geographic Information System" was by

Roger Tomlinson in the year 1968 in his paper "A Geographic Information

System for Regional Planning“. Tomlinson is also acknowledged as the

"father of GIS”

Why GIS Differs from other Graphics Systems

GIS differs from other graphics systems in several respects.

In GIS data are geo-referenced to the coordinates of a particular projection

system. This allows precise placement of features on the earth’s surface

and maintains the spatial relationships between mapped features. As a

result, commonly referenced data can be overlaid to determine

relationships between data elements.

GIS software use relational database management technologies to assign a

series of attributes to each spatial feature. Common feature identification

keys are used to link the spatial and attribute data between tables.

GIS provide the capability to combine various data into a composite data

layer that may become a base layer in a database.

Why GIS Differs from other Graphics Systems

GIS allows multiple layers of information to be displayed on

a single map.

What A GIS Can Do

There are five basic questions which a complete GIS must answer. These are:

What exists at a particular location (What is at?): The first of these

question seeks to find out what exists at a particular location. For Example,

Place name, Post code / Zip code or geographic reference such as latitude,

longitude. For a location, the GIS must describe the features of that location.

Where can specific features be found(Where is it?): This is the converse

of the first question. It query for a condition. For example, where are the

districts with rainfall greater than 500 mm and less than less than 750 mm?

Trends (What has changed over time?):

This involves answering both questions above. It seeks to find the difference

within an area over time. For example, at what locations are the crop yields

showing declining trends?

What A GIS Can Do

Patterns (What spatial patterns exist?): This question is more

sophisticated. If occurrence of a pest is associated with a hypothesized set of

conditions of temperature, precipitation, humidity, where do those conditions

exist?

Modelling (What if … ?) Questions are posed to determine what happens.

This is a higher level application of GIS and answers questions like what

would be the nitrate distribution in groundwater over the area if fertilizer use

is doubled?

Components of GIS

An operational GIS also has a series of components that combine to make

the system work. These components are critical to a successful GIS.

Components of GIS

Components of GIS

Hardware:

Hardware is the computer system on which a GIS operates. The function of

these components is typically divided into three main categories: Input,

Storage and Output. The general hardware components of a GIS system is

the Central Processing Unit (CPU). It is linked to a disk drive storage unit,

which provide space for storing data and programs. A digitizer, scanner and

other device is use to input data from maps and documents into digital form.

A plotter or other display device is use to present the result of data

processing.

Components of GIS

Software:

Software are computer programs; instructions that cause the hardware to do

work. GIS software are application software. GIS software provides the

functions and tools needed to store, analyze, and display geographic

information. Some popular GIS software is: Arc Info, ArcView, ArcGIS,

QGIS, GRASS GIS,ER Mapper.

Components of GIS

Data:

Perhaps the most important component of a GIS is the data. Without data

GIS can do nothing. Geographic data and related tabular data can be

collected in-house, compiled to custom specifications and requirements, or

occasionally purchased from a commercial data provider. A GIS can integrate

spatial data with other existing data resources, often stored in a corporate

DBMS. The integration of spatial data and tabular data stored in a DBMS is

a key functionality afforded by GIS.

Components of GIS

Method:

A successful GIS operates according to a well-designed implementation plan

and business rules, which are the models and operating practices unique to

each organization. Methods include how the data will be input into the

system, storage, manage, analyzed and finally presented in a map as a final

output. The methods are the steps taken answer the question need to be

answer. Failure to implement your GIS without regard for a proper

organizational commitment will result in an unsuccessful system.

Components of GIS

People/ Livewire:

Livewire/people means who are expert and engaged to run GIS software.

GIS technology is of limited value without the people who manage the

system and develop plans for applying it to real world problems. GIS users

range from technical specialists who design and maintain the system to those

who use it to help them perform their everyday work. To run GIS software

and buildup meaningful and potential logics we need expert Livewire.

Geographic Referencing Concepts

A GIS is to be created from available maps of different thematic layers (soils,

land use, temperature, etc.). The maps are in two-dimensions whereas the

earth’s surface is a three dimensional. Every map has a projection and scale.

Geo-referencing involves two stages:

Geographic Coordinate System (GCS):

The traditional way of representing locations on

the surface of the earth is in the three

dimensional coordinate system is by its latitude

and longitude.

Geographic Referencing Concepts

Projected Coordinate System (PCS):

The development of GIS starts with an available map on paper (an analogue

map). This map therefore represents a projection of a Three-dimensions GCS

in Two-dimensional form. Projection is a mathematical transformation used

to project the real Three-dimensional spherical surface of the earth in Two-

dimensions on a plane sheet of paper.

Geographic Referencing Concepts

The projection causes distortions in one or more spatial properties (area,

shape, distance, or direction).

GIS Data Types

The basic data type in a GIS reflects traditional data found on a map.

Accordingly, GIS technology utilizes two basic types of data. These are:

Spatial Data

GIS Data

Attribute Data