The Paper MapThe Paper Map

• A long and rich historyA long and rich history• Has a scale or Has a scale or representative fractionrepresentative fraction

– The ratio of distance on the map to distance on the groundThe ratio of distance on the map to distance on the ground

• A common source of data for GISA common source of data for GIS– Obtained by digitizing or scanning the map and registering Obtained by digitizing or scanning the map and registering

it to known locations on the Earth’s surfaceit to known locations on the Earth’s surface

• Digital representations are much more powerful than Digital representations are much more powerful than their paper equivalentstheir paper equivalents

Types of MapsTypes of MapsI. Mental – Our self image of the world

II. Physical (Tangible)

A. General Reference Maps – Shows Place (e.g. navigation, atlas)

B. Thematic Maps – Shows distribution of a single entity (e.g. geology)

1. Qualitative

City names, Soil Type

2. Quantitative (amounts, costs)

Population, pH

A GIS database is usually a set of thematic maps which when taken as a whole represents place.

A GIS database is typical a set of thematic layers that represent different information types.

Information can be stored using different data structures depend on their characteristics.

Value of MapsValue of Maps

Maps are perhaps as fundamental to society as language and the written word. Million of maps are created and distributed each year.

They are the preeminent means of recording and communicating information about the location and spatial characteristics of the natural world and of society and culture.

Value of MapsValue of Maps

Maps gain their value in three ways:

1. As a way of recording and storing information

Location of USGS water-quality test sites in Wisconsin

Value of MapsValue of Maps

2. As a means of analyzing locational distributions and spatial patterns

Maps let us recognize spatial distributions and relationships and make it possible for us to visualize and hence conceptualize patterns and processes that operate through space.

Example: Query water quality data to find sites with high nitrate.

Value of MapsValue of Maps

Environmental factors affecting poverty in Africa by Christine Byer, George Mason University

Value of MapsValue of Maps

3. As a method of presenting information and communicating findings

Maps allow us to convey information and findings that are difficult to express verbally. Maps can also be used to convince and persuade, or even propagandize.

GIS supports these activities by making it more efficient to capture, store, analyze and display spatial data. If anything GIS has increased the importance of maps in decision-making and our daily lives.

Five Ms of Applied GISFive Ms of Applied GIS

• Mapping – location of entities

• Measuring – distance, counts

• Monitoring – change over time

• Modeling – integration of data

• Managing – decision-making

GIS Interest is RisingGIS Interest is Rising• Applications via Internet (data and model services)• Price reductions• Greater awareness• Improved ease of use• Better technology (faster computers; more storage)• Proliferation of DATA• Commercial software packages• Real applications (operational tools)• Proven cost:benefit cases

Four Domain AreasFour Domain Areas

• Government

• Business

• Transportation and Logistics

• Environment

Local GovernmentLocal Government

• Major user of GIS– 70-80% of local government tasks are geographically-

related

• Many applications, e.g.– Asset inventories– Transportation planning– Land management– Economic development– Elections– Public health delivery

Tax AssessmentTax Assessment

• Raising revenue from property taxes– Maintain property register– Evaluate land/property value fairly– Deal with public enquiries and complaints

• Assign value to property based on– Cost of replacement– Income if rented– Market comparison with recent sales

Business and Service PlanningBusiness and Service Planning

• Application of GIS to retail market decision making• GIS has been applied at all scales

– Operational – processing day-to-day transactions (e.g. delivery vehicle routing)

– Tactical – allocation of resources to short-term (weekly) problems (e.g. target marketing promotional campaigns)

– Strategic – longer term goals and missions (e.g. store location planning)

www.realtor.comwww.realtor.com

LogisticsLogistics

• Many applications of GIS in transportation, utilities and logistics, e.g.– Infrastructure maintenance

– Travel planning

– Routing

– Vehicle tracking

• Two components– Static – infrastructure

– Dynamic – vehicles (linked to GPS, mobile GIS)

Planning for Emergency EvacuationPlanning for Emergency Evacuation

• Major natural and human-induced events may necessitate area evacuations

• GIS can be used to create effective evacuation vulnerability maps based on– Distribution of population

– Street map

• Model demand and impact of bottlenecks on speed of evacuation using standard GIS network tools – Adjacency, connectivity, shortest path network calculation

Potential Congestion – Hazard Management

EnvironmentEnvironment

• Many environmental applications of GIS– Natural resource inventory– Environmental remediation– Conservation Planning– Precision agriculture– Natural hazard mitigation– Environmental assessments– Resource Management and Decision-Making

George Host, et al. NRRI, University of Minnesota - Duluth

Modeling Modeling Deforestation Deforestation Probability SurfaceProbability Surface

Observed Observed DeforestationDeforestationObserved Observed DeforestationDeforestation

Modeling Deforestation Risks for the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala

Top Five Benefits of GISTop Five Benefits of GIS

• Cost Savings and Increased Efficiency• Better Decision Making

– Decisions on location (hazards, businesses, utilities)

• Improved Communication– Graphic Language – “A picture is worth a 1000 words”

• Better Recordkeeping• Managing Geographically

– Local Knowledge – Global Extent