1. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Nick Hankerson Danielle Witt Amy Yardley April 18, 2007

2. What is GIS? A system for capturing, storing, analyzing and managing data and associated attributes which are spatially referenced to the earth. (wikipedia.com) A system for capturing, storing, analyzing and managing data and associated attributes which are spatially referenced to the earth. (wikipedia.com) Spatial Data Spatial Data

3. Why use GIS? Businesses can use GIS for demographic reasons such as Businesses can use GIS for demographic reasons such as Locating likely customer populations.Locating likely customer populations. Where to establish new branches, sales divisions and storage facilities.Where to establish new branches, sales divisions and storage facilities. Governments use GIS for Governments use GIS for Planning and organizing geographic dataPlanning and organizing geographic data Keep track of public works and roadsKeep track of public works and roads Computing the locational consequences of actions.Computing the locational consequences of actions.

4. GIS software ESRI - ARCGIS ESRI - ARCGIS Clark Labs - IDRISI Clark Labs - IDRISI GEO-3D Inc. GEO-3D Inc.

5. Who uses GIS? Pepsi and Coke Pepsi and Coke Weyerhaeuser Weyerhaeuser Mortgage companies Mortgage companies Real estate agencies Real estate agencies Health Care providers Health Care providers

6. The Technology Behind GIS 2D images 2D images Vector – GIS application that uses points to store and plot lines and polygons for infinite precision of geographic areas. Vector – GIS application that uses points to store and plot lines and polygons for infinite precision of geographic areas. Raster – GIS application that uses pixels to store and plot geographic areas. Raster – GIS application that uses pixels to store and plot geographic areas.

7. Vector Advantages: Compact data structure Low storage cost Best for map output Can overlay displays easily Disadvantages: Complex data structure Difficult to compute Cannot store image data Less efficiently stored Measures type, length and time of geographic region Used most often in transportation, utility and marketing applications.

8. Raster Transfers a spatial area into pixels and gives them a value Transfers a spatial area into pixels and gives them a value Resolution of images depends upon pixel size Resolution of images depends upon pixel size Measures land Measures land Advantages:Disadvantages: Easy to create Efficient storage of dense data Easy to compute with. Great for image data. Must pre-define spatial resolution Requires large storage space Requires large storage space Can be inefficient Can be inefficient Harder to overlay Harder to overlay Poor with linear featuresPoor with linear features

9. Some Examples Most GIS systems support both vector and raster systems but not simultaneously. Most GIS systems support both vector and raster systems but not simultaneously. Market leaders Market leaders ArcGISArcGIS IDRISIIDRISI 3D Intergraph3D Intergraph

10. Sources http://rwsmaps.griffel.se/Guadeloupe3D(RasterM ap).jpg http://rwsmaps.griffel.se/Guadeloupe3D(RasterM ap).jpg http://rwsmaps.griffel.se/Guadeloupe3D(RasterM ap).jpg http://rwsmaps.griffel.se/Guadeloupe3D(RasterM ap).jpg http://www.esri.com/index.html http://www.esri.com/index.html http://www.esri.com/index.html http://www.forestpal.com/fgis.html http://www.forestpal.com/fgis.html http://www.forestpal.com/fgis.html http://www.gisjobs.com/resources.html http://www.gisjobs.com/resources.html http://www.gisjobs.com/resources.html http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/sam/SAM/im ages/SAM2_a12/Raster%20map.jpg http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/sam/SAM/im ages/SAM2_a12/Raster%20map.jpg http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/sam/SAM/im ages/SAM2_a12/Raster%20map.jpg http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/sam/SAM/im ages/SAM2_a12/Raster%20map.jpg http://www.vcrlter.virginia.edu/~jhp7e/advgis/lo cal/lectures/rastervsvector05.pdf?meid=51 http://www.vcrlter.virginia.edu/~jhp7e/advgis/lo cal/lectures/rastervsvector05.pdf?meid=51 http://www.vcrlter.virginia.edu/~jhp7e/advgis/lo cal/lectures/rastervsvector05.pdf?meid=51 http://www.vcrlter.virginia.edu/~jhp7e/advgis/lo cal/lectures/rastervsvector05.pdf?meid=51 www.GIS.com www.GIS.com www.GIS.com www.Idrisi.ca/ www.Idrisi.ca/ www.Idrisi.ca/ www.wikipedia.com www.wikipedia.com www.wikipedia.com