Introduction to Geographic Information Science IMT 220 Monday, November 8, 1999 by Phil Hurvitz GIS Specialist UW College of Forest Resources © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

Examples of GIS products How to learn more about GIS Overview Why use a GIS? What is a GIS? Components of a GIS How GIS works GIS data What can a GIS do? Examples of GIS products How to learn more about GIS Live demonstration (time permitting) © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

Computer's storage power to manage large data sets. Why use a GIS? An extension of the paper map, but much more than a map, as you will see. GIS uses the analytical capacity of the computer to complete complex tasks. Computer's storage power to manage large data sets. Integration of many different types of data from many different sources. GIS maps a variety of different data to the same coordinate space. More media stable than paper media, and easier to distribute via the net. Faster and easier update. Creation and use of "one-time" maps. Tailor-made maps. Elimination of some user bias. GIS brings new tools for thinking differently about geographic data. © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

designed to support the capture, management, manipulation, analysis, What is a GIS? Commonly defined as: A system of hardware, software, and procedures designed to support the capture, management, manipulation, analysis, modeling and display of spatially-referenced data for solving complex planning and management problems. © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

A set of tools used to solve complex problems What is GIS? A set of tools used to solve complex problems A window to a different way of thinking about the world A method of integrating knowledge: DATA  INFORMATION © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

Components of a GIS: hardware, software, data, people, and methods. © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

How GIS Works Combination of coordinate data and tabular data © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

All spatial data sets are registered to the same coordinate base How GIS Works All spatial data sets are registered to the same coordinate base Allows for integration, comparison, and analysis among data sets © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

Points: represent single discrete locations GIS data Points: represent single discrete locations © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

Lines: represent linear features GIS data Lines: represent linear features © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

Polygons: represent bounded areas GIS data Polygons: represent bounded areas © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

Raster data: gridded or pixellated (tessellated) data GIS data Raster data: gridded or pixellated (tessellated) data digital orthophoto digital elevation model (DEM) © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

GIS data: what drives a GIS Combination of the “what” and the “where” Features on the ground are coded with attributes Common spatial framework for location of features © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

Where to get GIS data (good places to start): UW Map library gis@lib.washington.edu http://wagda.lib.washington.edu USGS http://mapping.usgs.gov/ Washington Node of NSDI http://wa-node.gis.washington.edu/ © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

Locate geographic features based on properties. What can a GIS do? Locate geographic features based on properties. Identify and analyze properties of geographic features based on location. Estimate economic effects of land-use regulation. Determine the optimal locations of new businesses. Generate optimal routing and scheduling delivery and repair services. Determine the ground area covered by a new cellular phone network. Delineate watershed boundaries. Predict vegetation types based on elevation, slope, and aspect. Predict landslide hazard for harvest units. Epidemeology. Locate natural areas that need protection. Make colorful and interesting maps. © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

Example 1: Where is a given feature or set of features? Where are forest stands greater than 100 years of age? © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

Example 2: What features are at a given location? What is the age of the forest near the 1050 Road? © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

Example 3: Where are areas that meet a given complex set of criteria? What parts of the forest are located: on > 30% slope, closer than 100 ft to a stream, and farther than 50 ft from a road? © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

Example 4: How can operation costs be calculated with a GIS? What is the average yarding distance for each stand in the forest? © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

Example 5: How can watershed analysis data be generated within a GIS? What are the road and stream densities (mi / mi2) for the forest area? © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

GIS maps topographic maps © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

GIS maps orthophoto image maps © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

surface drapes & 3-D modeling GIS maps surface drapes & 3-D modeling © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

classified (thematic) mapping GIS maps classified (thematic) mapping © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

research documentation GIS maps research documentation © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

How to learn more about GIS Take some UW courses http://wa-node.gis.washington.edu/uwcgia/ Take some web-based courses http://boris.qub.ac.uk/shane/arc/ARChome.html http://www.lib.calpoly.edu/research/all_databases/gis/gis3.html http://campus.esri.com/campus/home/home.cfm Experiment on your own © Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000