M GIS for Business Geographic Information Systems for Business Applications Brian E. Mennecke Iowa State University

M GIS for Business "If you will have a young man to put his travel into a little room, and in short time to gather much, this you must do;... let him carry with him also some map or book describing the country where he travelleth, which will be a good key to his inquiry..." (Sir Frances Bacon, Essay #18, Of Travel, 1625).

M GIS for Business What is a GIS A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based information system that provides tools to collect, integrate, manage, analyze, model, and display data that is referenced to an accurate cartographic representation of objects in space. (Mennecke, Dangermond, Santoro, Darling, & Crossland, 1995).

M GIS for Business The Objectives for this Presentation  For you to –understand what a GIS is and what it can do; –understand how a GIS can be used to analyze and interpret data so that YOU can identify applications for this technology; –understand the underlying cartographic principles that make a GIS work; and –understand issues associated with locating, preparing, and importing map and attribute data.

M GIS for Business Cartographic Terminology and Principles  Types of Maps  GIS Data  Layering  Coordinates  Projections  Scale

M GIS for Business Types of GIS Data  Attribute Data –Stored in dBase Tables (e.g., *.DBF )  Map Data –Stored in Shape files (e.g., *.SHP)  Areas  Lines  Points

M GIS for Business Types of Maps  A Range-Filled Thematic Map

M GIS for Business Types of Maps  A Dot Density Thematic Map

M GIS for Business Types of Maps  A Bivariate Thematic Map

M GIS for Business GIS Layers Data

M GIS for Business Coordinates  The Cartesian coordinate system

M GIS for Business Coordinates  The Cartegraphic System for the Earth –Lines of Latitude (running east-west; app. 69 miles ) –Lines of Longitude (running north-south)

M GIS for Business Projections  Projections are methods by which features on a sphere (the earth) can be represented on a flat surface (a paper map)

M GIS for Business Types of Projections  The Robinson Projection

M GIS for Business Types of Projections  The Mercatur Projection

M GIS for Business Types of Projections  The Albers Conformal Projection

M GIS for Business What About Scale?  Scale is the ratio of the distances of objects represented on the map to the actual distances of these objects on the earth’s surface

M GIS for Business Small Scale Maps  Smaller scale maps represent the map objects with a larger ratio (1:250,000)

M GIS for Business Large Scale Maps  Large scale maps represent the map objects with a smaller ratio (e.g., 1:10,000)

M GIS for Business GIS: Start to Finish  Step 1: Define Your Objectives  Step 2: Acquire the Required Data  Step 3: Preprocess Data  Step 4: Data Management and Analysis  Step 5: Generate Output

M GIS for Business Defining Your Objectives  Identify who your user is  Identify her needs  Defines goals and objectives based on user needs

M GIS for Business Acquire the Required Data  Acquire Attribute Data –In house –From Vendors  Acquire Map Data –In House  Digitize Maps  Create Maps using GPS –From Vendors –Census data (e.g., Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing or TIGER Files)

M GIS for Business What is TIGER? Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing System  TIGER Content –Streets and their names –Lakes, streams, and their names –Railroads –Geographic entity boundaries and names (governments, census tracts, census blocks, etc.) –Housing unit locations –Key geographic locations (airports, schools, etc.) –ZIP Codes and address ranges for city-style addresses

M GIS for Business The Digitizing Process A GPS System

M GIS for Business Preprocess Data  Import Data –For example, TIGER line files may need to be converted into TIGER Boundary Files –Data from a spreadsheet needs to be imported into ArcView’s table format  Correct Errors  Build Custom Areas/Features  Geocode Data

M GIS for Business Data Management and Analysis  Manage the Data –Work with table elements –Consider the data in light of the organizational data schema –Consult with other users  Analyze the Data –Redefine existing features –Examine relationships

M GIS for Business Generate Output  Print paper maps  Export map images to other applications  Export map or table data to other data management applications  Build interactive web maps

M GIS for Business GIS Software Vendors  Environmental Systems Research Institute (ArcGIS) ArcGIS  InterGraph Corporation (GeoMedia) GeoMedia  MapInfo Corporation (MapInfo) MapInfo  Microsoft (MapPoint2004) MapPoint2004

M GIS for Business GIS Applications  Map Creation  Report Preparation  Facilities Management  Analysis of Employer/Employee Demographics  Transportation Issues  Strategic Planning  Decision Making

M GIS for Business Location Based Services  Location-based services incorporate information about the user's location into the provision of products or services. These include… –Locator services (e.g., where’s the closest ATM?) –Navigation systems (e.g., in the car or on your PC) –M-commerce applications (e.g., proximity alerts, closest service, mobile advertizing)

M GIS for Business Potential GIS Benefits  Improved Decision Making  Reduced Errors  Reduced Risks  Improved Management and Control  Improved Service to Clients