SOME TOOLS OF THE TRADE GEOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES

WHAT IS GIS ? Geographic Information Systems A GIS is a powerful computer mapping and analysis system Links geographic locations with information/data about them so you can create maps and analyze data in new ways Techniques for handling, processing, and analyzing data specifically referenced to the surface of the Earth

WHAT IS GIS ? Components of GIS

WHAT MAKES GIS UNIQUE?

Ability to use specific spatial techniques Buffer and overlay, for example

QUESTIONS A GIS COULD ANSWER Location What is at the location? Condition How is it? Trends What has changed since? Patterns What spatial patterns exist? Modeling What if?

WHO USES GIS ? Government Academia Private industry

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF GIS Street network based analysis Address matching Vehicle routing Location routing, site selection Development of evacuation plans

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF GIS Natural resource based (management) Wildlife habitat Wild & scenic rivers Recreation resources Floodplains Wetlands Agricultural lands Aquifers Forests

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS FOR GIS Land parcel based analysis Zoning, subdivision plan review Land acquisition Maintenance of ownership

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF GIS Facilities management Locating underground utilities Planning facility maintenance

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF GIS Historic structures Cataloging Maintenance

GIS APPLICATION AREAS Gator Farming with GIS by Gregory Hymel, Geographic Computer Technologies, LLC “Eggs, collected from wild nests in area wetlands, are hatched on farms. Some of the young hatched on farms are released back into the wild. As a result of this program, alligator populations in the southeastern United States have grown substantially, and the species was declared recovered in 1987 and removed from the Endangered Species List. An alligator farm in Louisiana has begun using GIS to manage egg collection.”

GIS APPLICATION AREAS

GIS APPLICATION AREAS

REMOTE SENSING Any of the several techniques of obtaining images of an area or object without having the sensor in direct physical contact with it, as by aerial photography or satellite sensors.

REMOTE SENSING

Early remote sensing

REMOTE SENSING Visible spectrum

REMOTE SENSING Sensor record specific bands of the EMR spectrum

REMOTE SENSING APPLICATIONS

Amazon River

REMOTE SENSING APPLICATIONS Rondonia, Brazil 1975

REMOTE SENSING APPLICATIONS Rondonia, Brazil 1986

REMOTE SENSING APPLICATIONS Rondonia, Brazil 1992

REMOTE SENSING APPLICATIONS Tracking tornado damage

GPS: THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM Uses measurements from 3+ satellites

HOW ACCURATE IS GPS? Depends on several variables Design of receiver $100 - $50,000 Little spent collecting readings Positions/geometry of satellites Differential corrections Removal of measurement errors

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM Low end receivers

GLOBAL POSITIONING RECEIVERS High end receiver

GPS APPLICATIONS Agriculture

GPS APPLICATIONS Wildlife tracking

GPS APPLICATIONS Vehicle use

GPS

GEOCACHING

GPS & MOUNTAIN BIKING

GOOGLE EARTH