Geographic Information Systems (GIS) An Introduction

Geographic Information Systems Information Systems: Systems designed to manipulate and analyse data in order to generate new derivative information GIS: Information systems that work with geographic or spatial data

What is GIS About? Is it mapping? GIS is about using data to describe & analyse our world in two ways: –Location Data - Where is it? –Attribute Data - What is it?

GIS: Links Data Sets GIS software links the location data and the attribute data:

Geography GIS: Layers GIS can contain many layers of information: Census Data Transportation These are just a few of the kinds of layers a GIS can contain:

GIS: Analysis GIS can analyse data in many ways:

Queries What provinces border Saskatchewan? Spatial Questions: What provinces have more than 1.5 million people? Attribute Questions:

Other Analytical Techniques Proximity Buffers Neighbourhoods Overlays Network analysis Cost Distances

GIS & Technology Geography has become a hi-tech discipline –Geographic Information Systems (GIS) –Earth Observation (Remote Sensing) –Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

Earth Observation

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Global Positioning Systems GPS is a positioning system –24 satellites orbiting the earth –Provide location within cm.’s anywhere on the globe.

Who’s Using GIS? Environmental Park Management Agriculture Public Utilities Health Care Emergency 911 Real Estate Marketing Economic Development Internet Insurance Appraisal & Assessment And …..And …..

Environmental What are the effects of global warming? Land cover & temperature relationships are made clear when the data are seen at once using GIS, or can be statistically analysed.

What addresses within an urban area may be prone to flooding, & how much are the potential damages? Floodplain Delineation

Park Management Will the new building spoil the park scenery? Park planners use GIS to determine whether a new Visitor Centre can be seen from the peak.

Agriculture How can food production be improved? GIS is used in making crop management decisions to maximize yields & minimize fertilizer input.

Public Utilities Identify facilities & connecting networks A proposed excavation, identified by address, is compared to pipelines in the area using GIS.

Health Care What communities are at risk from disease? GIS identifies communities at risk of water borne diseases & helps determine the effectiveness of the treatment plans.

Emergency 911 What is the fastest route to the hospital? GIS can choose the fastest route to a hospital, including traffic & other impediments.

Real Estate Where is the best location? With GIS, suitable locations can be identified, a map of a neighbourhood produced, as well as pictures or videos of the actual properties.

Marketing Optimise marketing campaigns GIS can query a database & identify only those areas with the highest household income within a specified distance of a store.

Economic Development Data from the municipal government can be made more accessible GIS can provide data on available properties, traffic counts, re-development project areas, & demographics over the net.

Corridor Analysis Analysis through buffering & polygon selection

Fair Taxation - through customer query systemFair Taxation - through customer query system Escaped Assessment - through automation & increased efficiency Appeal Process - reduces labour intensive review appeals Appraisal and Assessment

Allow police to track crime information to aid crime prevention Garbage collection dates served over the internet Civil Services

Economic Development How can we let the world know what our community has to offer? GIS can be accessed over the internet by businesses, developers, residents and others parties for data.

New Business Applications are developed each month GIS an example of a Technology meeting evolving Business needs