1. UNIT 1: GIS DEFINITIONS AND APPLICATIONS
Topics covered in this unit
Definitions of Geographic Information Systems
GI technologies
GI systems
GI science

2. Geographic Information
what is where on the Earth's surface

3. Digital information Why use computers to store information?
easy to store, retrieve, query, manipulate, send, receive, copy, display...
faster
can store various kinds on information: text, pictures, tables, music etc...

4. Information technologies
Technologies for collecting and dealing
with geographic information:
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Remote sensing
Computer Aided design (CAD)
Land Information System (LIS)
Geographic information system (GIS)

5. What is Geographic Information System?
relates to places on the Earth's surface where something is
what is at a given location
Information System
manipulate, summarize, query, edit, visualize
work with information stored in computer databases

6. Definitions of GIS A system of hardware, software and procedures
used to input, storage, manipulate, analyze, model and display georeferenced data
to solve complex problems about planning and managing of resources

7. Components of a GIS Hardware: Software People
computer, [+digitizing board, scanner..]
Software
various, price ranges from $ 0 - $50,000
developed by software companies, eg. ESRI (ArcGIS)
People
human expertise required for processing and decision making

8. GIScience is the science behind the technology
is a multidisciplinary field

9. Overview of GIS
Spatial data are organized into layers

10. Geo-spatial data Two main components: spatial component:
helpful to conceptualize as maps
thematic component: attributes
helpful to conceptualize as tables
(and metadata too…)

11. How old is GIS? 35,000 years ago: caves of Lascaux (France)
animal drawings
migration lines
in GIS:
graphic objects
linked to attributes

12. 18th century:Early use of thematic mapping

13. 1950s: The quantitative revolution
Major crisis in geography
paradigm shift needed
introduction of computers

14. 1960s: Canada GIS (CGIS) earliest GIS developed
Department of Energy, Mines and Resources - developing land management plans
mapping information about soils, agriculture, recreation, wildlife, waterfowl, forestry, and land use

15. Mid 1960’s:
Harvard Laboratory For Computer Graphics And Spatial Analysis
general-purpose mapping packages/GISs:
SYMAP
CALFORM
GRID
ODYSSEY
ESRI: founded in 1969

16. 1970’s
Bureau of the Census
first geocoded census developed
USGS

17. 1980’s-1990s: Development of GIS industry micro-computer hardware
1980: ArcInfo released
command-driven, product-oriented user interface
Commercial vendors: ESRI, MapINFO, etc..

18. 2000 and beyond... geospatial technologies open-source GIS:
GRASS GIS, Google maps...
viewing GIS data over the Internet
fusion of remote sensing, GPS with GIS...

19. Google Maps: is this a GIS?

20. What is GIS used for? What: Who? Government Transportation Industry
Academics
Transportation
Hydrology
Geology
Demographics
Crime
Health …

21. “Doing” GIS
using the tools of Geographic Information Systems to solve a problem

22. GIS applications mapping locations mapping quantities
mapping densities
finding distances
mapping and monitoring change

23. Functions of GIS Data entry data display data management
information retrieval
Analysis
Decision making

24. Stages in GIS project
And don’t
forget to
HAVE
FUN!!

25. Lecture 1 : Review
define basic terms associated with geographic information: technologies, systems, science, studies
explain why ge
ographic information systems are important
explain why a science of geographic information is needed