WHAT IS GIS

GIS SOME DEFINITIONS

GIS may include manual systems, however, it usually
refers to a computerised database system for capture,
storage, retrieval, analysis and display of spatial data
(Huxhold, 1991).
GIS is capable of assisting the storage, retrieval and
manipulation of spatially referenced data such as street
address or a census tract (Nedovic-Budic, 1999).
GIS is most useful when used to perform data analysis
(Lee and Wong, 2001, viii)

GIS SOME DEFINITIONS (cont.)

application
acts as a problem solving solution
example: water pollution, traffic, land
management
toolbox
emphasize on the generic aspect of GIS in its
definition
always used by vendors to maximize their
market share

The History
First developed in North America,
particularly the U.S. and Canada in the mid1960s
Previously been used in natural resources
and environmental research

Tutorial question
Briefly review the history of Geographic
Information System application in India.

GIS: OLD AND NEW

Traditional GIS

MAP

TYPEWRITER

MANUAL DRAFING
TOOLS

New GIS
COMPUTER

PLOTTER

CD-ROM

THE NEED FOR GIS

the real world has a lot of spatial data
manipulation, analysis and modeling can be
effective and efficiently carried out with a GIS

the neighborhood of the intended purchase of house

the route for fire-fighting vehicles to the fire area
location of historical sites to visit
the earth surface for purposes of army

the earth surface is a limited resource

rational decisions on space utilization
fast and quality information in decision making

... THE NEED FOR GIS

complexity of management
due to the need to combine and process many
sets of data, in addition to judge as many as
possible, situation that might happen.
intense competition
the need to use technology in making decisions
and strategy in the world of intense competition.

A. DATA VISUALISATION
Which one do you prefer: tabular data or map data?

TABULAR DATA
State

Population (1991)

Johor

2,074,297

Kedah

1,304,800

Kelantan

1,181,680

Melaka

504,502

MAP

B. LOCATION
10

EAST
11

SOUTH

1.

12

WHERE IS OBJECT P?
ANSWER: P = 12S EAST

2.

WHAT CAN BE FOUND AT A CERTAIN LOCATION ?

EXAMPLE: What can be found at 11y EAST?
ANSWER: Y

C. ATTRIBUTE QUESTION:
NO.

1.

AREA (HECTARE)

OWNER

TAX CODE

MINERAL QUALITY

100,000

TALATU

HIGH

50,100

BRAUDO

MEDIUM

90,900

BRAUDO

LOW

40,800

ANUNKU

LOW

120,200

SILIMA

HIGH

ATRIBUTE EXPLANATION
EXAMPLE: WHAT IS THE ATTRIBUTE FOR ITEM 2?

2.

WHERE A CERTAIN SENARIO MIGHT HAPPEN?

EXAMPLE: WHO HAS THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF MINERALS ?

.QUESTION: RELATIONAL DATABASE

NO.

AREA (HECTARE)

OWNER

TAX CODE

MINERAL QUALITY

100,000

TALATU

HIGH

50,100

BRAUDO

MEDIUM

90,900

BRAUDO

LOW

40,800

ANUNKU

LOW

120,200

SILIMA

3.

SELECTION OF AN AREA (ACCORDING TO RULES)

EXAMPLE: WHICH ITEM HAS
a)

AREA >40,000 HECTARE

b)

OWNER: NOT SILIMA

c)

TAX CODE: B

d)

MINERAL QUALITY: HIGH

HIGH

QUESTION: PATTERN AND RELATIONSHIP

X

Y
X

Y
X
Z

1. IS OBJECT X IN THE PATTERN?

YES, IN THE FORM OF LINE, FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST

IN THE FORM OF A LINE
2. IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN X AND Y?
YES, Y IS ALWAYS NEAR X
3. WHAT OTHER SPATIAL PATTERN EXISTS?
OBJECT Z IS ALWAYS NEAR THE BORDERS AND ITS SIZE INCREASES
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

TREND QUESTION
A
C

A
B

1980

D
1990

1. WHAT ARE THE CHANGES FOR A,B AND C FROM 1980 TO 1990?
A: INCREASE IN SIZE
B: DECREASE IN SIZE AND CHANGE IN LOCATION
C: CHANGES IN SHAPE

2. WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE 1980?

A AND B HAVE CHANGED IN SIZE
B RELOCATES

C CHANGES IN SHAPE
ADDITION OF ITEM D

GIS AND OTHER INFORMATION

SYSTEMS
Information
System
Non-spatial
Information
Systems
Management
Information
Systems

Spatial
Information
Systems
Geographic
Information
Systems

Other
Types
(CAD/CAM)

GIS
USES

VARIOUS DATA
SOURCES

MAPS

IMAGE

AND

DIGITAL
PRODUCTS

VARIOUS DATA
FORMATS

GPS

TEXT
DATA

TABULAR
DATA

DATABASE
MAPS

REPORTS

GIS APPLICATION (I)

environment
management of natural resources
land, forest, marine, etc.
monitoring/control of environmental pollution
environment impact study
infrastructure
transport and irrigation management and
maintenance
utility management and maintenance
electric, water, gas, telephone, etc.

GIS APPLICATION (II)

socio-economy
town and country planning
monitoring of population migration
disperse of resources/services
clinics, schools, etc
military
land form visualisation
visibility analysis

 Data recall

GIS USAGE

Geomdk_id: 252
Area: 147: 147.477900
Geodmk_: 640

Land Ownership
MAJLIS DAERAH KULAI

Account_no: A0546142
Owner: LAM MEE WONG
No_k_p: 2224567
Bangsa: CINA
Address: 142, JLN. BERJASA,
TMN. TIMUR,
KULAI, JOHOR
Poscode: 81000

No_geran: GM 125
No_lot: PTD 12201
Area: BANDAR KULAI
Mukim: SENAI-KULAI
Holding: BEBAS
Usage: KEDIAMAN
Floors: 01
Assesment: 89000.00
Rate: 0.25
Tax: 222.50

 Modeling
predict information from data within the GIS
using a certain model
Population Density
Year 2010

- High

- Medium
- Low

BENEFITS OF GIS
improves/enhances the effects of
physical/environmental growth
better management of resources
adding new value-added services
perform analysis on spatial and non spatial
components
fast recall of data
ability for complex analysis
recalling of non spatial data through object location
display of information in a different light/view
multiple scenario in planning can be performed
easily