Introduction to GIS

DR. MANSOOR AHMED HASHMI, FAST-NUCES, LAHORE,

E-MAIL: mansoor.ahmed@nu.edu.pk
GIS--What is it?

• Geographic/Geospatial Information
– information about places on the earth’s surface
– knowledge about “what is where when”
(Don’t forget time!)
– Geographic/geospatial: synonymous

• GIS--what’s in the S?
– Systems: the technology
– Science: the concepts and theory
– Studies: the societal context
 Geographic Information Technologies
Revolution in Information Technology;
• Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
– a system of earth-orbiting satellites which can provide precise (100 meter
to sub-cm.) location on the earth’s surface (in lat/long coordinates or
equiv.)
• Remote Sensing (RS)
– use of satellites or aircraft to capture information about the earth’s surface
– Digital ortho images a key product (map accurate digital photos)
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
– Software systems with capability for input, storage, manipulation/analysis
and output/display of geographic (spatial) information
• Computer Technology
• Communication Technology
 GIS Philosophy
• It has enormous impact on virtually every field that manages and
analyses spatially distributed data.
• It is a tool just like statistics is a tool. It is a tool for thought
• With experience, GIS becomes simply an extension of one’s own
analytical thinking.
• The system has no inherent answers, these depends upon the analyst.
• Investing in GIS requires more than an investment in hardware and
software.
• The system and the analyst cannot be separated to put it simply , one is
an extension of the other.
• The proliferation of GIS is explained by its ability to assimilate data from
widely divergent sources, to analyze trends over time and to spatially
evaluate potential environmental impacts caused by developments.
 Why Study GIS?
• GIS are a means to an end, not an end in themselves. The value of GIS lies not just in the
immediate efficiency with which the technology is implemented.
• The actual value of GIS lies in how the technology helps us to think differently bout the
way we Organize, Understand and Use spatial information.
• New appreciation of the importance of spatial location in real world analysis has emerged
from the application of GIS technology
The basic factor s affecting the diffusion of GIS are due to reasons described below;
1. The rapidly declining cost of computer hardware, at the same time, exponential growth
of computing powers.
2. User friendly software and Increasing functions of GIS software.
3. Visualization impact of GIS
4. Geography and the data describing it are part of our every day lives.
(70% of the decision a man makes are based on Geographical considerations)
 Why Study GIS?
• 80% of local government activities estimated to be geographically based
– zoning, public works (streets, water supply, sewers), garbage collection, land ownership and valuation,
public safety (fire and police)
• a significant portion of state government has a geographical component
– natural resource management
– highways and transportation
• businesses use GIS for a very wide array of applications
– retail site selection & customer analysis
– logistics: vehicle tracking & routing
– natural resource exploration (petroleum, etc.)
– precision agriculture
– civil engineering and construction
• Military and defense
– Battlefield management
– Satellite imagery interpretation
• scientific research employs GIS
– geography, geology, botany
– anthropology, sociology, economics, political science
– Epidemiology, criminology
 Thinking Spatially!!
• A method of assessing a situation based on a perception of information
that include location.
• Part of this method would typically include the ability to review the
results of assessment or analysis in the form of map
• GIS is a tool which enhances decision making and planning processes.
• The 3D spatial analysis ability of GIS can help decision makers to
address the specific planning process in a more realistic way.
• GIS provides a truly analytical tool. The major advantage of GIS
technology is that it facilitates identification of spatial relationships
between map features.
 Defining Geographic Information Systems
(GIS)
• A powerful set of tools for collecting,
storing, retrieving, transforming, and
displaying spatial data from the real
world. (Burroughs, 1986)
• A computerized database
management system for the capture,
storage, retrieval, analysis and display
of spatial (locationally defined) data.
(NCGIA, 1987)
• A decision support system involving
the integration of spatially referenced
data in a problem solving
environment. (Cowen, 1988)
• A computer-based system that
provides four sets of capabilities to
handle georeferenced data: i) data
input ii) data management (data
storage and retrieval) iii) manipulation
and analysis iv) data output. (Aronoff,
1989)
Defining Geographic Information Systems
(GIS)
 An Inelegant Definition for GIS
A system of integrated computer-based tools for end-to-end
processing (capture, storage, retrieval, analysis, display)
of data using location on the earth’s surface for
interrelation in support of operations management,
decision making, and science.
• set of integrated tools for spatial analysis
• encompasses end-to-end processing of data
– capture, storage, retrieval, analysis/modification, display
• uses explicit location on earth’s surface to relate data
• aimed at decision support, as well as on-going operations and
scientific inquiry
 Geographic Information System:
intuitive description
• A map with a database behind it.
• A virtual representation of the real world
and its infrastructure.
• A consistent “as-built” of the real world,
natural and manmade
Which is
• queried to support on-going operations
• summarized to support strategic decision
making and policy formulation
• analyzed to support scientific inquiry
Historical Development of GIS
Handling Geographic Information
 Spatial Operations
Many Computer Programmes can handle geographic data
such as those mentioned below.
• Database Management Systems (e.g. Oracle, dBase)
• Computer Aided Design (e.g. AutoCAD)
• Cartographic packages (e.g. Aldus Freehand,
CarthoGraphix)
• Photogrammetrical software (e.g. DMS)
• Image Processing Software (e.g. EDRAS)
 How GIS differs from Related Systems
• DBMS--typical MIS data base contains implicit but not explicit locational information
– city, county, zip code, etc. but no geographical coordinates
– is 100 N. High around the corner or across town from 200 E Main?
• automated mapping (AM) --primarily two-dimensional display devices
– thematic mapping (choropleth,etc such as SAS/GRAPH, DIDS, business mapping
software) unable to relate different geographical layers (e.g zip codes and counties)
– automated cartography--graphical design oriented; limited database ability
• facility management (FM) systems--
– lack spatial analysis tools
• CAD/CAM (computer aided design/drafting)--primarily 3-D graphic creation (engineering
design) & display systems
– don’t reference via geographic location
• CAD sees the world as a 3-D cube, GIS as a 3-D sphere
– limited (if any) database ability (especially for non-spatial data)
• scientific visualization systems--sophisticated multi-dimensional graphics, but:
– lack database support
– lack two-dimensional spatial analysis tools
Maps and Spatial Data
What can GIS do?
 Questions GIS can answer
If one considers a particular application carefully, there are five types of questions that
sophisticated GIS can answer.

Location
What is at?
What is at a particular location?
Condition
Where is it?
One may wish to find location(s) where certain conditions are satisfied.
Trends
What has Changed since?
To find the difference within an area over time

Patterns
What spatial pattern exists?
How many anomalies there are that do not fit the pattern and where they are located.

Modelling
What if?
Such questions are posed to determine what happens when a certain actions take
place or a certain thing is added in the existing place.
Questions GIS can answer
GIS Questions- Location- What is at?
GIS Questions- Condition- Where is it?
GIS Questions-Patterns- What spatial pattern exists?
GIS Questions-Trends-What has changed since?
GIS Questions-Modelling- What if?
 Components of Geographic Information
System
Several Components are
involved in GIS
technology

• Hardware
• Software
• Database
• Human Input
• Policy and
Procedures
Application of GIS

• Natural Resources’ Applications

• Environmental Applications
• Socioeconomic Applications
• Management Applications
Examples of Applied GIS
• Urban Planning, Management & Policy
– Zoning, subdivision planning
– Land acquisition
– Economic development
– Code enforcement
– Housing renovation programs
– Emergency response
– Crime analysis
– Tax assessment
• Environmental Sciences
– Monitoring environmental risk
– Modeling stormwater runoff
– Management of watersheds, floodplains,
wetlands, forests, aquifers
– Environmental Impact Analysis
– Hazardous or toxic facility siting
– Groundwater modeling and contamination
tracking
• Political Science
– Redistricting
– Analysis of election results
– Predictive modeling
• Civil Engineering/Utility
– Locating underground facilities
– Designing alignment for freeways, transit
– Coordination of infrastructure maintenance
• Business
– Demographic Analysis
– Market Penetration/ Share Analysis
– Site Selection
• Education Administration
– Attendance Area Maintenance
– Enrollment Projections
– School Bus Routing
• Real Estate
– Neighborhood land prices
– Traffic Impact Analysis
– Determination of Highest and Best Use
• Health Care
– Epidemiology
– Needs Analysis
– Service Inventory
Knowledge Base for GIS

Computer Application Area:

Science public admin.
graphics planning
visualization GIS geology
database mineral exploration
system administration forestry
security site selection
marketing
Geography civil engineering
and related: criminal justice
cartography surveying
geodesy
photogrammetry The convergence of technological
landforms
spatial statistics. fields and traditional disciplines.
The Planning Process
THANK-YOU!