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Fundamentals of GIS

Geographic Information Science (GIScience) studies how to process spatial data with computers, while Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are systems for storing, analyzing, and displaying spatial data using hardware, software, and procedures. A GIS integrates data collection, storage and processing, and output display to allow analysis of geographic phenomena and problems. The key elements of a GIS are people, data, software, hardware, and procedures.

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Laxman Koirala
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192 views

Fundamentals of GIS

Geographic Information Science (GIScience) studies how to process spatial data with computers, while Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are systems for storing, analyzing, and displaying spatial data using hardware, software, and procedures. A GIS integrates data collection, storage and processing, and output display to allow analysis of geographic phenomena and problems. The key elements of a GIS are people, data, software, hardware, and procedures.

Uploaded by

Laxman Koirala
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BASIC CONCEPT OF GIS

 Whatdoes GIS stand for?


 Geographic Information Science
  is the science concerned with the systematic
and automatic processing of spatial data
and information with the help of computers
  is the theory behind how to solve spatial
problems with computers

 Geographic Information System


is a system designed for storing, analyzing,
 
and displaying spatial data
  is the use of hardware, software, people, 1
procedures, and data
BASIC CONCEPT OF GIS

 Geographic Information
Science
Geographic Geographic
 presents a framework for using Information
Information
information theory, spatial Science System
analysis and statistics, cognitive
understanding, and cartography
(Longley et al., 2005).
 Geographic Information Adopted from Maguire (2010)
“GI Science allows us to consider
System the philosophical, epistemological
 focuses on the processes and & ontological contexts of
geographic information & GI
methods that are used to Systems provide the
sample, represent, manipulate infrastructure, tools and methods
and present information about for tackling real world problems
the world (Goodchild, 1992) . within acceptable timeframes.”
2
BASIC CONCEPT OF GIS

  Literal Definition
 Geographic relates to the surface of the
earth.
 Information is a knowledge derived from
study, experience, or instruction.
 System is a group of interacting,
interrelated, or interdependent elements
forming a complex whole.
 Science is the observation, identification,
description, experimental investigation, and
theoretical explanation of phenomena.

3
BASIC CONCEPT OF GIS

 Functional Definition
 GIS is a system for inputting, storing,
manipulating, analyzing, and reporting data.

 Component Definition
 GIS is an organized collection of computer
hardware, software, geographic data,
procedures, and personnel designed to handle
all phases of geographic data capture, storage,
analysis, query, display, and output.

4
BASIC CONCEPT OF GIS
  Functions of GIS   Components of GIS
 Data collection
Capture data
 

 Data storing, processing &


analysis
 Store data
 Query data

 Analyze data

 Output production
 Display data
 Produce output

a b • Data collection
- using GPS & RS
- paper maps are also
sources of data

c d

Source: Schuurman (2004)

• Data storing, processing • Output production


& analysis - statistical report, maps
 People
 Data
 Software
BASIC
 Hardware
 Procedures/Methods
ELEMENTS OF
 1. People
GIS a

 are the most


important part of a
GIS
 define and develop b c d

the procedures used


by a GIS
 can overcome
shortcoming of the
other 4 elements
(data, software, • Ground truth data collection
hardware, • Data storing, processing and analysis
procedure), but not
vice-versa 6
BASIC ELEMENTS OF GIS
Remote Sensing and topographic data
 2. Data
 Data is the
information used
within a GIS
 Since a GIS often
incorporates data
from multiple sources,
its accuracy defines
the quality of the GIS.
 GIS quality
Ground truth data
determines the types
of questions and
problems that may be
asked of the GIS 7
BASIC ELEMENTS OF GIS

 3. GIS software   Popular GIS Software


 It encompasses not only to  Vector-based GIS
the GIS package, but all  ArcGIS (ESRI)
the software used for  ArcView
databases, drawings,  MapInfo
statistics, and imaging.
 The functionality of the
software used to manage  Raster-based GIS
the GIS determines the  Erdas Imagine (Leica)
type of problems that the  ENVI (RSI)
GIS may be used to solve.  ILWIS (ITC)
 The software used must  IDRISI (Clark Univ.)
match the needs and skills
8
of the end user.
BASIC ELEMENTS OF GIS

 4. Hardware
 The type of
hardware
determines, to an
extent, the speed
at which a GIS will
operate.
 Additionally, it
may influence the
type of software
used.
 To a small degree,
it may influence
the types/
personalities of the
people working 9
with the GIS.
BASIC ELEMENTS OF GIS

 6. Procedures/
Methods
 The procedures used to
input, analyze, and
query data determine
the quality and validity
of the final product.

 The procedures used are


simple the steps taken in a
well defined and consistent
method to produce correct
and reproducible results 10
from the GIS system.
TYPES OF GIS DATA
  Vector  A GIS stores information about the
 In the vector data model, features world as layers of spatial features
on the earth are represented as: (customers, buildings, streets, and so
 Points on).
 Lines

 Polygons

  Raster
 In the raster data model, a
geographic feature like land cover
is represented as:
 single square cells
  Attribute
 Attribite values in a GIS are
stored as relational database
tables.
 Each feature (point, line, polygon,
or raster) within each GIS layer
will be represented as a record in a
table. 11

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