Introduction to

GIS

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 GIS
(Geographical Information System)

G+IS
(Geography) + (Information System)
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features,
inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth
Information System – A way of managing and manipulating the
information digitally (using computers and digital devices)
 WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?
Definition:

“GEOGRAPHY is the study of the world's environment

and
man's interaction within the environment.”
Geography has two “strands” or parts:
1. PHYSICAL:
The study of the earth's natural features, such as
mountains, rivers, soil, vegetation, and weather

2. HUMAN: (Cultural)
The study of human cultures and man made features.

“All kinds of resources are used to study geography, but

the most common are MAPS.”
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 Definition of GIS

“A system for capturing, storing,

checking,
integrating, manipulating, analysing
and
displaying data which are spatially referenced

to the Earth”

But!!!!!
This definition is very cryptic to a GIS
newcomer 5
 A Simpler Definition of
GIS

A computer system which can

hold and use data describing
places on the earth's surface.

But!!!!!
This definition also leaves out the most
important
component of the GIS…

The people who administrate, use, and manage the GIS 6

GIS...
A GIS is not simply a computer system
for making pretty maps. More
importantly a GIS...

• ... is an analysis tool

• ... links spatial data with geographic

information about a particular feature on a
map

• ... can use the stored attributes to compute

new information about map features
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GIS
– A tool for decision making….

Most of our planning and decision making is influenced or dictated by

location or geographic component.

Our geography can be considered

as a number of related data layers.

GIS combines layers of

information about a place to give
us a better understanding of that
place
 Conventional Ways to Store Data

DATABASES

•A Database comprises
of tables having fields
with specific data
structure.
•The tables are linked
with each other
through various
common fields.

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 Conventional Ways to Store Data

MAPS

•Map can be defined as “A Facility

for displaying interpretation of
geographic information on a flat
surface.”
•Location information describes the
position of a particular geographic
feature on earth's surface &
provides the basis for representing
spatial relationships between these
features.

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Databases Vs Maps

Very Bad
good Searching
Searching

What? if link
together

Bad Very Good

Visual Visual
Interpretation Interpretation

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 This is
Geographic Information
System (GIS)

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Conceptual Definition of
GIS

The Automated Searching of

a conventional database gets
Visual Interpretation
through its connectivity with
Map!

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• In short, a GIS does
not hold maps or
pictures -- it holds
a database from
which the data can
be viewed in a
new light.
•

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 Why GIS?
· Rapid declining cost and enhanced computing
power of hardware

· User-friendly software with enhanced

functionality, visualization power and capability to
assimilate the divergent sources of data

· Easy information sharing

· Geography based decisions (70%)

· Gradual increase in trained manpower

 GIS Applied:
Big Questions

What is at...? ------------------------------ Location

Where is it...? ----------------------------- Condition
What has changed since...? --------- Trends
What spatial pattern exists...? ------ Patterns
What if...? ---------------------------------- Modeling

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There are ways of explaining any
element/object on the Earth

Location Information: Attribute Information:

Where is it? What is it?

Type …….
O O
X South, Y West Species …….
Heights …….
Use …….

GIS can tell us Where and What 17

 The atom of geographic information:
<< Location, Time, Attribute >>

• Everyone around the world Where’s

Antarctica?...
understands latitude and
longitude

• Similarly for time When is/was it cold?...

• What about attribute How cold is cold?...

data?

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What is it?

Give information of particular location or

feature
Condition

Where is it...?
find what exists at a particular location
Trends
What has changed since...?
find the differences within an area over
time

Landuse Change in Rawal Watershed Area

160
Conifer
120
Area (sq km)

Scrub
Agriculture
80 Rangeland
Soil/Rocks
40
Settlement
Water
0
1992 2000 2010
Year
What spatial pattern exists…?

Rod Kohi area

Irrigated area
 Modeling

What if !
 GIS Concept
• “Systems…
• Hardware, Software, Networks

• “Grayware” and the Individual

• Procedures and Policies

• Organizations, Institutions, Society

• … that know how to

deal…
• Data Capture, Storage, Retrieval

• Analysis, Models, Process

• Display, Maps, Reports, Graphs

• …with stuff in space.”

• Spatial Data
– Location and geometry
• Attribute Data
– Discrete or continuous
– Qualities and
quantities
“Systems that know how to deal with stuff in
What makes data
spatial?

Grid co-ordinate Place name

Latitude / Longitude
Postcode

Description
Distance & bearing

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Spatial vs non-spatial
data

Part Number Quantity Description

1034161 5 Wheel spoke
1051671 1 Ball bearing
1047623 6 Wheel rim
1021413 2 Tire
1011210 3 Handlebars

Crimes during 2003

Date Location Type
22-Jan 123 James St. Robbery
24-Jan 22 Smith St. Burglary
10-Feb 9 Elm St. #4A Assault
13-Feb 12 Fifth Avenue Breaking and Entering
14-Feb 17 Del Playa Drunk and Disorderly

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 GIS = Spatial + Attribute
A GIS links locational/spatial and attribute(non-
locational) information and enables a person
to visualize patterns, relationships, and
trends easily and efficiently

Helps identify patterns not easily visible on

paper map.
 References

• https://mgimond.github.io/Spatial/introGIS.html
• https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=691851921fdd4216846d0
a481af7fc0e
• https://www.gislounge.com/introduction-to-gis/
• https://www.slideshare.net/pramodgpramod/applications-of-gis-76693631
 THANKS
FOR YOUR PATIENCE