Assignment
Assignment
Assignment
FEB 503
Lecture 1: Introduction
Data
• Data: raw facts and figures. Distinct pieces of information.
Can exist as numbers, text, audio, image, video, bits/bytes
stored in electronic memory, or facts in a person’s mind.
• Data constitute the raw values collected during an activity such as
field work, experiment, simulation, or calculation
• Data - values assigned to the attributes (properties) of particular
object or process entity that occupies space and time
• Spatial Data - contains positional values
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Information
• Information is processed data.
• A collection of facts (data) organized in such a way that they have
additional value beyond the value of the facts (data) themselves.
• Information, is the meaning of the data based on background
knowledge (e.g., a Geological map to a Geologist)
Knowledge
• Knowledge: an awareness and understanding of a set of
information and how that information can be made useful to
support a specific task
• Knowledge base: the collection of data, rules, procedures,
and relationships that must be followed to achieve the
proper outcome
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System
• System: A set of elements or components that interact to
accomplish goals. It is a combination of components working
together to achieve a common goal.
• For example,
• a computer system includes both hardware and software;
• the binary numbering system, a way to count using two binary
digits (0,1)
Elements of a System
• A system has three elements: input, processing, and output.
• A system must also incorporate some feedback mechanisms
• Feedback: Output that is used to make changes to the input or
processing
Elements of a System
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Types of Systems
• System types:
• simple vs complex
• open vs closed
• stable vs dynamic
• adaptive vs non-adaptive
• permanent vs temporary
• System boundary: Defines the system and distinguishes it
from everything else (other systems, its “environment”, etc)
Information System
• Information System: a set of interrelated elements or
components (data, hardware, software, people) that collect
(input), manipulate (process), and disseminate (output) data
and information and provide a feedback mechanism to meet
an objective
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Information System
• Input: The activity of gathering and capturing data or
whatever goes into the computer;
• Processing: Converting or transforming data into useful
outputs;
• Output: Retrieving useful information, usually in the form of
documents, reports, or maps
• Information Systems (IS) can be computer-based (CBIS) or
manual-based
Components of a CBIS
• Hardware
• Software
• Data
• People
• Procedures
Hardware
• Hardware- Computer equipment used to perform input,
processing, and output activities.
• Hardware refers to objects that you can actually touch, like
• disks and disk drives,
• display screens,
• keyboards,
• boards and chips,
• printers and plotters
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Software
• Software constitute the computer programs that
govern/determine/control the operation of the computer.
• Software exists as ideas, concepts, and symbols.
• Software is often divided into two categories.
• Systems software includes the operating system and all the
utilities that enable the computer to function e.g. Microsoft
Windows, Android
• Applications software includes programs that do real work for
users. For example ArcGIS, Microsoft Word etc
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People
• People: Includes people who manage, run, program, and
maintain the system E.g., GIS professionals, end users
• The most important element in most CBIS (and hence, GIS)
• Arguably the most difficult component of a CBIS: politics,
sabotage, need for training,
Procedures
• Procedures: includes the strategies, policies, methods, and
rules for using the CBIS
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Epilogue
References