Geographic Information System (GIS) Module – Lesson Planner

Week 4
Handbook for Day 1

DAY GIS APPLICATIONS

1

Introduction to GIS Applications

Let us ask again What is GIS?

• A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system of
software, hardware, people, and geographic information

• A GIS can: create, edit, query, analyze, display and edit map
information on the computer

The Geographic Approach

Ask a
geographic
question

Act on Acquire
geographic geographic
knowledge data

Analyze Examine
geographic geographic
information data

1. Ask geographic questions

Think about a topic or place, and identify something interesting or significant about it. Spin that
observation into the form of a question, such as "Where are things?" to "How do things change
between here and there?" to deeper questions, such as "Why does this thing change between here
and there?" or “What is the result of this thing changing between here and there?" Thus, you might
be tempted to ask "Where do songbirds nest?” A good question sets up the exploration.

2. Acquire geographic resources

Once you have a question, you can think about the information needed to answer it. Here,
it‘s helpful to consider at least three aspects of the issue: geography, time, and subject. Defining the
geographic focus helps you define the scale (global, regional, local) of your inquiry, and helps you
define the extent (a city, a country, a continent, the globe) of your inquiry. In studying a country in
relation to others, your inquiry might require country-level data, and you would need data for the
country of interest as well as for neighboring countries.

Often, you can find the necessary geographic data quite easily, in readily available packages or
downloadable from the Internet. These days, the explosion of technology and rise of the Internet
has made it much easier to acquire information. Even if you are missing some desired data, you may
still be able to answer your initial question, or a variation of it, by exploring your resources carefully.

3. Explore geographic data

Turn the data into maps, tables, and charts. Maps are especially valuable, because they give you a
powerful view of patterns, or how things change over space. Maps also allow you to integrate
different kinds of data from different sources – pictures (aerial photos, satellite images) and features
(roads, rivers, borders) - in layer after layer. Explore these data in a variety of combinations. Look at
individual items and what is around them. Explore how spatial phenomena relate to things around
them.

For any one set of data, there are many ways to twist and turn it. By integrating maps with tables,
charts, and other representations, some patterns may begin to appear. Using a GIS, this kind of
visual exploration is simple to do. One layer of information stacks on top of another. By changing the
map symbols, altering the sequence of layers, or zooming in to specific parts of the map, patterns
and relationships become easy to see.

4. Analyze geographic information

After creatively exploring the relationships between this and that, or here and there, focus on the
information and maps that most seem to answer your questions. Using carefully constructed
queries, you can highlight key comparisons, or expose patterns that had lain hidden during initial
explorations. For instance, if you discover that most traffic accidents in your community occur at
intersections along major streets running due east-west, what might you expect to find in other
communities, and why?
Since GIS data is made up of map representations and tables of characteristics, a GIS can handily
solve queries and identify things. “Please computer find for me all cities of one million or more
people where rainfall is less than 10 inches per year.” The important thing is that you now
understand the issue better than before, and you have drawn some conclusions from your research,
turning pieces of data into geographic knowledge.

5. Act upon geographic knowledge

You have used GIS or paper-pencil techniques to integrate data from multiple sources and to weave
them into knowledge that enables you to act. Being geographically wise means acting on the
geographic knowledge that you have gained. Good citizens will share their geographic knowledge
with a broader community, and help others act according to it. Understanding the widespread
linkages and helping others see how their lives are affected means "thinking globally, acting locally."
Acting on geographic knowledge means being willing to answer the question, “Now what?”

What can a GIS do?

• It enables you to visualize information in new ways that reveal
new and important relationships, patterns, and trends.

• It integrates various types of spatial data (databases, imagery, GPS

coordinates, etc.).

• Perform Geographic Queries and Analysis

 • Map, Model, and Analysis Data

• Make Better Decisions and Create Better Solutions

Questions GIS can Answer

• So far, GIS have been described through formal definitions and through its ability to carry
out different functions on spatial data.

• One can also, however, distinguish GIS by listing the types of questions the technology can
(or should be able to) answer. If one considers a particular application carefully, there are
five types of question that sophisticated GIS can answer.

What exists at a particular location?

• To find what exists at a particular location.

• A location can be described in many ways, using, for example, place

name, postcode, or geographic reference such as longitude/latitude
or x and y.

Where is a particular object located?

• The second question is the converse of the first and requires spatial
data to answer. Instead of identifying what exists at a given location,
one may wish to find location where certain conditions are satisfied
e.g.

• Schools having 15 classrooms & made up of local bricks.

• A park area within 100 meters of a road, and with soils suitable for supporting buildings.

What change has taken place?

• Trends- What has changed since...?

 • The third question might involve both of the first two and seek to find the differences.

• e.g., in land use or elevation within an area over time.

What is the spatial pattern?

What pattern exists...?

• This question is more sophisticated. Eg:

• One might ask this question to find out at which traffic points
accidents are occuring most frequently

What if?

• Modelling- What if...?

• “What if…” questions are posed to determine what happens, for

example, what are the effects on urban areas, if the road is
expanded by one hundred meters, or delineate 5m buffer zone
around the national park to prevent from grazing. Answering this
type of question requires both geographic and other information.

What can you do with a GIS?

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have various applications, and technological advancements
have significantly enhanced GIS data, specifically how it can be used and what can be achieved as a
result. Geographic Information Systems are powerful decision-making tools for any discipline since it
allows the analyzation of environmental, demographic, and topographic data. Data intelligence
compiled from GIS applications help companies and various industries, and consumers, make
informed decisions.

Activity 2 – Open Discussion How GIS can be used in various Disciplines

Health Facilities
GIS Applications
GIS in Health Services

• Planning Health Facilities

• GIS helps in locating the nearest Hospitals and Health Centers at the time of
Emergency

• Disease Outbreak Analysis

• GIS helps in quickly analyzing the location of

any disease outbreak in an area

Outbreak Analysis
GIS for Disaster Management

• Flood hazard Monitoring Flood Assessment

• GIS helps in mapping for land use

• planning in flood-prone areas and

creating flood risk zone maps for future prevention from
the disaster
 • Forest Fire
Fire Prediction
Fire Incident
• GIS enables Forest fire risk zone
analysis and mapping are necessary Reporting
to prevent the spread of fire by
detecting the areas where fire can
start and easily spread.

• Earthquake Monitoring

• GIS helps in analyzing the relevant data for monitoring

earthquake prone zones for planning proper rescue
mission at the time of disaster

Earthquake
Monitoring

Command Control
GIS for Defence

 Military Operations

GIS play a pivotal role in military operations. The

concept of Command, Control, Communication and
Coordination in military operations is largely dependent on the
availability of accurate, spatial information to arrive at quick
decisions for operational orders. In the present digital era, GIS
is an excellent tool for military commanders in operations. The
use of GIS applications in military forces has revolutionized the
way in which these forces operate and function. Military forces
use GIS in a variety of applications including cartography, intelligence, battlefield
management, terrain analysis, remote sensing, military installation
management and monitoring of possible terrorist activity.

• Defence Estate Management

GIS helps in mapping and managing the defence

lands from civil encroachments and landuse
planning for Military activities.

Outbreak Analysis
GIS for Public Safety

GIS can also be used to get critical information to emergency responders upon dispatch or while en
route to an incident to assist in tactical planning and response. GIS helps identify potential suspects
to increase investigators suspect base when no leads are evident. GIS plays an important role in
crime mapping and analysis. Response capabilities often rely on a variety of
data from multiple agencies and sources. Crime Analysis

• Crime mapping & Analysis and Incident Reporting

GIS is helping save lives in the public safety and security area by
- improving incident response, - finding patterns of crime, and
- helping us understand the implications of social and ethnic violence
- provide mapping solutions for crime analysis, criminal tracking, traffic
safety, community policing,
Intranet/Internet mapping,
and numerous other tasks.
Incident Response
EMS 911 Response
Police Calls

GIS in Agriculture Analyzing Agriculture

Yields

• Precision Farming

• GIS greatly contributes to managing timely, accurate, cost-

efficient and repetitive information about agriculture.

• Monitoring Crop Yield and Health

• GIS enables monitoring of crop growth, health,

and accurate or near accurate prediction of
yield Monitoring
Crop Health
 • For instance, by applying GIS technologies can be of great use for monitoring the
development process of crop, identifying affected areas, determining soil quality condition,
yield forecasting, visualizing real topography of crop fields and other
spatial analyses in modern agriculture or elevation to assist with crop
management, site suitability, and drainage planning, as well as risk
prevention from flood, drought, erosion, and disease.

GIS in Forestry

• Forest Fire Monitoring

• GIS has been quite effective Management activities include fire prevention, wildlife
control, prescribed burning, and post fire recovery actions

• Forest Resource Management

• GIS helps in Restoration of the forest, Inventory of all types of vegetation species,
maintaining the habitat culture, forest map production

GIS
for Urban Planning

• Property Taxation /Revenue Mapping

 • GIS can help in monitoring property tax revenue by creating a common platform that
visually links all property-related data.

• Solid Waste Management

• GIS helps in waste collection optimization and waste disposal planning, can locate
storage containers, prioritize inspections, and monitor the transportation of
hazardous materials.

GIS for Citizen Engagement thru Apps

Citizens also use GIS in daily life by using Apps such as given below. These apps are all based on GIS
especially the location information i.e Latitude and longitude which is being used at the backend for
tracking and finding destinations etc.

Activity 3

After a fruitful discussion please Make a list of 15-20 GIS Applications that can use GIS from your
Surrounding with respect to

 What Exist – at a particular location

 Where is that Location
 What if scenario - Spatial Pattern
 What change has taken place

You can visit a google website for research.

You May Read More GIS Applications - https://gisgeography.com/gis-applications-uses/

GIS Applications in Different Disciplines

1. Urban Planning
2. Rural Planning
3. Disaster Management and Mitigation
4. Flood Damage Estimation & Management
5. Land Management
6. Agriculture and Forestry Management
7. Location & Navigation Tracking (Zomato / Uber /Ola/Amazon etc.)
8. Irrigation Water Management
9. Transportation Planning
10. Environmental Impact Analysis
11. Climate Change Mapping
12. Architectural, Engineering & Construction Planning
13. Infrastructure and Utilities
14. Wildlife Conservation
15. Surveying and Mapping
16. Vehicle Tracking & Route Planning
17. Banking & Insurance
18. Public Security & Crime Mapping
19. Health Services & Epidemiology
20. Defence & Military Applications
21. Ecology and Biodiversity
22. Mining & Geology
23. Education
24. Natural Resource Management
25. Water Resource