GIS Data Input Methods

and Techniques
Geographic Data in
GIS
 Can be obtained from various
sources in different formats
 Can be inputted into a GIS using
different methods
Some Sources of
Data for GIS
 Maps
 Census and Survey
Data
 Aerial Photographs
 Satellite Images
 Ground/Land Survey
Data
 GPS Data
Map
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Aerial
Photographs
 First method of remote sensing
 A ‘snapshot’ of the Earth at a particular instant
in time
 May be used as a background or base map for
other
data in a GIS
 Provides spatial context and aids in

interpretation
 Versatile, relatively inexpensive and detailed
source of data for GIS
 Disadvantage: not spatially referenced;
should be spatially referenced using other
data (ex. Maps, GPS data, Land survey data)
Important Characteristics of
Aerial Photos for GIS (Curran
1989)
 Wide availability
 Low cost compared with
other remotely sensed
images
 Wide area views
 Time-freezing ability
 High spectral and spatial
resolution
 Three-dimensional
Satellite
Images
 Collected by sensors on board a
satellite, which are then relayed to
ground stations and then computer-
processed to produce images
 Can be used to detect features not
readily apparent to the naked eye (ex.
Sedimentation, moisture content,
ground temperature variations)
 Processing is needed for data
reduction, georeferencing,
enhancing, and data integration
 Examples: Landsat, SPOT, Ikonos,
Quickbird, AVHRR
Advantages of Satellite
Images
 Easy to transfer/transport -- always
available in digital form
 Specific features can be
highlighted by manipulating the
displayed wavebands
 Repeated converage of the Earth –
important for temporal analysis and
continuous monitoring
 Large coverage area – useful for
regional or national mapping
applications
 Low cost compared with other data
sources
 Ability to acquire current/timely
Ground/Land Surveying
Data
 Using tapes, transits, theodolites,
total stations, etc.
 Used to collect field data such as
coordinates, elevations, and
distances
 Data collected are in analog format
(written down in paper) which still
need to be transformed to digital
format for use in GIS
GPS (Global Positioning Systems)
Data

 Relatively new technique of field

data collection
 Radio waves/signals from GPS
satellites are used to pinpoint location
 Originally designed for real-time
navigation
 Can store collected coordinates and
associated attribute information,
which may be downloaded directly
into a GIS database
 Accuracy ranges from 100 meters to
a few centimeters
Categories of Geographic Data
Acquisition

 Primary – collected through first-

hand observation
 Secondary – data collected by another
individual or organization; most are
published data
Primary Raster and Vector Data

Raster Data
 satellite images
 scanned aerial
photographs

Vector Data
 Land survey points
 GPS observation data
Methods of Data
Acquisition
1. Raster Data
 Acquisition Scanning
 Photogrammetry
 Remote sensing
2. Vector Data
 Acquisition
 Manual digitizing
 Computer-assisted
 digitizing Field
surveying
 GPS surveying
3. Attribute Data Acquisition
Keyboard entry
Scannin
g
 Most commonly used method
when raster data is required
 Accuracy depends on the
scanner quality (resolution),
quality of the image
processing software used to
process the scanned data, and
quality/complexity of source
document
Manual Digitizing
 Most common method of
encoding geographic features
from paper maps to vector
GIS
 Used when topology of
features is important
 May be used for extraction of
spatial features from maps and
aerial photos
 Uses a Table Digitizer which
is linked to a computer
Manual Digitizing
 One of the main sources of positional
error in GIS
 Accuracy depends on scale/resolution of
source map and quality of equipment and
software used
 Errors are usually due to:
 Incorrect registration of map features

on the digitizer table (‘hand-wobble’)

 Lack of experience of the digitizer

 Time-consuming and tedious, especially

for a large amount of data
Manual Digitizing Procedures

1. Preparation
2. Creation of a digitizing
template
3. Map digitizing
4. Post digitizing data
processing
Preparation

 Getting the map and digitizer ready

 Check quality of map/s to be digitized,
identifying control points for
georeferencing, checking/calibrating
digitizer
 Establish specifications of feature
codes, line types, and approaches to
data capture, according to acceptable
data standards
Creation of a Digitizing Template

 Digitizing template – contains tic marks,

neat lines, and graphical elements
common to all layers (ex. Boundaries
and water bodies)
 Enables multiple layers to be
registered perfectly with each
other
 Minimizes amount of work
Map Digitizing

 Begins by registering map mounted

on the digitizing table to the digital
map on the computer screen
 Not necessary to follow a particular
sequence for digitizing graphical
elements
 No need to digitize points at which
lines intersect
 Intersecting lines will be automatically
broken down into line segments during
topology building
Using a Manual Digitizing Table

1. Registration – map is fixed firmly on

the table; five or more control points
are identified on the map, their
coordinates are noted, and they are
digitized
2. Digitizing point, line, and polygon
features
3. Adding attribute information – to be
linked to the digitized features
Post Digitizing Data Processing

 Checking for errors/omissions done

in the digitizing process
 When errors/omissions are
detected, it is sometimes
necessary to go back to the
digitizing process
 Map must remain in its original position to
retain the registration previously made
Modes for Manual Digitizing
1. Point Mode
 A start and end node is recorded to define a line
 Points between the start and end nodes are
recorded for more complex lines/curves
 More popular because it allows more operator
control
 Results in a smaller data file
2. Stream Mode
 Requires more skill than point mode digitizing
 Generates larger files compared to point mode
 The digitizer is set to record points according to a
pre-
determined time interval or distance interval
 Generation of points begins upon the recording of
the start node and terminates once the end node
is recorded
 Number of points is determined by the speed at
which the mouse cursor is moved over a
Computer-Assisted Digitizing
 Heads-up or On-screen digitizing
 May be automatic or semi-automatic
 Used instead of manual digitizing when a
large number of complex maps is to be
digitized in a short period of time
 Popularity has grown considerably due
to improved hardware design, software
capabilities, and data-compression
techniques
 Very efficient and time-saving
 Proprietary hardware and software are
required
 very expensive
Semi-Automatic Digitizing Process

1. Scanning map to the computer (raster

format)
2. Operator moves cursor to a position at
the start of a line/contour and activates
the software
3. Software automatically converts the
raster data to vector by following the
pixels until it encounters a break
4. Operator moves the cursor to another
position
Keyboard Entry/Keycoding

 Used for entering tabular/attribute data, which are

commonly
only available in paper form, into the GIS database
 Examples: vegetation classes, polygon

identifiers, soil types, topographic detail, etc.

 May involve numeric, alphanumeric, or logical
data
 May be done through keyboard entry or text
scanning (OCR)
 Manageable for a small amount of data
 Disadvantages:
 Not feasible for a large amount of data

 Prone to typographical errors

Electronic Data Transfer

 Used when data is already in digital

form
 Usually followed by data conversion,
particularly when the transferred data
is in a different format than what is
required