Adama Science and Technology

University

Course GIS and Remote Sensing (WREN

: 4307)
Experience
Chapter 1: Introduction
1) Geographic Information Systems
Cont’d-Why Does GIS matter?
 Almost everything happens somewhere. Knowing where
something happens is of critical importance
 GIS is about three things — people, place, and quality of
life.
 GIS keep track not only of events, activities, and things, but
also of where these events, activities, and things happen
or exist.
 Geographic location is an important attribute of activities,
policies, strategies, and plans.
 Geographic problems. involve an aspect of location, either in
the information used to solve them, or in the solutions
themselves
 Cont’d
 Three bases for classifying geographic problems
 the scale or level of geographic detail
 the intent or purpose
• practical problem-solving or normative applications, such as
finding new locations
• curiosity driven or positive uses that advance science, such
as
predicting behavior based on location
 the time scale
• operational decisions required for smooth
functioning of an operations
• tactical decisions which are medium-term
• strategic decision for long-term direction
• transactional timescales at which databases are updated
 2) Data, Information, Knowledge , Wisdom
Wisdom – used in the context of decisions made
 Knowledge is information to which value
has been added by interpretation based
on a particular context, experience, and
purpose; it is often acquired over
substantial periods and involvement in
many projects.
 Evidence – is halfway between info. &
knowledge, a multiplicity of information from
different sources whose selection and
analysis is focused on specific problems
 Information is data refined for some
purpose or that have been given some
degree of interpretation, often costly
to produce but easy to add value to
through processing.
 Data are raw facts, neutral and context-
free, internal meaning is irrelevant
We Live in Two Worlds
Natural World Constructed World

Self-Regulating Managed
. . . These Are Increasingly In Conflict
Context and Content
Seeing the Whole Managing Places

 Patterns  Watersheds
 Linkages  Communities
 Trends  Neighborhoods
 Districts
Big Picture
 GIS is a marriage
between computer
information science
and geography

Computer Science: the science concerned with the systematic

and automatic processing of data and information with the help
of computers.
 Geographical Information
Geographical Information is different from other kinds of information
and therefore requires special methods to be analysed, so it is
special.
WHY?
 Multidimensional – at least two coordinates must be specified
to define a location
 Voluminous – a geographic database can easily reach a
terabyte in
size
 Different Representations - and how this is done can
strongly influence the ease of analysis and the end results
 Requires projection to flat surface
 Requires unique analysis methods
 Analyses require data integration
 Data updates are expensive and time consuming
 Map displays require fast data retrieval
Source: Longley et al (2005) Geographic Information Systems and Science. 2nd Edition. John Wiley and Sons Ltd.
 GIS--What is it?---Cont’d

 Geographic/Geospatial Information
 information about places on the earth’s surface
 knowledge about “what is where when”
(Don’t forget time!)
 Geographic/geospatial: synonymous
 GIS--what’s in the S?
 Systems: the technology
 Science: the concepts and theory
 Studies: the societal context
GI Systems, Science and Studies
Systems
technology for the acquisition and management of spatial
information
 Science: comprehending the underlying conceptual issues
of representing data and processes in space-time
 the theory and concepts behind the technology
Introduce enough of the science to apply the systems
correctly and
understand their capabilities and limitations
• Examples Analysis and Visualisation techniques
– Algorithms for geographical data
 Studies: understanding the social, legal and ethical
issues associated with the application of GISy and GISc

Combine hands-ontheoretical lectures with an

understanding of underlying science, and an
emphasis
the on multidisciplinary applications
3) What is GIS?
There are a number of definitions of GIS. Different groups of
people (general public, planners, teachers, scientists) can find a
different definition useful.
Here are some of them:
 “GIS is much more than a container of maps in digital form”.

 “A GIS is a computerized tool for solving geographic

problems”
 “GIS is a spatial decision support system”

 “GIS is a mechanized inventory of geographically distributed

features and facilities”

 “GIS is a method for revealing patterns and processes in

geographic information”
 “GIS is a tool to automate time-consuming tasks that are

too
tedious or expensive or inaccurate if performed by hand”
GIS Definitions

Definition 1: A GIS is a toolbox

"a powerful set of tools for storing and retrieving at
will, transforming and displaying spatial data from
the real world for a particular set of purposes"
(Burrough, 1986,).
"automated systems for the capture, storage,
retrieval, analysis, and display of spatial data."
(Clarke, 1995,).
Definition 2: A GIS is an information system

"An information system that is designed to work with

data referenced by spatial or geographic coordinates.

• GIS is both a database system with specific capabilities

for spatially-referenced data,
• as well as a set of operations for working with the data" (Star
and Estes, 1990).
 GIS = Geographic Information System(s)
GIS integrates hardware, software, and geographic data for
capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of
geographically referenced information.
Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), 2011

 “GIS is evolving from a database approach to a

knowledge approach.”
(Geographic Information Systems)

Fundamentals
 4) Geographic Information Technologies
 Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
a system of earth-orbiting satellites which can provide
precise (100 meter to sub-cm.) location on the earth’s
surface (in lat/long coordinates or equiv.)
 Remote Sensing (RS)
 use of satellites or aircraft to capture information about the
earth’s surface
 Digital ortho images a key product (map accurate digital
photos)

 Geographic Information Systems (GISy)

GPS and RS are sources of input data for a GISy.

A GISy provides for storing and manipulating GPS and RS data.
GPS
SATELLITE
 5) GIS Components

 Organized collection of
 Software Software
 Hardware People
 Network
Data
 Data
 People Network
 Procedures
Procedures

Hardware
People
 People are the most important part of a GIS
 People define and develop the procedures used by a GIS
 People can overcome shortcoming of the other 4
elements, but not vice-versa

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 determines the types of questions and
problems that may be asked of the GIS
Hardware Cont’d
 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.
Software
 The functionality of the software
used to manage the GIS determines
the type of problems that the GIS
may be used to solve.
 The software used must match the
needs and skills of the end user.
 Cont’d
 Methods
 A successful GIS operates according to a well-designed
plan and business rules, which are the models and
operating practices unique to each organization.

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6) GIS Functions
 Six Functions of a GIS
 Capture data
 Store data
 Query data
 Analyze data
 Display data
 Produce output
 GIS Process

Capture
Data
Register
Map Base
Interpret
Store Data Data
in Computer Convert Data
to Digital
Process Format
Data
Display
Results
Capturing Data
 A GIS must be able to handle two fundamental data types:
 Geographic data. This type of data is coordinate based and
represents the physical distribution of elements in the GIS
 Tabular data. This type of data contains the
attributes, or characteristics, about elements in the GIS.
 Most features displayed in a GIS are composites of both
types of data.
 The effectiveness of a GIS strongly relies on the input of
data.
 Data sources include:
 Paper maps (digitized)
 Coordinate input
 Digital data (obtained from outside sources)
 GPS (collected using a GPS system)
 A good GIS should support multiple formats for all data
types listed
above.
Storing Data
 Geographic GIS data is stored primarily in one of 2
types:
 Raster, which is image based. A raster data model
assigns values to cells on a computer screen which
covers a specific location. The detail of a raster
data set is therefore dependant upon the size of the cell
used to represent a given area (resolution).
 Vector, which is coordinate based model used to
represent real-world features.
Querying Data
 A GIS must provide tools by which its users can answer
questions.
 A query can be based upon the use of the GIS to identify a
specific feature OR its use to identify features based on a
specific set of conditions.
 Depending on the software used, queries can be as simple
as point and click or as complicated as writing command-
line programming code. In other words, the type of
questions to be asked determines the type of GIS to be
used.
Analyzing Data
 A GIS must be capable of answering questions regarding
the interaction of spatial relationships.
 Inherent in analyzing the data is the ability to ask the
“right” questions, follow the correct procedures, and
correctly interpret the results!
 There are three basic types of analysis:
 Proximity analysis queries the GIS about distances
between objects
 Overlay analysis joins different map layers of a GIS
together to answer a question
 Network analysis is used to answer questions about
how a group of objects function together.
Displaying the Data
 A GIS must allow a flexible environment for its users to
view the data.
 Data may be displayed in multiple formats, but generally
is viewed as either a graph, table, or map.
Output
 A GIS must have the means to output the data in usable
formats
 Common forms of output include:
 Images, Documents
 Paper maps
 The internet
 Files for use in other applications
GIS: A tool-kit
• Manipulate spatially:
– Calculate distances and adjacencies
– Change projections and scales
– Integrate disparate sources
• Analyse spatially:
– Quantitative analysis
– Exploratory spatial data analysis
– Qualitative analysis
• Visualise data:
– Maps!
– Tables, graphs, etc.
– Animations
– Virtual landscapes
7) Major Questions for a GIS:
 What exists at a certain location?
 Where are certain conditions satisfied?
 What has changed in a place over time?
 What spatial patterns exist?
 What if this condition occurred at this place?
(modelling, hypothesis testing)
 8) GIS Applications
 GIS in the environment
GIS is used every day to help protect the environment. As an
environmental professional, you can use GIS to produce maps,
inventory species, measure environmental impact, or trace
pollutants. The environmental applications for GIS are almost
endless.
 Monitoring environmental risk
 Modeling stormwater runoff
 Management of watersheds, floodplains, wetlands, forests, aquifers
 Environmental Impact Analysis
 Hazardous or toxic facility siting
 Groundwater modeling and contamination tracking
 GIS in hydrology
You can use GIS to study drainage systems, assess Surface,
groundwater, and visualize watersheds, and in many other
hydrologic applications.
 GIS in land use planning
People use GIS to help visualize and plan the land use needs of
cities, regions, or even national governments.
 GIS in agriculture
 managing crop yields, monitoring crop rotation techniques, and projecting
soil loss for individual farms or entire agricultural regions.
 GIS in business
 You can keep track of where customers are, site businesses, target marketing
campaigns, optimize sales territories, and model retail spending patterns. A
GIS gives you that extra advantage to make you and your company more
competitive and successful.
 enables you to better understand and evaluate your data by creating graphic
displays using information stored in your database.
 GIS in electric/gas utilities
 Cities and utilities use GIS every day to help them map and inventory
systems, track maintenance, monitor regulatory compliance, or model
distribution analysis, transformer analysis, and load analysis.
 GIS in forestry
Today, managing forests is becoming a more complex and
demanding challenge. With GIS, foresters can easily see
the forest as an ecosystem and manage it responsibly.
 GIS in geology
 Geologists use GIS to study geologic features, analyze soils and strata, assess
seismic information, or create 3-dimensional displays of geographic features.
GIS in local government

 GIS in mapping
 Mapping is an essential function of a GIS. People in a variety of professions are
using GIS to help others understand geographic data. You don't have to be a
skilled cartographer to make maps with a GIS.
 GIS in the military
 Military analysts and cartographers use GIS in a variety of applications such as
creating basemaps, assessing terrain, and aiding in tactical decisions.
 GIS in risk management
A GIS can help with risk management and analysis by showing
you which areas will be prone to natural or man-made disasters.
Once identified, preventive measures can be developed that
deal with the different scenarios.

 GIS in Site Planning

People around the world use GIS to help them locate sites for
new facilities or locate alternate sites for existing facilities.

 GIS in the water/wastewater industry

People in the water/wastewater industry use GIS with the
planning, engineering, operations, maintenance, finance,
and administration functions of their water/wastewater
networks.