FUNDAMENTALS
OF GEOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION
SYSTEM
1
Aamir Shakeel
GIS Specialist
PFI-Peshawar
CONTENTS OF THIS LECTURE
PRESENTATION
Basic concept of GIS
Basic elements of GIS
Types of GIS data
Examples of GIS applications
2
BASIC CONCEPT OF GIS
3
BASIC CONCEPT OF GIS 1/5
Whatdoes GIS stand for?
Geographic Information Science
is the science concerned with the systematic
and automatic processing of spatial data
and information with the help of computers
is the theory behind how to solve spatial
problems with computers
Geographic Information System
is a system designed for storing, analyzing,
and displaying spatial data
is the use of hardware, software, people,
4
procedures, and data
BASIC CONCEPT OF GIS 2/5
Geographic
Information Science
Geographic Geographic
presents a framework for using Information
Information
information theory, spatial Science System
analysis and statistics, cognitive
understanding, and
cartography (Longley et al.,
2005). Adopted from Maguire (2010)
“GI Science allows us to consider
Geographic the philosophical, epistemological
Information System & ontologicalcontexts
o f geographic information &
focuses on the processes and GI S y s t e m s p r o v i d e t h e
methods that are used to infrastructure, tools and methods
sample, represent, manipulate for tackling real world problems
and present information within acceptable timeframes.”
about the world (Goodchild, 5
1992) .
BASIC CONCEPT OF GIS 3/5
Literal Definition
Geographic relates to the surface of the
earth.
Information is a knowledge derived from
study, experience, or instruction.
System is a group of interacting,
interrelated, or interdependent elements
forming a complex whole.
Science is the observation, identification,
description, experimental investigation, and
theoretical explanation of phenomena.
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BASIC CONCEPT OF GIS 4/5
Functional Definition
GIS is a system for inputting, storing,
manipulating, analyzing, and reporting data.
Component Definition
GIS is an organized collection of computer
hardware, software, geographic data,
procedures, and personnel designed to handle
all phases of geographic data capture, storage,
analysis, query, display, and output.
7
BASIC CONCEPT OF GIS 5/5
Functions of GIS Components of GIS
Data collection
Capture data
Data storing, processing &
analysis
Store data
Query data
Analyze data
Output production
Display data
Produce output
a b • Data collection
- using GPS & RS
- paper maps are also
sources of data
c d
Source: Schuurman (2004)
8
Sources (Photos):
a) [Link]
• Data storing, processing • Output production jewelry/watch%20brands/[Link]
& analysis - statistical report, maps b) b), c), d) Lwin & Murayama (2008)
BASIC ELEMENTS OF GIS
9
BASIC ELEMENTS OF GIS 1/7
People
Data
Software
Hardware
Procedures/Methods
Adopted from:
Brooks (undated) 10
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
BASIC ELEMENTS OF GIS 2/7
a
1. People
are the most
important part of a
GIS
define and develop b c d
the procedures used
by a GIS
can overcome
shortcoming of the
other 4 elements
(data, software, • Ground truth data collection
• Data storing, processing and analysis
hardware,
procedure), but not Sources (Photos):
a) Brooks (undated)
vice-versa b) [Link]
11
applications/ground-truthing
c), d) Lwin & Murayama (2008)
BASIC ELEMENTS OF GIS 3/7
Remote Sensing and topographic data
2. 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
Ground truth data
determines the types
of questions and
problems that may be
asked of the GIS 12
Source: Rahman (2009)
BASIC ELEMENTS OF GIS 4/7
2. Data – more examples
13
BASIC ELEMENTS OF GIS 5/7
3. GIS software Popular GIS Software
It encompasses not only to Vector-based GIS
the GIS package, but all ArcGIS (ESRI)
the software used for ArcView
databases, drawings, MapInfo
statistics, and imaging.
The functionality of the
software used to manage Raster-based GIS
the GIS determines the Erdas Imagine (Leica)
type of problems that the ENVI (RSI)
GIS may be used to solve. ILWIS (ITC)
The software used must IDRISI (Clark Univ.)
match the needs and skills
of the end user. 14
BASIC ELEMENTS OF GIS 6/7
4. Hardware
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.
To a small degree,
it may influence
the types/
personalities of the
people working 15
with the GIS. Source: Schuurman (2004)
BASIC ELEMENTS OF GIS 7/7
6.
Procedures/
Methods
The procedures
used to input, analyze,
and query data
determine the quality
and validity of the
final product.
The procedures used are
simple the steps taken in a
well defined and consistent
method to produce correct
and reproducible results 16
from the GIS system.
Source: ESRI
TYPES OF GIS DATA
17
TYPES OF GIS DATA 1/3
Vector A GIS stores information about the
In the vector data model, features world as layers of spatial features
on the earth are represented as: (customers, buildings, streets, and so
Points on).
Lines
Polygons
Raster
In the raster data model, a
geographic feature like land cover
is represented as:
single square cells
Attribute
Attribite values in a GIS are
stored as relational
database tables.
Each feature (point, line, polygon,
or raster) within each GIS layer
will be represented as a record in a
table. 18
Source: ESRI
TYPES OF GIS DATA 2/3
REAL WORLD
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
19
GRID RASTER VECTOR
Source: Brooks (undated)
TYPES OF GIS DATA 3/3
The Real World
In this example, our
landscape consists
of:
Points rolling hills
Lines grassland
Raster Vector Polygons lake
rivers
forest stands
marsh
Polygon
Raster data attributes Vector data attributes attributes
Line
Each cell has a coordinate representation within attributes
the table and a numeric value (i.e., LU_CODE)
Each LU_CODE is associated with a full
20
description through a relational join. Because the vector data represent both
Source: [Link]
linear & polygonal features, there are 2
attribute tables.
EXAMPLES OF GIS
APPLICATIONS
21
EXAMPLES OF GIS APPLICATIONS 1/6
A Framework for GIS Analysis
22
Source: ESRI
EXAMPLES OF GIS APPLICATIONS 2/6
Integrating the five basic elements of GIS to
produce the desired output.
People
GIS Desired
Components
Output
Adopted from: 23
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
EXAMPLES OF GIS APPLICATIONS 3/6
Suitability analysis for the best site for a new
school
Goal
Criteria
24
Data
Source: ESRI
EXAMPLES OF GIS APPLICATIONS 4/6
Mapping population density
25
Source: [Link]
EXAMPLES OF GIS APPLICATIONS 5/6
26
Source: [Link]
EXAMPLES OF GIS APPLICATIONS 6/6
Landslide Risk Mapping
27
Source: [Link]
REFERENCES
Brooks, T. (undated). Geographic Information Science and Systems. Center for Interdisciplinary
Geospatial Information Technologies, Delta State University.
Goodchild, M.F. (1992). Geographic Information Science.. International Journal of Geographical
Information Systems 6(1): 31–45. Reprinted in P.F. Fisher, editor, Classics from IJGIS: Twenty years
of the International Journal of Geographical Information Science and Systems. Boca Raton: CRC
Press, pp. 181–198. [166]
Longley, P., Goodchild, M., Maguire, D. & Rhind, D. (2005). Geographic Information Systems and
Science. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, England, UK.
Lang, L. (2003). Managing natural resources with GIS. ESRI, CA, USA.
Lwin, K. & Murayama, Y. (2008). Fundamentals of Remote Sensing and its application in GIS. http://
[Link]/sis/en/[Link]
Maguire, D.J. (2010). GIS: A tool or science. [Link]
Rahman, M.R. (2009). Landuse Change Analysis of Rutbeek Recreational Area, Netherlands. http://
[Link]
Schurrman, N. (2004). GIS – a short introduction. Blackwell, Oxford.
[Link]
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[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link] 28
[Link]
[Link]
