What is GIS?
- 1. What is a G eographic I nformation S ystem?
- 2. A GIS is any manual or computer based system designed to store and manipulate spatially referenced data
- 3. A GIS or Geographic Information System is a system designed for storing, analyzing, and displaying spatial data. Manage Data Manipulate Data Analyze Data
- 4. Typical questions include: What is at ......? Where is ......? What has changed since ......? What spatial patterns exist......? What if ......?
- 5. GIS ~ CAPABILITIES AND USES Digitizing Address Matching Event Mapping Thematic Mapping Join and Merge Tables Tabular and Spatial Queries Thematic Mapping
- 6. The ultimate purpose of a GIS is to answer spatial questions... ...NOT necessarily to make ‘PRETTY’ maps!
- 8. A GIS consists of Data Layers or Themes . . . . . . . . + + Species locations Land cover type Roads GIS
- 12. What makes up spatial data? Where each feature is located What each feature represents Relationships among features Physical shape of the feature Coordinates Attributes Topology Shape
- 13. Who makes spatial data? EVERYBODY! Emergency Services: Accident (police) Burglary (police) Crime (police) Fires (fire fighters) Health outbreaks (hospital) Typhoon damage (EMO/CUC)
- 14. An important thing to remember… the questions must be asked before the data are developed !
- 15. A GIS can be VERY FRUSTRATING! So have patience .... We’re here to help!!!
- 16. What is ArcGIS? An integrated collection of GIS software products for building a complete GIS. The ArcGIS framework enables you to deploy GIS functionality—in desktops, servers (including the Web), or mobile devices. Who is ESRI ? Environmental Systems Research Institute, Redlands, CA http://www.esri.com
- 17. What’s the difference between: ArcGIS? ArcView? ArcInfo? Versions 1.0 – 3.3 Originally developed for non-GIS specialists - Biologist, Managers, Planners . GUI. User-friendly. Proprietary Programming Language - Avenue. Reads Shape files and Coverages. Versions 1.0 – 8.0 High end developers tool – High geek factor. Hosted on a Unix, IBM mainframe. Command line – Arc. Proprietary Programming Language - AML. Not user-friendly or for the casual user! A collection of GIS products - Desktop, Server, Embedded, Mobile. Based on Visual Basic. Designed for the Individual or a large Corporation. Versions 9.0 – 9.2
- 18. ArcMap ArcCatalog ArcToolbox View GIS data (graphically or in tables) & create maps. Manage & organize GIS files Convert GIS file formats (re-project & transform)