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Geographic Information System (GIS) : Get Inspired

This document provides instructions for making a basic geographic information system (GIS). It explains that GIS compiles and organizes geographic data into different layers by topic, such as points, lines or polygons. It then guides the reader through collecting materials like maps and transparencies, selecting locations and topics to map, and creating different layers to overlay on a base map. By viewing the layers together, the reader can analyze how different features are located in relation to each other and what may influence their placement. The document aims to teach basic GIS mapping skills.

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2leks m3d3iros
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32 views

Geographic Information System (GIS) : Get Inspired

This document provides instructions for making a basic geographic information system (GIS). It explains that GIS compiles and organizes geographic data into different layers by topic, such as points, lines or polygons. It then guides the reader through collecting materials like maps and transparencies, selecting locations and topics to map, and creating different layers to overlay on a base map. By viewing the layers together, the reader can analyze how different features are located in relation to each other and what may influence their placement. The document aims to teach basic GIS mapping skills.

Uploaded by

2leks m3d3iros
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MAKE YOUR OWN

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM


(GIS) Detail of “Night lights : [satellite view of the world]” by
Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA, 2004. Geography
and Map Division, Library of Congress

Did you know that the Library of Congress holds the largest and
most comprehensive cartographic collection in the world? We
have over 5.5 million maps, including 25,000 geospatial datasets.
Geographic information systems (GIS), is a technological
method to compile, organize, analyze, and visualize geographic
data. GIS data is gathered by topic in discrete data units called
layers.

Each data layer is gathered by topic (a ‘theme’) and is


organized by:

points for buildings or city centers


lines for boundaries or rivers
polygons for states or parks

Each layer has its own symbols and text label.

In this activity, kids can create their own GIS layers and
practice the basics of GIS mapping.
Image credit: ESRI

GET INSPIRED
Prior to the development of GIS, transparencies were placed on top of a base map of the
same location. These map overlays contain a discrete topic, such as businesses, rivers or
land use, and when stacked on top of the base map, create a new visualization and provide
new insights.
Explore:
this example of GIS comparing population density and location of fire stations in Arling-
ton County, Virginia from the Library’s collection
these resources from the US Geological Survey:
~~ examples of maps using GIS data including the National Map
~~ layered maps of your hometown past and present

GET READY
Collect your materials:
A map to be used as your base map. You can use a map of your town, a tourist map of
an area–such as this map of Washington, D.C.—or other maps available on the Library’s
website (for example, browse maps by state here).
Transparency sheets
Thin dry-erase markers in several colors
MAKE YOUR OWN
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM
(GIS)
CREATE YOUR GIS
Select an area the size of your transparency on your map and
outline it with a pen. This area will be the focus of the activity.

Look at the map together and think about the types of


information that you could add to the map or isolate from it. A
few examples include:
~~ Waterways
~~ Farms and agriculture
~~ Public transportation
~~ Points of interest/places I’ve visited/places I want to visit
(e.g. museums, monuments)
~~ Shops and restaurants

Once you decide on your topics, place a transparency over the map and locate and
create the points, lines or polygons for one theme.

Repeat this step for each theme, to create 3-4, or more, transparency layers.

Place the layers in different combinations over the base


map.

As you view the layers, overlayed, discuss which items


are near to each other or at a distance. Discuss what
influences the location of the features. For example,
population and businesses are located near transportation.
How does the location of each influence the other?

Congratulations! You’ve made a GIS!

EXPLORE MORE:
Learn about careers at the Library. Read about the work of a Library cartographic
specialist in this blog post.

Browse the Library’s digital collection of maps from around the world!

View the library’s GIS Day 2018 event, on ‘GIS in K-12 Education:
From Data to STEM’. See the full agenda.

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