Project for the Strengthening of Spatial Data Infrastructures in

Member States and Territories of the Association of Caribbean States

Capacity Building Program

Geographic Information Systems

Dr Earl Edwards
Ms. Valrie Grant, MSc.
 Topic 3:
Data Acquisition Techniques
 Topic Outline
• Overview of Data Acquisition
• Fundamental Datasets required for GIS
• Sources of GIS Data
• Primary and Secondary
• Use of Terrestrial Photogrammetry
• Web-Based Data Sources
• Metadata
 Data Acquisition
• The processes of data acquisition are also
variously referred to as data capture, data
automation, data conversion, data transfer, data
translation, and digitizing

• When acquiring data, one must bear in mind:

– Purpose
– Accuracy
– Datum and Map Projection
– Scale
 Data Acquisition
• A key success factor for any GIS is the acquisition of
data appropriate for the applications identified in the
needs assessment stage
• Data acquisition traditionally is the most costly
component of a GIS project. (approx. 80%)
• It is important to determine exactly what data is
required in terms of accuracy, resolution, scale,
completeness, and consistency
• Data availability and data quality requirements affect
the time taken and cost incurred in database
development
Fundamental Datasets
Required for GIS
Cadastral Parcels Buildings Addresses

Streets/Roads Administrative Area Boundaries Contours & Spot Heights

What is the most appropriate Digital Elevation Models Hill shading Digital Orthoimages

method for acquiring each of

these datasets ?

Geodetic Reference Network Rivers and Lakes Landuse/Zoning

 Sources of GIS Data

Maps and
Plans
Digital data Paper files

Data

GIS
Photogrammetry
Interviews

Data

Remote Sensing Field survey

 Primary and Secondary Sources of
GIS Data
Primary Methods Secondary Methods
Data collected directly from the field The use of existing sources
• Field Surveying • Digitising Existing
• GNSS Maps/Charts
• Photogrammetry • Paper Files
• LiDAR
• Remote Sensing
• Meteorological Sensors
 Primary Methods
• Field Surveying
– Terrestrial Surveying
• measured angles and
distances from known points
are used to determine the
positions of other points.
• traditional method of spatial
data collection.
• Requires skilled and
experienced field personnel
and checking the accuracy in-
field.
• Accuracy was a function of the
equipment as well as the
observational technique.
• Convenient for smaller areas.
 Primary Methods - GNSS
• The term ‘Global Navigation Satellite System’ (GNSS)
refers to a constellation of satellites providing signals
from space transmitting positioning and timing data.
• By definition, a GNSS provides global coverage.
• Determines location by using the timing and positioning
data encoded in the signals from space
• Global Positioning System (GPS), Navstar, USA
– Most widely used and recognized GNSS
– global satellite based radio-navigation system/technology,
consisting of 24 orbiting satellites at an altitude of 20,000 km in
space, in six different orbital paths/plane and their ground
stations.
– They are constantly moving, making two complete orbits in less
than 24 hours.
NAVSTAR GPS Satellites
Examples of GNSS worldwide
GPS Receivers
 Capturing Data with GNSS/Tablets

• Trimble R2
• ArcGIS Collector
• iPad mini 4
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Data sim
• VRS connectivity
• Accuracy +/- 2cm to
1.5m
 Capturing Data with GNSS/Tablets

Students from the MSc

Geoinformatics
programme at UWI, St.
Augustine, configuring
the mobile device for
data capture.
 Primary Methods
• Photogrammetry Single photograph + Sensor
parameters = 2D measurements
– Involves estimating real world
coordinates (X,Y,Z) for ground
based objects in 2 or more 2D
images based on the
approximate perspective and
location of the sensor.
– Overlapping images enable Multiple photographs + Sensor
stereo viewing parameters = 3D measurements
• Active: Stereo pair images are
alternately flashed on the monitor
• Passive: both images on monitor
simulataeneously, stereo view
achieved with anaglyph or
polarised.
– Products: Planimetric maps,
orthophotos, DTM, etc.
Anaglyphic View
Anaglyphic View
Photogrammetry Workflow
 Primary Methods
LiDAR • Light Detection And Ranging
Z
GPS
(LiDAR)
Y • System components
X
– Laser scanner emitting more
X
than 100,000 pulses per sec
Laser
Y – GPS for measuring platform
Z
IMU position
– Inertial Measurement Unit
10o or 20o (IMU) for platform orientation
– Data processing and data
storage unit (PC)
• Records first, last or multiple
pulses
GPS Base
GPS Base Station • Horizontal accuracy: 1/1000th
Station
of flying height
H
N • Vertical accuracy: 5 – 20cm
E • Operates day or night
• Cannot operate above clouds
DSM DTM
 Primary Methods
• Satellite Remote Sensing
– Remote sensing is closely related to photogrammetry.
Both fields deal with images of the earth.

– It includes all information collected from sensors

which are physically separate from the object.

– Remote sensing instruments rely on the detection of

energy emitted from or reflected by the object under
consideration.
 Secondary Methods
Scanning and Digitizing Legacy Datasets
Scanning
– The process of converting existing maps to digital form
(raster format)

Setbacks in Scanning
– Editing can take nearly as long as manual digitizing would
have taken
Scanning
 Digitizing

• Digitizing is the process of capturing knowledge

of a feature’s geometry and attributes into
a digital format stored on the computer’s hard
drive.

• Digitizing can be:

– Manual: Heads-down or heads-up
– Semi-Automated: data automatically recorded while
manually following a line- by distance along the line,
offset distance or time
– Fully automated- line following
 Heads-Up Digitizing
• Heads-up digitizing is a combination of scanning and
manual digitizing.
• The main steps in heads-up digitizing typically
include:
– Scanning the map: a user can scan the map at a high
resolution
– Registering the map: using transformation methods, the
user can enter control points on screen and transform the
scanned image to real world coordinates.
– Digitizing the map: the user can zoom to specific areas
on screen and trace points, line or polygons on the map.
• Because the maps are already in the correct geographic coordinate
system anything digitized on top of the map will also be in the
correct coordinate system.
 Heads-Up Digitizing
1.
Scan

2.
Georeference

3.
Final Map Digitize
Heads-Up Digitizing
Example using Orthoimage
Digitizing Features of Interest
Final Product
 Plan Before Digitizing
• There are many issues to consider before
digitizing commences:
– For what purpose will the data be used?
– What coordinate system will be used for the project?
– What is the accuracy of the layers to be associated?
– What is the accuracy of the map being used?
Terrestrial Photogrammetry
Terrestrial Photogrammetry
Example: Google Street View
 Web-Based Data Sources

Can these sources provide AUTHORATIVE data for our GIS ???
Applications Requiring Spatial Data
 Metadata
• Data acquisition process is not complete until the
appropriate metadata has been recorded
• Who, what, why, when, where, how ??????
• Metadata elements should include:
– Spatial data quality
– Spatial reference system
 Metadata Elements
Identification
Title? Area covered? Themes? Currency? Restrictions?
Data Quality (5 aspects)
Positional & Attribute Accuracy? Completeness? Logical Consistency?
Lineage?
Spatial Data Organization
Indirect? Vector? Raster? Type of elements? Number?
Spatial Reference
Projection? Grid system? Datum? Coordinate system?
Entity and Attribute Information
Features? Attributes? Attribute values?
Distribution
Distributor? Formats? Media? Online? Price?
Metadata Reference
Metadata currency? Responsible party?
 Choosing an appropriate data source
• What are the considerations in choosing a data source?
– Purpose
– Scale
– Resolution
– Accuracy
– Datum transformation and map projection
– Completeness
– Content
– Costs
 Real World Data Sources

Data Input
The GIS Process
Geospatial Information processing begins and
ends with the real world

Users
Data Management

Analysis
Source: Aronoff (1991)
 UP NEXT …..

Topic 4: Augmenting Data Acquisition

using sUAVs