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PROGRAMMING (1)

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PROGRAMMING (1)

Uploaded by

travonmose
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© © All Rights Reserved
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THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF GIS UP TO DATE IN TERMS OF ITS EVOLUTION.

Geospatial information systems [GIS] have a rich history and have evolved significantly over the years.

The development of GIS can be traced back to the year 1854 during a cholera outbreak. At that time
people believed that the disease was being spread through the air, but an enterprising doctor, Dr Jon
Snow was not convinced. So he decided to map the outbreak locations, the roads and the property
boundaries and water pumps. And when he did he made a startling discovery. A pattern emerged. This
pattern proved that the disease was not in fact airborne but was being spread via water and even more
specifically by one infected water pump. John Snows cholera map was a major development of spatial
analysis.

Early beginnings [1960s-1970s]

The concept of using computers to handle geographic data began in the 1960s.Roger Tomlinson, often
referred to as the “father of Gis,” developed the Canada Geographic information system [CGIS] IN 1963,
which was the first true Gis.CGIS was created to assist in managing land use data across Canada and was
notable for handling both raster and vector data, although it mainly focused on resource management.

Simultaneously, advancements in computer cartography were taking place. In 1964, the Harvard
laboratory for computer graphics and spatial analysis, led by Howard Fisher, played a crucial role in
furthering GIS research, developing tools for spatial analysis and mapping, including the SYMAP program
[a tool for automated thematic mapping. In 1968, there was a GIS development by the U.S. Bureau of
the census to assist in the decennial census.

Growth and commercialization [1980s-1990s]

The 1980s saw GIS evolving from research institutions into commercial software. The development of
Arcinfo in 1982 by Esri [Environmental systems research institute] founded by Jack and Laura
Dangermond, marked the first widely used commercial GIS software. Arcinfo combined database
technology with spatial analysis capabilities, and it could store, manipulate, and analyze vector based
data. During this period the cost of computer hardware decreased and computing power improved
significantly, making GIS more accessible .universities began offering courses on GIS and its applications
expanded beyond government and research into industries such as utilities transportation, and
environmental management.

By the 1990s, GIS software became more user friendly, and its use exploded with the introduction of
desktop systems .Esri’s arc view [released in 1992] was a significant leap forward, offering a graphical
user interface [GIU] that made GIs more accessible to non-specialists. Gis began to see widespread
adoption in municipal planning, agriculture, disaster management and business logistics.

Internet and open source Era [2000s]

The 2000s marked the era of the internet and the open source movement, revolutionizing GIS further.
The rise of web based GIs applications allowed for the dissemination of geographic information to a
global audience Google Earth [released in 2005] and Google maps introduced many to the concept of
interactive digital maps making spatial data apart of everyday life.
Open source GIS software also became prominent with projects like QGIS, offering robust alternatives to
commercial products. The Open Geospatial Consortium [OGC], FOUNDED IN THE 1990S further
supported interoperability standards, enabling different GIS software to exchange data seamlessly. The
proliferation of Global Positioning Systems[GPS] and mobile technology during this time enabled the
collection of real time location based data ,fueling applications such as navigation, field data collection
and crowd sourced mapping [e.g. open street map]

Big data and cloud GIS [2010S-Present]

In the 2010s, GIS evolved into a tool for managing big data and performing complex spatial analysis at
unprecedented scales. The integration of GIS with cloud computing made it possible to store, process,
and analyze vast amounts of spatial data, which would have been impossible using traditional desktop
systems. Modern GIS software, like ArcGIS online and Google Earth Engine, supports the analysis of
satellite imagery, spatial modelling and real-time data visualization in the cloud.

Another critical development has been the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence [AI] and Machine
Learning [ML] in GIS.

Current Trends and Future Directions

1. Integrations with IOT [internet of things]

2.3D and Augmented Reality [AR]

3. Geospatial Data science

4. Democratization of GIS.

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