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.

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 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) http://www.picsearch.com/pictures/fashion/
• Data storing, processing • Output production jewelry/watch%20brands/garmin.html
& analysis - statistical report, maps b) b), c), d) Lwin & Murayama (2008)
BASIC ELEMENTS OF GIS

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 BASIC ELEMENTS OF GIS 1/7

 People

 Data

 Software

 Hardware

 Procedures/Methods

Adopted from:
Brooks (undated) 10
http://www.mapsofindia.com/gis/gis-components.html

http://bgis.sanbi.org/gis-primer/page_12.htm
http://www.sfu.ca/rdl/GIS/tour/comp_gis.html
 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) http://www.asdi.com/remote-sensing/
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

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 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

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 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: http://gis.washington.edu/phurvitz/professional/SSI/attrib.html
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
http://www.mapsofindia.com/gis/gis-components.html
http://bgis.sanbi.org/gis-primer/page_12.htm
http://www.sfu.ca/rdl/GIS/tour/comp_gis.html
 EXAMPLES OF GIS APPLICATIONS 3/6

 Suitability analysis for the best site for a new

school

Goal

Criteria

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Data

Source: ESRI
EXAMPLES OF GIS APPLICATIONS 4/6

 Mapping population density

25

Source: http://www.census.gov/dmd/www/pdf/512popdn.pdf
 EXAMPLES OF GIS APPLICATIONS 5/6

26

Source: http://soils.usda.gov/use/worldsoils/mapindex/erosh2o.html
EXAMPLES OF GIS APPLICATIONS 6/6

 Landslide Risk Mapping

27

Source: http://www-eaps.mit.edu/faculty/perron/files/Booth09.pdf
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://
giswin.geo.tsukuba.ac.jp/sis/en/tutoriale.html
 Maguire, D.J. (2010). GIS: A tool or science. http://www.gisdevelopment.net
 Rahman, M.R. (2009). Landuse Change Analysis of Rutbeek Recreational Area, Netherlands. http://
www.gisdevelopment.net
 Schurrman, N. (2004). GIS – a short introduction. Blackwell, Oxford.
 http://www.esri.com
 http://www-eaps.mit.edu/faculty/perron/files/Booth09.pdf
 http://soils.usda.gov/use/worldsoils/mapindex/erosh2o.html
 http://www.census.gov/dmd/www/pdf/512popdn.pdf
 http://gis.washington.edu/phurvitz/professional/SSI/attrib.html
 http://www.asdi.com/remote-sensing/applications/ground-truthing
 http://www.sfu.ca/rdl/GIS/tour/comp_gis.html
 http://www.mapsofindia.com/gis/gis-components.html 28
 http://www.picsearch.com/pictures/fashion/jewelry/watch%20brands/garmin.html
 http://bgis.sanbi.org/gis-primer/page_12.htm