GEOSPATIAL

INFORMATION SYSTEMS
An Introduction

E Kuria Mwangi

KCA UNIVERSITY
School of Technology
BIT 03202 Geospatial Information Systems
The learner will identify, manipulate and
analyse spatial data using state of the
art software(Quantum (QGIS))
The learner will address real world
problems using spatial and relational
data
The learner will be able to describe in
detail the basic components of
05 Track 5.wma

computer-assisted geographic
information systems (GIS), including
sources of data, data structures, data
storage, hardware equipment, software,
spatial analysis, and input and output
operations;
Course outline
Pre-requisite N/A
Purpose/Aim
This course prepares the learner to pose,
explore and answer organizational
questions using spatial data
Course Objective (Indicative Learning
Outcomes
The learner will be able to to know
the basics of one of the main GIS
packages currently in use, Quantum
GIS.
The learner will be able to compile
primary geographic information from
source materials such as maps and
aerial photos
The learner will be able to analyse
geographic data and design effective,
informative maps using the available
data and software
Course Content
Overview of GIS
GIS structure and function
Coordinate systems
GIS data
Review of database design and
development
Function and structure of maps
Overview of public data sources
Basic GIS operations
Fundamentals of data visualization
Advanced querying
Linear operations on spatial data
Spatial modelling and analysis
Data visualization and presentation
for GIS
GIS modelling
Spatial interpolation
Error evaluation and management
GIS for decision-making
GIS organization and management
GIS applications
Internet GIS
Lab 1: Introduction to quantum GIS
GIS Components
Representing Geographical Data, Spatial Data
Lab 2: Introduction to ArcView 25

Spatial Characteristics of Maps – Cartography Georeferencing

Lab 3: Data Management, Manipulation, and Mapping

in ArcView
Spatial Objects, Database Management Systems (DBMS)
Lab 4: Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst
Relational Database Management Systems
Raster Analysis

Lab 5: Geoprocessing
Overlays
 Instructional Materials/Equipment
Virtual class
zoom
GIS software-QGIS
Course Assessment
Examination 50
Continuous Assessment 50
Total100
Recommended Reading
An introduction to Geographic information systems; 2nd
ed.
Heywood I., Cornelius S., Carver S.
Prentice Hall; 2002
Additional Reading
Concepts and techniques of Geographic information
systems
Lo C.P., Yeung A.K.W.
Prentice Hall; 2002
Other Support Material
A variety of multimedia systems and electronic
information resources as prescribed by the
lecturer. Various application manuals and articles,
URL search and journals.
Contents
Definition
Components
GIS Software
Historical Development
Benefits of GIS in organizations
GIS: Definition
In the strictest sense, a GIS is a computer system capable of
assembling,
storing,
manipulating, and
displaying
geographically referenced information, i.e. data identified according to their locations.
Practitioners also regard the total GIS as including operating personnel (i.e. the ‘user’) and the
data that go into the system.

hardware assembling
software managing
data analyzing Component versus functional point of view of
displaying a GIS
user
GIS: Definition(2)
There are several definitions of GIS:
1. Toolbox-based definition
“A GIS is a powerful set of tools for collecting, storing, retrieving
at will, transforming and displaying spatial data from the real
world.” (Burrough 1986).
“A System for capturing, storing, checking, manipulating,
analysing and dispalying data which are spatially referenced to
the earth” (Department of Environment 1987).
“an information technology which stores, analyses, and displays
both spatial and non-spatial data”( Parker 1988).
The keywords of these definitions can be visualized by the
logical steps necessary to put a GIS to work:
GIS: Definition(3)
Maintaining and
Collecting GIS editing GIS data Analyzing GIS Presenting GIS
Data data Data

The workflow involves:

collecting GIS data: classical field survey, GPS; scanning and georeferencing
analog maps, aerial and satellite imagery ; manual digitizing analog maps; using
digital data sources like CAD data, legacy data; validation of data, quality control
maintaining and editing GIS data: effective storing of spatial and attributive
data, data structures, spatial indexing
Analyzing GIS data: spatial and attributive queries, spatial analysis, intersections
displaying: map projections, thematic mapping, reports, layout for plotting,
presenting geographic data in the Web
GIS: Definition(4)
2. Database definitions
“ a database system in which most of the data are spatially
indexed, and upon which a set of procedures operated in order to
answer queries about spatial entities in the database” (Smith et.al.
1987)
“ any manual or computer based set of procedures used to store
and manipulate geographically reference data” (Aronoff 1989).
3. Organization-based definitions
“ an automated set of functions that provide professionals with
advanced capabilities for storage, retrieval, manipulation and
display of geographically located data” (Ozemoy, Smirth, and
Sicherman 1981)
“ An institutional entity, reflecting an organisationalstructure that
integrates technology with a database, expertise and continuing
financial support over time. “ (Carter 1989)
“a decision support system involving the integration of spatially
referenced in a problem-solving environment (Cowen 1988)
Components of a GIS
Hardware and Network
Software
Data
People
Procedures/Methods
Components of a GIS (2)
1. Hardware and Network
Hardware is the computer on which a GIS operates.
It is the device that the user interacts with directly in carrying out GIS operations,
by typing, pointing, clicking, or speaking, and which returns information by
displaying it on the devices screen or generating meaningful sounds.
• an office desktop, laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs), in-vehicle devices, and even
cellular (mobile) phones.
Today, GIS software runs on a wide range of hardware types, from centralized
computer servers to desktop computers used in stand-alone or networked
configurations.
Other peripheral devices that are used in the input and output of the GIS query
results include scanners, digitizers, for input, and plotters and printers for the
output.
Network:
Additional and probably the most fundamental component of the GIS, without
which no rapid communication or sharing of digital information could occur.
GIS today relies heavily on the Internet and on the intranets of corporations,
agencies, and the military in delivering applications.
Users can access GIS, without the software installed in their computers, from
remote servers. Distributed users, through the network, can access a centralized
GIS.
The network component has enable many people to utilize GIS capabilities even
without the knowledge that they are using GIS services in their problem solutions.
Components of a GIS (3)
2. Software

GIS software provides the functions and tools needed to

store, analyze, and display geographic information. Key
software components are:
Tools for the input and manipulation of geographic information
A database management system (DBMS)
Tools that support geographic query, analysis, and visualization
A graphical user interface (GUI) for easy access to tools
The software can be as simple as a standard Web browser
(e.g. Microsoft Explorer, Netscape or Mozilla Firefox) if all
processing is done remotely on services offered on large
servers, to stand-alone software running on the individual’s
desktop computer.
GIS software available include simple to complex packages
available from GIS Vendors, to free customizable ones that
are freely available in the Internet. A spectrum of products
that may be described as GIS software includes (among
others):
Components of a GIS(4)
1. Highly specialized, sector specific packages: for example
civil engineering design and costing systems; satellite
image processing systems; and utility infrastructure
management systems
2. Transportation and logistics management systems
3. Civil and military control room systems
4. Land registration systems
5. Census data management systems.
The list of software functions and applications is long
and in many instances suppliers would not describe
their offerings as GIS.
Some example of available software are ArcView 8/9
and Arc/Info 8/9 from Environmental Research Institute
(ESRI), Geomedia from Intergraph, MapInfo from
MapInfo among many others.
Components of a GIS (5)
3. Data
 Possibly the most important component of a GIS
Geographic data and related tabular data can be collected
in-house or purchased from a commercial data provider.
A GIS will integrate spatial data with other data resources
and can even use a DBMS, used by most organizations to
organize and maintain their data, to manage spatial data.
Data present in a GIS includes:
Geometry data: Points, Lines, polygons (areas) and raster cell.
Attributive data: information about the geometry data
Multimedia data: some GISs support other formats of data
such as audio, video, sequences of picture, time.
Components of a GIS (6)
4. People (Users)

GIS technology is of limited value without the people

who manage the system and develop plans for
applying it to real-world problems.
Users range from technical specialists, who design
and maintain the system, to those who use it to help
them perform their everyday work.
GIS is useless without the people who design,
program, and maintain it, supply it with data, and
interpret its results.
Components of a GIS (7)
4. Methods/Procedures
A successful GIS operates according to a well-
designed plan and business rules, which are the
models and operating practices unique to each
organization.
An organization must establish procedures, lines of
reporting, control points, and other mechanisms for
ensuring that its
GIS activities should stay within budgets, maintain high
quality, and generally meet the needs of the
organization.
Classification of GIS
(software)
Different classification schemes of commercial GIS are
proposed in literature.
It is convenient to classify the main GIS software
packages into six groups, based on their functionality
and type:
Professional,
Desktop,
Hand-held,
Component,
Viewer, and
Internet.
Three other types of GIS software systems are: CAD-
based, raster-based, and GIS application servers.
1. Professional GIS
Refers to fully featured software that has the
capabilities of collection and editing GIS data, database
administration, advanced geoprocessing and analysis,
and other specialist tools.
Examples of professional GIS include ESRI ArcInfo and
Smallworld GIS . Prices for professional GIS are typically
in the range of US$8000-US$20,000 per user (have
discount for multiple users)
2. Desktop GIS
This category is based on the desktop computer, with
the focus on data use rather than data creation.
Have excellent tools for making maps, reports, and
charts.
Most of the desktop GIS software have all adopted the
Microsoft standards for interoperability and user
interface.
Examples include Autodesk World, ESRI ArcView,
Intergraph Geomedia, and MapInfo Professional,
Quantum GIS
Desk top GIS software prices range from $1000-$2000.
3. Hand-held GIS
Have capabilities similar to hand held computers,
supporting many display, query, and simple analytical
applications, even on displays of 320 X 240 pixels.
Costs are around $500.

4. Component GIS
These are basically tool kits of GIS functions (components) that
a reasonably knowledgeable programmer can use to build a full
GIS software system.
These type of components can be used to create highly
customised and optimized applications that can either be
stand-alone or can be embedded within other software
systems.
Examples include ESRI MapObjects, MapInfo MapX, and Blue
Mable Geographics GeoObjects.
5. Viewer GIS
Free GIS software that are able to display and query
popular file formats. The GIS viewers have limited
functional capabilities, restricted to display query and
simple mapping.
They do not support editing sophisticated analysis,
modelling or customization.
Examples include ESRI’s ArcExplorer, Intergraph’s
GeoMedia Viewer and Mapinfo’s ProViewer.
The rationale of the viewers is to establish market
share, and specific vendor terminology and data formats
as de facto standards.
6. Internet GIS
These products harness the unique characteristics of
the WWW by integrating GIS technology with Web
browsers and servers, and uses the hypertext
transmission protocol (http) for communication.
Examples include Autodesk MapGuide, ESRI ArcIMS,
Intergraph GeoMedia Web Map and MapInfo MapXtreme.
6. Other types of GIS
Raster-based GIS: Focus primarily on raster data and
raster analysis. Examples are IDRISI, and ERDAS
Imagine. Raster based GIS have been improved to
include vector capabilities.
CAD-based GIS: These are systems that have
developed from computer-aided design (CAD) packages,
and then had GIS capabilities added. Examples are
Autodesk Map, and ESRI ArcCad

Examples of Software (Next Slide)

Product Company URL Supported Description
data
Arc/Info 8.0 ESRI http://www.esri.com vector, raster universal, professional GIS
ArcView 3.2 ESRI http://www.esri.com vector, raster easy-to-use desktop GIS
Atlas GIS ESRI http://www.esri.com vector, raster desktop GIS
AutoCAD Map Autodesk http://www.autodesk.com vector, raster AutoCad application, CAD GIS
Autodesk World Autodesk http://www.autodesk.com vector, raster Client-Server GIS,
desktop

EASI/PACE CGI Systems http://www.pcigeomatics vector, raster remote sensing, photogrammetry spatial
OrthoEngine, analysis, cartography
SPANS
ERDAS IMAGINE Erdas http://www.erdas.com vector, raster remote sensing, photogrammetry software
GeoGPG IBM http://giswww.pok.ibm.com vector, raster network, utility management
GeoMedia Intergraph http://www.intergraph.com/gis vector, raster easy-to-use desktop GIS
IDRISI Idrisi http://claeklabs.orrg vector, raster photogrammetry, developed at the Clark
University, Massachusetts
INFOCAM Leica Geosystems Vector, raster photogrammetry

MapInfo MapInfo http://mapinfo.com vector, raster easy-to-use desktop GIS

MicroStation Bentley Systems http://www.bentley.com vector, raster CAD-GIS, network
GeoGraphi
cs
SICAD/open SICAD Geomatics, http://www.sicad.com vector, raster universal, professional GIS
Munich
SICAD/SD 98 SICAD Geomatics, http://www.sicad.com vector, raster desktop GIS, retrieval and presentation
Munich

Smallworld GIS Smallworld Systems http://www.smallworld.com vector, raster universal, professional GIS
star next star informatic http://www.star.be vector, raster desktop GIS
 References

• Geographic Information Systems. A management

perspective. Stan Aronoff
• Geographic Information Systems – principles and
applications. David Maguire, Michael Goodchild