RGS 103: Intro to Geographic Information Systems

• Fundamentals of GIS is the subject matter
• The course code is RGS 103
• Areeba Binte Imran is the instructor
• The course is taught in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences at Bahria University Karachi Campus

Presentation Outline

• The course will cover course breakdown, recommended books and software, what geographic information is as well as GIS systems,
• It will also cover GI science and studies and defining GIS
• The course will cover how GIS differs from related systems and why studying GIS is important

Lesson Objectives

• To familiarize students with the course outlay
• To help students understand what geographic formation is
• To help students understand the basics of GIS
• To help students understand the incorporation of GIS in the real world

Course Breakdown

• Assignments + End Semester Project account for 20 marks
• Quizzes account for 15 marks
• The Mid-term exam accounts for 25 marks and lasts 1.5 hours
• The Final accounts for 40 marks and lasts 2 hours
• Labs account for 100 marks

Recommended Book

• The recommended book is "Introduction to Geographical Information Systems" Higher Education, McGraw-Hill by Chang, K. T. (2010)

Software & Training

• ArcGIS is recommended too

Geographic Information

• Geographic information often displays relatively static characteristics
• Natural features and many features of human origin don't change rapidly
• Only static information can be portrayed on a static paper map

Geographic Information Technologies

• Geographic information technologies deal with collecting geographic information
• There are three main types of these technologies
• Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Remote Sensing (RS)
• Geographic Information System (GIS)

Global Positioning System (GPS)

• It is a system of Earth-orbiting satellites that transmit precisely timed signals
• A similar system is deployed by the Russian Federation called GLONASS(global navigation satellite system)
• Signals are received by special electronic devices like hand-helds
• GPS provides direct measurement of position on the Earth's surface
• Location is expressed in latitude/longitude

Remote Sensing (RS)

• Uses Earth orbiting satellites to capture details
• Satellites vary depending on the level of detail that can be seen and what parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are sensed
• Various signals are transmitted to earth transmitting stations where they are transformed for dissemination

GIS Software

• ArcGIS Pro
• Last GIS Software developed by ESRI
• Interoperability with ESRI tools
• Requires license
• Difficult to handle
• ArcMap
• GIS Software developed by ESRI
• Interoperability with ESRI tools
• Requires license
• Difficult to handle
• QGIS
• Open-source GIS Software usable on every OS
• Open source/Free
• Strong community
• Difficult to handle
• Google Earth
• Software developed by Google allowing to visualize the globe with satellite imagery
• Basic functionality
• Easy to handle
• Proprietary but Free

GI System, Science, Studies

• System for acquisition and management of spatial information
• Science comprehends the underlying conceptual issues of representing data and processes in space-time, including the theory and concepts behind the technology
• Studies involves understanding the social, legal and ethical issues associated with the application of Gl System and GI Science, i.e the legal context, issues of privacy and confidentiality, and the economics of IT

Defining GIS

• A common ground between information processing and the many fields using spatial analysis techniques (Tomlinson, 1972)
• A powerful set of tools for collecting, storing retrieving, transforming, and displaying spatial data from the real world (Burroughs, 1986)
• A computerized database management system for the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis and display of spatial (locationally defined) data (NCGIA, 1987)
• A decision support system involving the integration of spatially referenced data in a problem-solving environment
• A system of integrated computer-based tools for processing (capture, storage, retrieval, analysis, display) of data using location on the earth's surface for interrelation in support of operations management, decision making and science
• Encompasses processing of data
• Capture, storage, retrieval, analysis/modification, display
• Uses explicit location on earth's surface to relate data
• Aimed at decision support, as well as on-going
• Operations and scientific inquiry

How GIS Differs From Related Systems

• DBMS-typical MIS data base does not contain locational information
• Automated mapping (am) is primarily two-dimensional display device
• Thematic mapping is unable to relate different geographical layers (e.g zip codes and counties)
• Computer aided designs/drafting (CAD) is primarily 3-D graphic creation (engineering design) & display systems

Why Study GIS

• 80% of local government activities are estimated to be geographically based
• Plots, zoning, public works (streets, water supply, sewers), garbage collection, land ownership and valuation, public safety (fire and police) are geographically based
• A significant portion of state government has a geographical component
• Natural resource management
• Highways and transportation
• Businesses use GIS for a very wide array of applications
• Retail site selection & customer analysis
• Logistics: vehicle tracking & routing
• Natural resource exploration (petroleum, etc.)
• Precision agriculture
• Civil engineering and construction
• Military and defense purposes
• Battlefield management
• Satellite imagery interpretation
• Scientific research employs GIS
• Geography, geology, botany
• Anthropology, sociology, economics, political science
• Epidemiology, criminology

Examples of Applied GIS

• Urban Planning, Management & Policy includes:
• Zoning, subdivision planning
• Land acquisition
• Economic development
• Code enforcement
• Housing renovation programs
• Emergency response
• Crime analysis
• Tax assessment
• Environmental Science includes:
• Monitoring environmental risk
• Modeling stormwater runoff
• Management of watersheds, floodplains, wetlands, forests, aquifers
• Environmental Impact Analysis
• Hazardous or toxic facility siting
• Groundwater modeling and contamination tracking
• Political Science includes:
• Redistricting
• Analysis of election results
• Predictive modelling
• Civil Engineering/Utility includes:
• Locating underground facilities
• Designing alignment for freeways and transit
• Coordination of infrastructure maintenance
• Business includes:
• Demographic Analysis
• Market Penetration/ Share Analysis
• Site Selection
• Real Estate includes:
• Neighbourhood land prices
• Traffic Impact Analysis
• Determination of Highest and Best Use
• Healthcare includes:
• Epidemiology
• Agriculture

What GIS Applications Do

• Make possible the automation of activities involving geographic data
• Map production
• Calculation of areas, distances, route lengths
• Measurement of slope, aspect, viewshed
• Logistics: route planning, vehicle tracking, traffic management
• Allow for the integration of data (e.g property maps and air photos)
• Derive complex spatial patterns (e.g environmental sensitivity)
• Provide answers to spatial queries
• Perform complex spatial modelling (what if scenarios for transportation planning, disaster planning, resource management, utility design)