Overview and

Introduction Of GIS
BY Nida Samad
Contents

• What is Geographical Information System?

• Components of GIS
• Functional Subsystems of GIS
What is Geographical
Information System?
Information System
A system that collects, store, maintains,
processes data and provides information to
people. Examples Management Information
systems, Land Information Systems etc
Geographical Information
System

It is a system of hardware and software used

for collecting, storing, retrieving, analyzing
and displaying geographic data or Spatial
data.
GIS Data Types
• Spatial Data
Describes the absolute location and relative
location of the geographic features
• Attribute Data
Describes the characteristics of geographic
features.
Components of GIS
• Hardware
• Software
• People
• Data
• Methods
Functional Subsystems of
GIS
GIS has four main functional subsystems

1. Data Input Subsystem

2. Data Storage and Retrieval Subsystem
3. Data Manipulation and Analysis Subsystem
4. Output Display subsystem
Data Input Subsystem
 Functions Data Inputs

• Data Capture • Hard copy Maps

• Ariel Photographs
• Data Collection • Remotely Sensed
Images
• Data Transformation • Reports
• Survey Documents etc
Data Storage and Retrieval Subsystem
Functions Storage
• Spatial and Attribute • DBMS
Data Storage

• Quick Retrieval and • File Format

Analysis

• Rapid and Accurate

updates
File Formats

A file format is a particular way that

information is stored in a computer.
Examples

• JPEG stores static images.

• GIF stores animated images.
Data Manipulation and Analysis
Functions
• Execution of Spatial Data and attribute
data procedures

• Generation of Desired Information

Output and Display Subsystem
Functions

• Generation of Graphic Display

• Representing Desired Information

 Assignment No. 1
Define the following
• GIS
• Spatial Data
• Attribute Data
• Data Formats
• GIS Software
Last Date of Submission 16th Sep 2009