1.1 Why are we more interested in spatial data today than 100 years ago?

Spatial Data: Spatial data are data that have a spatial component, it means that
data are connected to a place in the Earth. No matter what your interests are or
what field you work in, spatial data is always being considered whether you know
it or not. Spatial data, also known as geospatial data, is a term used to describe any
data related to or containing information about a specific location on the Earth’s
surface.
Over the past quarter century, information in the form of digital data has become
the foundation on which governments, industries, and organizations base many of
their decisions. In our modern world, there exists a deluge of data that grows
exponentially each day. Companies and institutions have come to the awareness
that not only must they have access to the right data at the right time, but they must
also have access to analysis of the raw data to make correct decisions. The proper
collection, analysis, and usability of timely and relevant data can mean the
difference between success and failure. Hence the constant search for new data
sources, tools, solutions, and experts. Hence the persistent quest for new ways to
use data, find relationships in data, and discover patterns in data. As we reflect on
the uses of geospatial data, one of the most significant growth areas in the broader
world of data is the area of data visualization. Whether rendering information in
two or three dimensions, geospatial data is the key to visualizing data, which is
why it has become one of the most sought after forms of data. Geospatial data was
traditionally confined to use by the military, intelligence agencies, maritime or
aeronautical organizations, etc. Today, the use of geospatial information has
expanded into almost every market and institution around the globe, with the
discovery that it can provide new levels of insight and information. Geospatial data
has become an integral element in how companies and organizations conduct
business throughout the world.

1.2 You have probably collected, analyzed or communicated spatial data in

one way or another during the past month. Describe each of these steps
for a specific application you have used or observed.
Ans : Spatial data is used all over the world in our regular life. It plays an
important role in our everyday tasks but we hardly realize this. If we analyze my
activity over the past month we can find some examples of spatial data being used
in regular life.
I have used Google maps a few times last month to navigate my destination.
Google map uses spatial data in order to navigate to the correct location. GIS can
be used to provide a visual interpretation of data. Google Maps is an excellent
example of a web-based GIS mapping solution that people use for everyday
navigation purposes which uses spatial data.
Another common example of using the spatial data is the use of telecommunication
system. We use it daily to communicate to a distant location over our mobile
phone. Unlike everybody else I have also used it almost every day in the past
month. Telecommunications networks are expansive and create large quantities of
geographically dispersed asset data. GIS provides the ideal tool for managing that
data. GIS mapping enables telecom providers to enhance network planning,
deployment, maintenance, operations, and even sales and marketing.
This is how I used spatial data over the last month. So we can say that we all use
spatial data everyday whether we know it or not.

1.3 How was GIS software other than most other software?
Ans: In any general purpose computer we use normal hardware.But in terms of
GIS we need to have a fast computer large than storage capacity and a high quality
large display.Afast computer is required because spatial analysis are often applied
over large areas and a high spatial resolution.
There are also specialized hardware component that a specifically designed for use
with spatial data.GIS require large volumes of data that must be entered to define
the shape and location of geographic features such as roads rivers and parcels
.Specialized equipment has been developed to aid in these data entry tasks.

1.4 Describe the ways in which GIS software are different from other
computer software?
Ans: GIS software differ in many ways from the software provides the tools to
manage ,analyse and effectively display and disseminate spatial information .GIS
involves the collection and manupulation of coordinates .We also need to collect
qualitaitve or quantative on the non spatial atributes of geographic features.WE
need tools to view ,edit,manipulate these data to generate and extract the
information we require.GIS softwares provide the specific tools for some or all of
these tasks.
Functions commonly provided by GIS software like data entry,editing,data
management analysis and output.

1.5 What are the limitations of using GIS? Under what conditions
might the technology hinder problem solving, rather than help?
It is important to note at an early stage that there are also serious limitations to
GIS. This may sometime hinder the ability to solve the problem. There are few
reasons of doing so. These fall into four main classes
1 Problems to do with the GIS data model: Spatial data consist of one of
four types of graphic primitive, namely: points; lines; polygons, or pixels.
Where the data have precisely defined locations that realistically represent
the features to be modeled. Other data cannot be adequately represented
spatially in this manner.
2 Problems to do with the data themselves: The data themselves can also
cause problems. Much historical data will be taken from historical maps
which may not be accurate, and the representation of features from these
maps in the GIS at best will only be as accurate as the original source. In
reality they are likely to be worse, as new errors are added when the data are
captured.
3 Problems with the academic paradigm: The academic origins of GIS
were located within technological advances in the earth sciences. Its role in
academic geography has yet to be fully established, and history trails some
way behind this.
4 Practical problem: The final set of limitations on GIS is practical. GIS
software is expensive and may be difficult to use. GIS hardware has fallen in
price over recent years but can still be expensive, and GIS data are often
financially expensive to buy and capturing them yourself is costly in time as
well as money.

1.6. Are paper maps and paper data sheets a GIS?Why or why not?
Ans: There is no clear distinction between paper maps or paper sheets and
GIS .However here is a real scientific difference between GIS and paper
maps .We can consider this-if paper maps are the picture we see of a
region,GIS is the data that makes up that picture. The details on that picture
are provided by GIS.
From the definition GIS is a term connected to computers.GIS can do many
things that paper maps/sheets can not do such as automatically connect map
features to database of information about the features and they can do things
that do not require the use of a map .
So we can say that paper maps and sheets are a small ,conceptual model of
GIS.