Chapter six

Geographical
information
systems (GIS)

6.1 Introduction sive sense, GIS may mean identifying data needs,
acquiring data, data management, processing and
Geographical information system, also called
analysis of data and decision-making. In normal
geobased information system (GIS), is a relatively
usage, however, GIS means spatial data process-
new technology. It is a very powerful tool for pro-
ing, integration and analysis. GIS has become a
cessing, analysing and integrating spatial data sets
standard, indispensable, tool for handling spatial
(Aronoff, 1989; Star and Estes, 1990; Maguire et
information for the exploration, development and
al., 1991; Attenucci et al., 1991; Heywood et al.,
management of the Earth's resources.
1997). A GIS deals with information on locational
patterns of features and their attributes (charac-
teristics). It can be considered as a higher-order
6.1.1 Why GIS for groundwater studies?
computer-coded map which permits storage, selec-
tive dedicated manipulation, display and output For handling groundwater data, the GIS tech-
of spatial information. Figure 6.1 explains the nology is aptly suited, for the following main
working concept of a GIS; in a very comprehen- reasons.

Topography

Landform

Lithology

Piezometric
Processing and
analysis
Isobath

Geochemical

Landuse
FIGURE 6.1 The concept of
Others data integration in a GIS.

105
B. B. S. Singhal et al., Applied Hydrogeology of Fractured Rocks
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 1999
Geographical information system (GIS)

Concurrent handling of locational and Variety of data

attribute data
In groundwater studies, one has to dea l with
information comprising locational data (where
is it?) and at tr ibute data (what is it?). GIS pack-
ages have the unique capability of handling
locational and attribute dat a; such capability is
no t avai lable in other groups of pac kages
(Figure 6.2).
Gro undwater investiga tio ns ofte n comprise
diverse forms and types of data, such as the fol-
lowing: (a) topographie contour maps, (b) land -
form maps, (c) lithological maps , (d) structural
geological maps, (e) isobath maps (contour
maps of equal dept h of water-table), (f) isogram
(isocone) maps depicting gro undwater charac-
teristics by contours of equal concentration of

DATA LAVERS
IN MAP FORM
--I RDBMS-BASED
GIS
I-- ATTRIBUTE
TABLES

Topog raphy map Topograph ie attribute t a b le

10 Elevation Area ----

1 - - -
2 - - -
3 - - -

La ndform map La ndform at t r ibute t abl e

10 Typ e Suita bility ----

1 - - -
2 - - -
3 - - -

Lithol ogy map Lith ol o g y a ttr ib u te tab le

10 Name Permeobili ty - - - -
1 - - -
2 - - -
3 - - -

Groundwater TOS map Groundwat er TOS attribute tab le

FIGURE 6 .2 Schematic repre sent ation of GIS-working. The GIS maintains a link betw een th e map feature
and the corresponding tabular information .

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