ADVANCED DATABASES:CCS418/CCT424

GROUP (13) MEMBERS:

TMC/00058/020 NYANGI EVYYONE
TMC/00050/020 PRISCA KENDI
CCT/00020/020 SUSAN MUGURE
CCT/00073/019 KIMEMIA BRIAN
TMC/00313/019 JOHN MWANGI
TMC/00142/019 PETER GATHIRU

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM(INTRODUCTION)

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system that analyses and

displays geographically referenced information, it mainly focused on data that is
attached to a unique location. Most of the information we have about the world
contains a location reference where the stream gages is located, However with
the increase in the technology which has enabled GIS has the best aspect of
economic and social application to many industries, GIS can be applied in the
field of business, GIS are increasingly being used in business because they are
powerful tools that can be used to unleash the wealth of information that is
locked up in the data that describes location (e.g., addresses, zip codes, counties,
latitude and longitude), In scientific areas such as health, where Health
researchers classically use GIS for processing, analyzing, and visualizing spatial
data about diseases, computer vision where computer vision operators focus on
the extraction process of highly accurate data, presenting spatial data inventory,
introducing numerous analytical procedures, and developing advanced and
sophisticated technical systems which are mainly applied in computational
geometry, remote sensing, robotics, or architecture, Today, because of health
quality awareness, the need to rapidly diagnose and evaluate public health
problems become an urgent issues. In this regard, GIS with strong analytical
performance would play a decisive role in health data collection and analysis.
 Thus, helping to evaluate the prevalence of common diseases and outline the
significant impacts of diseases on the quality of life. By collecting information,
GIS manages the epidemiological data, describing the severity of disease, and
assess the prevalence in different geographical region. GIS can play major roles
in many aspects with which many can be applied in day to day activities when
based on the field to be applied to.

Advanced database systems play a crucial role in managing data for Geographic
Information Systems (GIS). Here's how:

Structured Management:
Relational Databases: These systems like PostgreSQL with PostGIS
extension provide a structured framework for storing both spatial (locations)
and non-spatial (descriptive attributes) data. This allows for efficient
organization, retrieval, and analysis.

Enhanced Capabilities:
 Large Datasets: Advanced databases can handle the massive volumes of
data typically encountered in GIS applications. They efficiently store and
manage complex geospatial information.
 Multi-User Access: These systems facilitate concurrent access for multiple
users, ensuring data integrity and consistency while enabling collaboration and
real-time updates.
 Data Security: Advanced database systems offer robust security features to
protect sensitive geospatial data, controlling access and preventing unauthorized
modifications.

Spatial Functionality:

 Spatial Queries: Advanced databases support complex spatial queries.

Users can not only search for specific locations but also perform
operations based on proximity, network analysis, and other spatial
relationships.
 Spatial Indexing: Spatial databases employ indexing techniques
specifically designed for geospatial data. This optimizes performance for
queries involving location and allows for faster retrieval of relevant data,
especially in large datasets.
 Integration with GIS:

 GIS Software: Many advanced database systems integrate seamlessly with GIS
software like ArcGIS. This enables users to leverage the database's strengths for
data storage and management while utilizing the GIS software's functionalities
for visualization, analysis, and creating maps.

Additional Considerations:
 Special Requirements: While relational databases offer significant advantages, they
might not fully address all the needs of GIS data. Specialized spatial databases cater
explicitly to geospatial data, offering advanced functionalities like spatial data types
and optimized query processing for complex spatial operations.

Overall, advanced database systems provide a powerful foundation for managing GIS data
effectively. Their structured approach, robust capabilities, and integration with GIS software
empower users to efficiently store, analyse, and utilize geospatial information for informed
decision-making.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) involve a wide range of data

operations for managing, analyzing, and visualizing spatial data. Here
are some detailed notes on specific GIS data operations.

 Data Acquisition:
 GIS data can be obtained from various sources such as satellites, aerial
imagery, surveys, GPS devices, government agencies, and online
repositories.
 Data acquisition involves collecting raw data in various formats like
raster (imagery) or vector (points, lines, polygons).
 Data Conversion:
 Often, GIS data needs to be converted from one format to another for
compatibility or analysis purposes. For example, converting from
shapefile format to GeoJSON or from raster to vector.
 Data Integration:
 GIS involves integrating data from multiple sources to create a
comprehensive dataset. This could include merging datasets with
different spatial resolutions or combining vector and raster data.
 Data Editing:
 GIS allows users to edit spatial data. This includes tasks such as adding or
deleting features, modifying attributes, or digitizing features from
scanned maps or images.
 Georeferencing:
 Georeferencing involves aligning non-spatial data (e.g., scanned maps or
images) with spatial coordinates so they can be used in GIS. This process
involves identifying reference points on the image and assigning real-
world coordinates to them.
 Spatial Analysis:
 GIS facilitates various spatial analyses such as overlay analysis,
proximity analysis, spatial statistics, and network analysis. These
analyses help in understanding spatial patterns, relationships, and trends
within the data.
 Geoprocessing:
 Geoprocessing involves operations such as buffer creation, spatial joins,
clip, merge, dissolve, and other spatial operations that modify or analyze
spatial data.
 Data Visualization:
 GIS provides tools for visualizing spatial data through maps, charts, and
graphs. Visualization aids in interpreting spatial patterns and
communicating information effectively.
 Spatial Querying:
 GIS enables users to query spatial data based on location or attribute
criteria. Spatial queries help in extracting specific information from large
datasets.
 Metadata Management:
 Metadata provides essential information about GIS datasets such as the
source, projection, accuracy, and content. Managing metadata ensures
data integrity and facilitates data discovery and sharing.
 Remote Sensing:
 Remote sensing techniques, including image classification, change
detection, and vegetation indices, are commonly used in GIS for
analyzing and monitoring changes in the Earth's surface over time.
 Modeling and Simulation:
 GIS supports modeling and simulation of real-world processes, such as
flood modeling, urban growth prediction, or habitat suitability analysis,
by integrating spatial data with analytical models.
 Data Sharing and Collaboration:
 GIS platforms enable users to share and collaborate on spatial data and
analysis results. This includes sharing data through web services, online
mapping platforms, or collaborative GIS projects.
 Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC):
 GIS involves QA/QC processes to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and
reliability of spatial data. This includes error detection, validation, and
data cleansing procedures.
 Decision Support Systems:
 GIS provides decision support systems for planning, resource
management, emergency response, environmental monitoring, and other
applications by integrating spatial data with decision-making tools.