GEO INFORMATICS

Geographic Information System GIS

 GIS
(Geographic Information System)

2
WHAT
3 IS GIS
GEOGRAPHIC
4 INFORMATION
SYSTEMS (GIS)
➢ GIS is a computer based
information system used to digitally
represent and analyze geospatial
data.

➢ Spatial data: Data which can be

represented using geographical
coordinate system (latitude and
longitude)
DEFINATION
5 OF GIS

➢ A geographic information system (GIS) is a

computer-based system for the storage, retrieval,
manipulation, analysis, and display of geographic
data.
➢ Computer-based system refers to the hardware, software,
and procedures necessary to operate the GIS.
➢ Geographic data are data which vary over geographical
area.
➢ Storage, retrieval, manipulation, analysis, and display are
the “tools” provided by GIS software for processing
geographic data.
GIS
6 IN GENERAL
➢ It is a system of hardware, software and procedures
which enable management, manipulation, analysis,
modeling, representation and display of geo-referenced
data to solve complex problems regarding planning and
management of resources, mapping of
➢ Roads network
➢ Settlements
➢ Water bodies
➢ Hospitals
➢ Railway
➢ Airport
➢ Soil type
COMPONENTS
7 OF A GIS

➢ A working GIS integrates these five key components:

1. Hardware
2. Software
3. Data
4. People
5. Methods.
COMPONENTS
8 OF A GIS

➢ Hardware: The computer on which

a GIS software operates. Today,
GIS runs on a wide range of
hardware types, from centralized
computer servers to desktop
computers.
➢ Software: GIS software provides
the functions and tools needed to
store, analyze, and digitize, and
display geographic information..
COMPONENTS
9 OF A GIS
➢ Data: The most important component of a GIS is the data.
Geographic data and related tabular data can be collected from the
field or bought from a commercial data provider. Most GIS employ a
DBMS to create and maintain a database to help organize and
manage data.

➢ People: GIS technology is only of limited value without the

people who manage the system and to develop plans for applying
it. GIS users range from technical specialists who design and
maintain the system, to those who use it to help them do their
everyday work.

➢ Methods: A successful GIS operates according to a well-

designed plan and business rules, which are the models and
operating practices unique to each organization.
WHAT
10 IS GIS
➢ Geography is information about
the earth’s surface and the
objects found on it. People,
trees, buildings, roads,
shorelines… as well as a
system for organizing
knowledge.
➢ GIS helps manage, analyze,
and distribute geographic
knowledge.
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WHAT
12 IS GIS
➢ A Framework for Understanding and Managing Our Earth
Geographic Knowledge
Creating
Measuring
Organizing Holistic
Analyzing
Modeling
Comprehensive
Systematic
Analytic
Applying Visual
Planning
Managing
Acting
WHAT
13 IS GIS
➢ A GIS at least consists of a database,
map information, and a computer-based
link between them
Qualities
14 of GIS
➢ 1: A GIS is a Toolbox
A powerful set of tools for storing and retrieving,
transforming and displaying spatial data from the real
world for a particular set of purposes
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Qualities
16 of GIS
➢ 2: A GIS is an Information System
➢ A special case of information system where the
database consists of observations on spatially
distributed features, activities or events, which are
definable in space as points, lines or areas (i.e.
feature model)
➢ GIS manipulates data about these points, lines, and
areas to retrieve data for queries and analyses
The
17 Feature Model

➢ Divides a mapped landscape into features, that can be

points, lines, or areas.
➢ Using a GIS involves capturing the spatial distribution of
features by measurements of the world or of maps.
➢ Almost all human activity and natural phenomena are
spatially distributed, and so can be studied in GIS.
➢ A GIS uses map features to manage data.
Features
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Point Line Area

River

Tree
Lake

Tree River Lake

Electricity Pole Road Field
Telephone Pole Telephone Wire Province
Qualities
19 of GIS
➢ 3: A GIS is an Approach to Science
➢ Understanding the potential capabilities of GIS
➢ Research on GIS and with GIS
➢ “Geographic Information Science”
So,
20 what is a GIS?

➢ A GIS uses geographically referenced data as well as

non-spatial data and includes operations which support
spatial analysis

➢ GIS is a type of information system applied to

geographical data

GIS gives us the power to do things that were simply

impossible before.
Advantages
21 of GIS
1. The power to understand complex relationships.
2. The power to
plan for tomorrow,
based on an
accurate picture
of today.

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3.
23The power to present data in a
clear, compelling way.
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4. The power to make informed
decisions.
5.
25The power to save time, money
and even lives.
GIS
26 in the Planning Process

Data Collection
Take Action

Real World

Data Sources

Users Input of Data

Data Management

Analysis

Information for
Decision Making

Data Retrieval
Capabilities
27 of GIS
➢ Data Input
▪ Converts existing data into GIS format
▪ Common sources of data include paper maps, tables of
attributes, aerial photos, GPS, and satellite imageries
➢ Data Management
▪ Functions to store & retrieve data from the database
▪ Representation of geographic information (geo-
information) into suitable format for efficient processing
➢ Data Manipulation and Analysis
▪ Components that are capable for data exploration and
analysis
➢ Data Output
▪ Presentation of outputs by maps and visualization tools
(e.g. 3-D, animation)
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GIS are characterized by the link between spatial and

tabular data and unique visualizations so that decision
makers can see patterns of the past and have vision
beyond the present.
Main
29 components of GIS

Procedures

Hardware Software

People Data
Main
30 components of GIS

 HARDWARE
(PCs, Printers, Plotters, Scanners,
Digitizing Tablets, Networks,
Storage Devices etc.)
 SOFTWARE
(MapInfo, AutoCAD Map, Arcview,
ArcGIS, IDRISI etc.)
 PEOPLE
(Specialists, Developers, Analysts,
Users, Viewers)
• DATA
(spatial, aspatial; temporal, maps,
images, reports, survey points etc.)
• APPLICATIONS
(methods, procedures, customized
interfaces, GUI, etc.)
What
31 can a GIS do?
The questions that a GIS is required to answer are mainly:
 What is at......?
(Locational question ; what exists at a particular location)

 Where is it.....?
(Conditional question ; which locations satisfy certain conditions)

 How has it changed........?

(Trendy question ; identifies geographic occurrence or trends that have
changed or in the process of changing)

 Which data are related ........?

(Relational question : analyzes the spatial relationship between objects
of geographic features)

 What if.......?
(Model based question ; computers and displays an optimum path, a
suitable land, risky area against disasters etc. based on model)
Applications of GIS
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Applications of GIS
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Applications of GIS
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ANALOG
35
MAP VS. DIGITAL MAP
ANALOG
36 MAP VS. DIGITAL MAP
➢ An analog map is a printed drawing on a piece of
paper or a scanned image of a map. It is static.
➢ A digital map is a data set stored in a computer in
digital form (not as a picture.) It is not static, and the
flexibility of digital maps is vastly greater than paper
maps. Inherent in this concept is the point that data
on which the map is based is available to examine or
question.
➢ Analysis capabilities are much greater with digital
maps, and reporting outputs are available in more
formats, and faster.
WHY
37 GIS ?
➢ Maps are an essential decision tools today
➢ Digitization demands digitals maps
➢ Digital maps req GIS
➢ A Digital map without GIS is like a map without a
paper
➢ Imagery needs to be integrated
WHAT
38 IS NOT GIS?
➢ GPS Global Positioning System
➢ A Static Map – Paper or Digital
▪ Map are often a product of GIS
▪ A way to visualize the analysis
➢ A Software Package
Thank you

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