An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the Social Sciences

Jake Crawford Intern, Geospatial Centroid Colorado State University

Have you ever used

GoogleMaps or MapQuest

Google Earth
Topographic map (24k) Street Map GPS Personal Navigation Device Geocaching websites

What is GIS?
Geographic Information Science? Geographic Information Systems? A common technical definition, A GIS is an integrated

collection of computer software and data used to view and manage information about geograhic places, analyze spatial relationships, and model spatial processes (Wade and Sommer, 2006).
A system that allows a user to work with information

that is referenced to the surface of the Earth (Graham, 2010).

Where are we going? What is it like there? Why do I

care?

What is GIS?
A GIS contains at least these features:
A Computer A Software Application (ArcGIS) Some Spatial Data A User

Application

Together, these elements perform some

geospatial function.

What can GIS do?

From simple To complex analyses:
Determine the cost of

functions:
Make a map Find directions to a

known location Map population distribution

road or trail development Predict the extent of an invasive species Develop a plan for emergency service responses

What cant GIS do?

Guess the directions you want to take Be 100% up to date

Be 100% accurate

What really is GIS?

The three characteristics of GIS are: Georeferenced

features, containing attributes, and organized as layers.

Georeferenced: Geographic features of interest are spatially

aligned using a known coordinate system.

Attributes: Because each feature has a known location in

space, attributes (non-spatial information) can be linked to a feature to be retrieved.

Layers: The geographic features can be organized into

layers according to some theme (e.g. roads, land use, hydrology, etc.) and then vertically integrated or stacked on top of one another.
(Theobold, 2009).

What types of data is used for GIS?

Vector
Points Cities, Trees, People Polylines Streets, Rivers, Trails

Polygons States, Buildings, Parcels

Raster
Grids
Rows and Columns

Review
The 3 characteristics of GIS are: Georeferenced

features, containing attributes, that are organized as layers.

The two types of data are Vector and Raster. GIS allows us to make more informed decisions

based on our understanding of geography and our relationship to it.

Why study/utilize GIS?

1. To create knowledge. 2. To convey information. 3. To make informed decisions.

GIS in the Social Sciences

Increasing demand and supply of GIS

applications that combine citizen science and social networks.

Social issues often have a spatial dimension and

utilizing GIS can contribute to analyzing human patterns and relationships.

The increase in social science applications has

been made possible by the proliferation of data on a variety of socioeconomic and environmental domains.

Case Studies
GIS has a wide application in the social sciences
From Mapping Worldwide From Analyzing population

Malnourishment Distribution

change in a time period

To Planning Emergency

To Modeling Family Service

Response Policy

Centers

Conveying Information

Planning

Before and After

Modeling

Age

Family Size

Education

Poverty

Income
Insufficien

Geospatial Revolution: Why we need GIS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxCEb5Cv4Nk

Free Online Mapping Services

Google Earth http://www.google.com/earth/index.html

National Atlas-Government sponsored maps

Map and Print various layers www.nationalatlas.gov/mapmaker

ESRIs ArcGIS WebViewer

Map and Print various layers http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html

ArcGIS online Gallery-Premade maps for exploration and lessons

http://www.arcgis.com/home/gallery.html

OpenStreet Map http://www.openstreetmap.org/

Colorado State University Courses and Opportunities

Course offerings
http://ibis-

live.nrel.colostate.edu/DH.php?WC=/WS/Centroid/Courses1.html

ESRI online tutorials (Free for students and

faculty)
http://ibis-

live.nrel.colostate.edu/DH.php?WC=/WS/Centroid/ESRI _courses1.html

CSU Geospatial Centroid

http://www.gis.colostate.edu