Data Capture & Data Management

DR. MANSOOR AHMAD HASHMI, FAST-NUCES, LAHORE,

E-MAIL: MANSOOR.AHMED@NU.EDU.PK
Data Capture
• The functionality of GIS relies on the quality of data
available.

• GIS are being used widely, effective and efficient means of

data collection have yet to be systematically established.

• The true value of GIS can be realized if the proper tools to

collect spatial data and integrate them with attribute data
available.
Data Capture
Sources;
1. Areal Photography

2. Remote Sensing

3. Scanning

4. Digitizing

5. GPS
 Manual Digitizing
It is the most common method for
entering maps into GIS.

• The features like boundary line

between mapping units, other line
features or point features are traced
by using a pointing device on the map
affixed to a digitizing table.

• The digitizing table electronically

encodes the position of the cursor with
the precision of a millimeter.

• The range of digitized coordinates

depend upon the density of the
digitizing resolution and the setting of
the digitizing software.
 Scanning Systems
Scanning is a quicker means of data entry than manual digitizing.
• In scanning, a digital image of the map is produced by moving an electronic detector
across the map surface.
• The output is a digital RASTER image consisting of a large number of individual cells
ordered in rows and columns.

For the conversion to vector format, two types of Raster Images can be used.
1. In case of choropleth maps or thematic maps, the individual mapping units can be
separated according to their different color or grey tones. The output can be in color
or grey tone.
2. In case of topographic maps, the result is a black and white image. Black lines are
converted to a value of 1, and the white areas in between lines will obtain a value of 0
in the scanned image. These images, with only two possibilities (1,0) are also called
BINARY images.

Scanning works best with maps that are very clean, simple, relate to one feature only,
and do not contain extraneous information (text or graphic symbol).
Scanning Systems
 Converting Digital Data
There is no point in digitizing, if you can find
existing data that meets your need.
Key Punching;
• It is possible in some GIS to input spatial
data by keyboard. This involves entering all
coordinate pairs of point and line or
entering the value of every pixel.
• Main disadvantage is that it takes a lot of
time and also increase the room for errors
while entering data.
• For attribute data, it is normal to make use
of the key Punching.
Data Conversion;
• For Data Manipulation and Analysis, the
format of all the data should be same.
• When different layers are to be used
simultaneously, they should all be in vector or
all in raster format.
• Usually the conversion is from vector to raster,
because the biggest part of the analysis is
done in the raster domain.
• Vector Data are transformed to raster data by
overlaying a grid with a user-defined cell size.
• The conversion of raster to vector data
happens when one wants to achieve data
reduction.
 Spatial Data Management
Geo-Relational Data Model
• All spatial data files will be GEO-
REFERNCED.
• Geo-referencing refers to the location
of a layer or coverage in space defined
by the coordinate referencing system.
• The geo-relational approach involves
abstracting geographic information into
a series of independent layers, each
representing a selected set of closely
associated geographic features.
• By this approach user can combine
simple feature sets representing
complex relationships in the real world.
Topological Data Structure
• Topology is the spatial relationships between
connecting and adjacent coverage features
(e.g., arc, nodes, polygons and points).
• Topological relationships are built from simple
elements into complex elements;
1. Points (simplest elements)
2. Arcs (sets of connected points)
3. Areas (sets of connected arcs).
• Topological data structure, in fact, adds
intelligence to the GIS Database
Spatial Data Management
What is Database?
 Attribute Data Management
All data within a GIS (spatial data, as well as attribute data) are stored within
database.

• A database is a collection of information about things and their relationships to

each other.

• The objective of collecting and maintaining information in database is to relate facts

and situations that were previously separate.

• To manage a database, you need specific software, called a Data Base

Management System (DBMS).
Principal characteristics of a DBMS are;
1. Centralized control
2. Data Sharing
3. Accessibility
4. Data redundancy
 Relational Data Model
• The relational data model is conceived as a series of tables, with
no hierarchy nor predefined relations.

• The relation between the various tables should be made by the

user.

• This is done by identifying a common field in two tables, which is

assigned as the key and which is used to link data from one
table to the other. This is called joining of tables.

• The relational data model in used by nearly all GIS systems.

Relational Database
THANK-YOU