SIE 509 – Principles of GIS

Connie Holden
Office: Rm 134 Boardman
Phone: 581-3952
262-7894
Email: cholden@maine.edu

Lecture 1 1
 Lecture 1
Course Introduction
and
Introduction to GIS

Lecture 1 2
 Text
GIS Fundamentals (5th Ed.)
Paul Bolstad
XanEdu
530 Great Road
Acton, MA 01720
800-562-2147
2016

ISBN: 978-1-50669-587-7

Lecture 1 3
 Software
• ArcGIS 10.5.1
• Access cods for student licenses will be provided.
• Runs only on a Windows operating system (8.1 or
higher or 7 Enterprise Edition).
• Some departments have older versions.
• Three computers in Lab 138
– Karen Kidder for key code.
– Log on with Mainestreet id and pw

Lecture 1 4
 COURSE OBJECTIVES:

• This is an introductory course designed to

provide the student with:
– An overview of the development and basic
principles of geographic information systems.
– Practical experience in the use of ArcGIS 10.x (one
of the most popular commercial GIS packages).
– The implementation of a GIS project using available
data.

Lecture 1 5
 Online Course Materials

• Course Materials:
http://umaine.edu/computingcoursesonline
• Live Broadcast: Available at
http://meet.maine.edu/sie509/
• Online students may view and participate in
the live sessions but are not required to do so.
• Archived Broadcasts: Links to the class
broadcasts are made available at the end of
each day through the Lectures link for this
course. Lecture 1 6
 Topics
• Introduction to GIS
• Dealing with spatial data
• Geodesy, Datums, Map Projections and
Coordinates
• Database management
• Data Input, Editing and Output
• Spatial Data Analysis
• Data Standards and Data Quality
• GIS Project Development

Lecture 1 7
 Assignments
• Labs
– Eight to 10 lab exercises.
– Lab exercises have differing point values (25-50
Points), depending upon the length and difficulty of
the exercise.
• Project
– The project should be implemented using GIS
software.
– The project can be related to your research, or be
on another topic of interest.
Lecture 1 8
 Project Examples
• Small Scale Variation of Atlantic Cod in Inshore
Gulf of Maine
• Analysis of Maine Moose & Automobile Crashes
• A Geographic Analysis of Drug Abuse Offenses in
Northern New England
• A Geographic Analysis of Applications for
Admission to UM
• Creation of a map and database of the Orono bike
trails
• Changes in UM green space over time
Lecture 1 9
• Access to Facilities among Bangor’s Low
Income Population
• Mapping China’s Long March
• An Analysis of Campus Crime and the
Placement of Blue Lights.
• Mapping the Fay Hyland Botanical Garden
• The Joys and Sorrows of Geocoding
• Landslides along the Maine Coast
• Glacial geology in Miers Valley, Antarctica
• ATM Locations in Bangor
Lecture 1 10
• Citation Analysis
• Flooding potential along various coast lines.
• Monitoring Age Change in Downeast Maine
• Measuring the Impact of Pollution Closures on
the Harvesting of the Soft-Shell Clam
• The Modernization of Agriculture in
Nineteenth Century Maine
• Direction Relations using ArcGIS
• Growing Grapes in Northern Portugal

Lecture 1 11
 Project Dates
• Proposal – Sept. 21
• List of data files and their source – Oct. 12
• Data dictionary – Nov. 9
• Oral presentations begin – Dec. 4
• Final report and CD with project – Dec. 15

Lecture 1 12
 Exams
• There are two exams scheduled:
– Exam 1 - Oct. 17th
– Exam 2 – Nov. 30th

Grading
•Lab exercises              25%
•Exams (2)                    25% each
•Project                         25%

•Plus and minus grading will be used.

Lecture 1 13
An Introduction to GIS

Chapter 1
Lecture 1 14
What does GIS stand for?

• Geographic
(Geography)

• Information

• System

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 What is a Geographic Information
System?
• Geographic Information System (GIS) – A computer-
based system for the collection, storage,
organization, maintenance, and analysis of spatially-
referenced data, and the output of spatially-
referenced information.
– Data – Any collection of related facts; the basic elements
of information.
– Information - Data that have been processed to be
useful; provides answers to "who", "what", "where", and
"when" questions
• Information can only come from accurate data (GIGO).

Lecture 1 16
 What are the components of a GIS?
We understand GIS to be computer facilitated
system

But it is NOT only software and

hardware

Also includes:
•Data – both spatial and aspatial
•Trained personnel
•Supporting Institution
•Protocols for use

Lecture 1 17
 GIS Software Tools
(the frustrating part)

GIS started at universities as research tools – Harvard,

Yale, Minnesota, Clark University
GIS software have evolved to robust (sort of) tools
capable of a wide variety of tasks

Primary flavors
ESRI (ArcGIS) Intergraph QGIS Bentley Map

Microimages Autocad MapInfo

ERDAS Idrisi Manifold Smallworld

GRASS GeoMedia AUTOCAD MAP 3D Maptitude

Lecture 1 18
 The Map

Lecture 1
http://reliefweb.int/map/syrian-arab-republic/syrian-refugees-region-20-january-2014 19
The Database
Other Features
Graphs

Malarial Deaths per 10,000 People

Lecture 1
http://www.rollbackmalaria.org/microsites/gmap/3-2.html 21
 Other Features
Tables

https://desktop.arcgis.com/en/arcmap/10.3/manage-data/tables/GUID-5A309AD2-B84E-
4ECF-A475-7E4B492660EC-web.png
Lecture 1 22
 Other Features
Reports

http://desktop.arcgis.com/en/arcmap/10.3/guide-books/extensions/business-analyst/GUID-389C0E81-
9313-4C5C-94B0-51D7650E3B53-web.png

23
Lecture 1
 The Power of GIS
• The interaction between the database and the
map, along with the ability to create graphs,
tables and reports.
 How does a GIS answer spatial questions?

GIS allows us to abstract information from the physical world and display it in layers or
themes. It allows us to:

• Input and edit both spatial and

attribute data.

• Display data on a screen or print

a map.

• Analyze the data for making

decisions and searching for
patterns.

• Create models and ask “what if”.

Lecture 1 25
 What types of questions can be
answered by a GIS?
• Where are particular features found?
• What geographic patterns exist?
• Where have changes occurred over a specified
time period?
• Where do certain conditions apply?
• What will be the implications if an organization
takes a certain action?

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 What types of data are used in a GIS?
• Coordinate data
• Connection information
• Descriptive information
• Temporal information
• Images
• Documents
• URL’s

Lecture 1 27
 Coordinate Data for a GIS
• Spatial data – you can attach coordinate
information.
• 2D maps (X,Y)

Lecture 1
http://www.mappery.com/map-of/Hong-Kong-Hotel-Map-2 28
3D –Maps (X,Y,Z)

Lecture 1
https://www.flickr.com/photos/seeminglee/4112874847 29
How is spatial data represented in a
GIS?
Vectors Raster
• Points, Lines & • Grids/Tesselations
Areas/Polygons

Lecture 1 30
 Applications of GIS
• Urban Planning, Management & Policy Civil Engineering/Utility
• Zoning, subdivision planning Locating underground facilities
• Land acquisition Designing alignment for freeways, transit
• Economic development Coordination of infrastructure
• Code enforcement maintenance
• Housing renovation programs Business
• Emergency response Demographic Analysis
• Crime analysis Market Penetration/ Share Analysis
• Tax assessment Site Selection
• Environmental Sciences Education Administration
• Monitoring environmental risk Attendance Area Maintenance
• Modeling storm water runoff Enrollment Projections
• Management of watersheds, floodplains, School Bus Routing
wetlands, forests, aquifers Real Estate
• Environmental Impact Analysis Neighborhood land prices
• Hazardous or toxic facility siting Traffic Impact Analysis
• Groundwater modeling and contamination Determination of Highest and Best Use
tracking Health Care
•Political Science
Epidemiology
• Redistricting
• Analysis of election results Needs Analysis
• Predictive modeling Lecture 1 Service Inventory 31
GIS Before Computers
Cholera Map of Dr. John Snow (UK 1850s)

Lecture 1 32
 There’s Another GIS/GISc
• Geographic Information Science
– comprehending the underlying conceptual issues
of representing data and processes in space-time
– the science (or theory and concepts) behind the
technology
• GI Science is the focus of the research in this
department.

Lecture 1 33
Assignment – Chapter 1 of Text

Lecture 1 34