COMPONENTS OF GIS

(Geographic Information System)

Introduction:-
To answer apparently simple geographical
questions like :
what is the population of a particular city.
What is the characteristics of the soils in a
particular land parcel?
How has the distribution of urban rural
population changed between the past tow
censuses.
Is there any trends in the patterns of
earthquakes
A Formal Definition of GIS

“A system for capturing , storing ,

Checking , Integrating , manipulating ,
analyzing and displaying data which
are spatially referenced to the earth .
This is normally considered to involve
a spatially referenced computer data
base and appropriate applications
software “.
In 1962 ,the development of the
world’s first true working GIS in
Ottwa, By Dr. Rager Tomlinson it was
called the “Canada geographic
information system”

In 1990 Tomlinson saw that if a map

could be represented in digital
form .Then it would easy to make
measurements of its basic elements .
Components of GIS
Geographical Information System has
three important components:

computer hardware

set of application modules (Software)

Proper organization context (Live ware)

A working GIS integrates five key
components: -

 Hardware

 Software

 Data

 People

 Methods
Computer Hardware Module:
The general Hardware components of GIS
includes
central processing Unit
mass storage units , Such as hard disk
drivers and tape drivers.
Peripherals such as :
Digitizers or Scanners
printer or plotter
visual display unit (VCD)
The central processing unit is linked to a disk
drive storage unit, which provides space for
storing data and programs. A digitizer,
scanner and other device is used to convert
data from maps and documents into digital
form and send them to computer. A digitizer
board is a flat board used for vectorization of
any map object. A plotter or other kind of
display device is used to present the result of
the data processing and a tape device is used
for storing data or programs on magnetic tape.
Computer Software Module
The GIS software includes the programs and the
user interface for driving the hardware. GIS
software is essential to generate, store, analyze,
manipulate and display geographic information or
data. A good GIS software requires user
friendliness, functionalities, compatibilities,
updatability, documentation, cost effectivness. The
following is a list of GIS software producers and
their main products.
Environmental Systems Research Institute ( ESRI ): Arc
Info, Arc View.

Autodesk: AutoCAD Map

International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth

Sciences: ILWIS

MapInfo Corporation: MapInfo.

PCI Geometrics: PAMAP

Data
Data is the most important component of a
GIS. Geographic data and related tabular
data can be collected in house, compiled to
custom specifications and requirements, or
purchased from a commercial data
provider. A GIS can integrate spatial data
with other existing data resources, often
stored in a DBMS. The integration of
spatial and tabular data stored in a DBMS
is a key functionality afforded by GIS.
People
GIS technology has limited value without the
people who manage and develop plans for
applying it to real world problems. GIS user range
from technical specialists who design and maintain
the system to those who use it to help them
perform their everyday work. The identification of
GIS specialist's vs. end users is often critical to the
proper implementation of GIS technology. This is
what called 'brain ware' which is equally important
as the Hardware and software. Brain ware refers
to the purpose and objectives, and provides the
reason and justification, for using GIS.
Method
A successful GIS operates according to a well
designed implementation plan and business rules,
which are the models and operating practices
unique to each organization.

For many years, though GIS has been considered

to be too difficult, expensive, and proprietary. The
advent of graphical user interface (GUI), powerful
and affordable hardware and software, and public
digital data has broadened the range of GIS
application and brought GIS to mainstream use.
Conclusion :-

Now a days GIS got very much scope

in all most all the fields such as
Mapping to identify the borders of cities , districts ,
countries etc.
It is also helpful in finding the populations of the
areas
It is also essential to study geological settings of
the area by digitizing maps.