Chapter One: Introduction to GIS-RS

Goal/outcomes
 Understand the fundamentals of GIS
 Understand GIS and its application
 Understand the fundamentals of RS
 Learn RS applications in GIS

Note:
GIS stands for Geographic Information System
RS stands for Remote sensing
 Introduction

 Spatial and Geospatial ?

 The term spatial comes from the Latin word spatium which means
‘space’.
 Spatial, therefore, refers to anything that occupies space or the
study of the distribution of things in space.
 Spatial can refer to the study of any types of features be it outer
space, the world, the spatial layout of the human body, the spatial
layout of a room.
 Geospatial, is a concatenation of ‘geography’ and ‘spatial’.
 The addition of ‘geo’ is to indicate that the focus is on features
relating to Earth.
 Geo stems from the Greek “geō” which means the Earth.
 Introduction…

 Spatial data, also known as geospatial data or Geodata ,

 is a term used to describe any data related to or containing
information about a specific location on the Earth’s surface.
 it can exist in a variety of formats and contains more than just
location specific information.
 It has locational information connected to a dataset such as
address, city or ZIP code.
 It can also come from Global Positioning System (GPS) data,
geospatial satellite imagery, telematics devices, IoT and
geotagging.
 Introduction…

 What are the Types of Geospatial Data?

 The two main types of geospatial data are vector data and raster.

 Grids/ Cells/Pixels  Points, Lines & Areas/Polygons

 Introduction…

b
 Introduction…

Geospatial technology
 Is geographic information technologies which include any
software or hardware that interacts with physical locations and
collect data for future analysis.
 It is used to collect, analyze and store geographic information or
geospatial data.
 It uses software to map geographic locations while analyzing the
impact of human activity.
 3 of the most common geospatial technologies includes:

1. Geographic Information System (GIS)

issues to be
2. Remote Sensing(RS)
covered in
3. Global Positioning System (GPS) this course
 GIS: Overview and Definition

What is GIS and Why?

 USGS defined, as “A GIS is a computer hardware and software system
designed to collect, manage, analyze and display geographically
(spatially) referenced data.”
 A GIS is an organized collection of computer hardware, software,
geographic data, and personnel designed to efficiently capture/collect,
store and update/ manage, manipulate/analyze, and display/present all
forms of geographically referenced information.
 It allows users to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize
data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the
form of maps, globes, reports, and charts.
 It helps users answer questions and solve problems by looking at data in
a way that is quickly understood and easily shared, and GIS technology
can be integrated into any enterprise information system framework.
 GIS: Overview and Definition…

 A GIS is basically a computerized information system like any other

database, but with an important difference:
 all information in GIS must be linked to a geographic (spatial)
reference (latitude/longitude, or other spatial coordinates).
 GIS: Overview and Definition…

 GIS stands for

Geographic

Information

System
 GIS: Overview and Definition…

 GIS technology integrates common database operations, such as

query and statistical analysis, with the unique visualization and
geographic analysis benefits offered by maps.
 The database information (attribute data) is tied to spatial data (feature
layers).
 An example of this would be schools. The actual location of the
schools is the spatial data.
 Additional data such as the school name, school ID, and school type
would make up the attribute data.
 It is the partnership of these two data types that enables GIS to be
such an effective problem solving tool.
 By querying the database associated to the layers, the GIS allows
users to perform "why" and "what if" scenarios and creates a
resulting map depicting a visual analysis.
 GIS: Contributing Disciplines

 GIS is convergence of technological fields and traditional

disciplines:

 These related fields emphasize data collections while GIS brings

them together by emphasizing integration, modeling and analysis.
 Thus, it has been called an "enabling technology“!
 GIS: Components

 A working GIS integrates the five key components:

OR ?

 1. GIS Hardware is the computer on which a GIS operates.

 Today, GIS runs on a wide range of hardware types, from
centralized computer servers to desktop computers used in
standalone or networked configurations.
 GIS: Components…

 2. GIS software provides the functions and tools needed to store,

analyze, and display geographic information. Key software
components are:
 A database management system (DBMS)
 Tools for the input and manipulation of geographic information
 Tools that support geographic query, analysis, and visualization
 A graphical user interface (GUI) for easy access to tools

 3. GIS Methods/Process are the procedure which enables the

system to operate according to a well-designed plan and business
rules, and also are the models and operating practices unique to each
organization.
 GIS: Components…

 4. GIS People and Organization are users who range from

technical specialists who design and maintain the system, to those
who use it to help them do their everyday work.
 5. GIS Data is the most important component of a GIS.
 Geographic data and related tabular data can be collected in-house or bought from a
commercial data provider.
 Most GIS employ a DBMS to create and maintain a database to help organize and
manage data.
 The data that a GIS operates on consists of any data bearing a definable relationship
to space, including any data about things and events that occur in nature.
 At one time this consisted of hard-copy data, like traditional cartographic maps,
surveyor’s logs, demographic statistics, geographic reports, and descriptions from
the field.
 GIS: Questions

.
 GIS: Work flow(Procedural perspective)

.

OR ?
 GIS: Work flow(Practical perspective)

 Visualizing Data: The geographic data that is stored in the

databases are displayed in the GIS software.
 Combining Data: Layers are combined to form a maps of
desire.
 The Query: To search the value in the layer or making a
geographic queries.
 GIS: Types

 Among different types some are listed below:

 Desktop Application / Full Package GIS
 Web Mapping / Feature Server / Server GIS
 Web Browser with GIS Tools / Thick Client GIS
 Distributed GIS/ APIs GIS
 Mobile GIS
 GIS: Applications

 Mapping
 GIS is used to gather, manage and analyze spatial related data.
 It includes analyzing spatial location and organizing layers of
information into visualizations using maps and 3D scenes.
 Urban Planning
 GIS can be used as a spatial database and as analysis and
modeling tool.
 It also help the urban planner to identify and establish zoning
criteria that allows for the expansion of urban development.
 Transportation Planning
 GIS is used to plan new road and route infrastructures, improving
the mobility across the country and or region.
 GIS: Applications…

 Disaster Risk and Management

 GIS has been used to manage environmental problems and
specifically in disaster relief.
 From predicting larger natural disaster events to manage the post-
disaster actions.
 Agricultural Value Chain
 GIS in Agriculture Value Chain helps to create more efficient
farming techniques, alongside analyzing soil data, understand the
seasonality and predict yields. This can increase food production
in different parts of the world
 Natural Resource Management
 With the help of GIS information, natural resources can be
adequately maintained and managed.
 It is especially crucial for the allocation and geographic
 GIS: Applications…

 Surveying
 Using GIS in Surveying involves measuring the location of
objects on earth, and the use of Global Navigation Satellite
Systems (GNSS) for this purpose.
 The data incorporated in the system can estimate area and prepare
digital maps
 Public Health
 GIS is vital to the help planning and analysis of the provision of
health care services across states and cities.
 RS: Overview and Definition

What is RS and Why?

 If you are reading this sentence, now you are doing RS.
 Any information acquired from the object without touching is RS.
 Following is a scientific definition of RS.
 The science of acquiring information about the earth using
instruments which are remote to the earth's surface, usually from
aircraft or satellites.
 Instruments may use visible light, infrared or radar to obtain data.
 RS offers the ability to observe and collect data for large areas
relatively quickly, and is an important source of data for GIS.
 RS collect data by detecting the energy that is reflected from Earth.
 These remote sensors can be either passive or active.
 RS: Overview and Definition…

 GIS includes maps, vector information, and imagery.

 The collection of imagery is commonly achieved
through RS.
 Research, is now commonly used to describe the science
and art of identifying, observing, and measuring an object
without coming into direct contact with it.
 This process involves the detection and measurement of
radiation of different wavelengths reflected or emitted
from distant objects or materials, by which they may be
identified and categorized by class/type, substance, and
spatial distribution.
 RS: Work Flow

.
 RS: Components
.

1. Platform: is defined as the carrier for RS sensors.

 There are three major RS platforms: ground-level platform (towers and cranes), aerial
platforms (Helicopters, low altitude aircraft, high altitude aircraft), and spaceborne
platforms (space shuttles, polar-orbiting satellites, and geostationary satellites).
2. Sensors: is a device that receives electromagnetic radiations and converts it
into a signal that can be recorded and displayed as either numerical data or an
image.
 RS: Types

.
 RS: Elements

.
 RS: Applications

 Forestry
 Forest
 Biodiversity management
 Afforestation and Deforestation

 Natural resource Management

 Geomorphology
 Environmental assessment
 Water source management
 Habitat analysis
 Pest/disease outbreaks
 Impervious surface mapping
 Hydrology
 Mineral province
 RS: Applications…

 Urbanization & Transportation

 Urban planning
 Roads network and transportation planning
 City expansion
 Wetland delineation

 Agriculture
 Soil sensing
 Farm classification
 Farm condition assessment
 Agriculture estimation
 Mapping of farm and agricultural land characteristics
 Mapping of land management practices
 RS: Applications…
 Advantages
 a) Provides data from large areas
 b) Provides data of very remote and inaccessible regions

 c) Able to obtain imagery of any area over a continuous period time through
which any anthropogenic or natural changes in the landscape can be analyzed
 d) Relatively inexpensive when compared to employing a team of surveyors

 e) Easy and rapid collection of data

 Disadvantages
 a) The interpretation of imagery requires a certain skill level
 b) Needs cross verification with ground (field) survey data
 c) Data from multiple sources may create confusion

 d) Objects can be misclassified or confused

 e) Distortions may occur in image due to the relative motion of sensor and
source
 GIS-RS: Software Packages

. ESRI (ArcGIS) Intergraph QGIS Bentley Map

Microimages Autocad MapInfo
ERDAS Idrisi Manifold Smallworld
GRASS GeoMedia AUTOCAD MAP 3D Maptitude
 GIS + RS = ?
 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 maintenance
 Code enforcement  Business
 Housing renovation programs  Demographic Analysis
 Emergency response  Market Penetration/ Share Analysis
 Crime analysis  Site Selection
 Tax assessment  Education Administration
 Environmental Sciences  Attendance Area Maintenance
 Monitoring environmental risk  Enrollment Projections
 Modeling storm water runoff  School Bus Routing
 Management of watersheds, floodplains, wet-
 Real Estate
lands, forests, aquifers
 Neighborhood land prices
 Environmental Impact Analysis
 Traffic Impact Analysis
 Hazardous or toxic facility siting
 Determination of Highest and Best Use
 Groundwater modeling and contamination
tracking
 Health Care
 Political Science  Epidemiology
 Redistricting  Needs Analysis
 Analysis of election results  Service Inventory
 Predictive modeling