Welcome to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

What is spatial literacy?

Spatial literacy is an important part of becoming a good geographer It involves a lot of different ideas and skills which come together to help you ‘read’, understand and use spatial materials such as maps What is spatial literacy?

Example: the global distribution of population change map above shows spatial information What is spatial literacy?

What are the skills/knowledge I need in order to read this spatial information? Recognise the outline of the map–it’s a map of the world Recognise the names of the continents and the countries Understand what the various colours mean –Use the key –If you know how to ‘read’ the key, you can make links between the map and the data it is portraying

The other aspect of spatial literacy is understanding how to read information critically Understanding allows you to answer questions like: –Is the population change across China equal in all places? –Is the map a simplification of what is going on in reality? Can I link the map and its data?

Spatial literacy is also the ability to create spatial information Create spatial information by: –drawing maps, diagrams and graphs –using more technologically advanced ways of drawing maps, diagrams and graphs like the use of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) As you begin to work through your GCSE course, you should try to spend time thinking about the maps and diagrams you are using: –What are they telling you? –Are they clear and is the information well presented? –What are they not telling you? –Would you know how to draw your own map of the same type? Can I create spatial information?

Some basic GIS skills

You’ve likely done work on maps and data presentation in Key Stage 3 and learned: –Reading ordnance survey maps –Measuring distance For more help or to improve these skills, visit survey.co.uk/mapzone survey.co.uk/mapzone If you can read maps well, to develop your spatial literacy you need to think carefully about: –How to put information onto maps to show your own data or ideas –How to show information visually Find some data and try putting it into a map or diagram Experiment using different formats Develop your spatial literacy skills

Map of global biome and climate data –What is this map showing us? –Why is it a good map? –How is the information shown? –Is it clear? How to show information visually

Proportional circles –Volcanic Explosivity Index –A simple but effective way of showing differences in the size or magnitude of a data set Topological maps –CO2 emissions –A map which has country size related to the size of the data for that country Examples of the many ways of showing information visually

Sketches with information attached –Global hydrological cycle –A way of combining data with an image in a simple but often effective way Photos with labels –Waterfall features –A simple way of adding information to a photograph; can often be more effective than a long, written description Examples of the many ways of showing information visually

Land-use maps –Land use to counteract flooding –A map which has different shading for different types of land use, such as housing and shops Dot maps –Location of mangrove swamps and population distribution –A map onto which dots are placed to show the location of data, in this case a dot for each 100,000 people found at a location Examples of the many ways of showing information visually

Remote sensed image –Satellite image of Antarctica –Images taken from satellites or aeroplanes which show locations from a great height Choropleth maps –Map of population change (see also slide 4) –A map where areas are shaded within data groupings to show spatial patterns Examples of the many ways of showing information visually

Shaded and flow line maps –Map showing migrational patterns in Sub-Saharan Africa –A map using two different spatial techniques, one to shade regions with a particular characteristic, the other arrows to show movement Examples of the many ways of showing information visually

Spatial literacy requires you to: –Read many different ways of showing data –Produce data in various ways –Think about the best way to show your data –Think about the best way to present data given to you –Turn data into a clear, informative and accurate visual format Most importantly, spatial literacy requires you to make sense of data once it is in a visual form –Recognise spatial patterns –Understand and interpret visual data Develop your spatial literacy skills

Spatial literacy means you can: –Identify what the map is showing –Think about why the data looks like it does This is where you start to use your geographical knowledge to interpret the information and develop the ideas which can explain the pattern you see. How to make sense of visual data

What is GIS?

GIS is a computer-based system for showing, analysing and modelling spatial data in a way that is much faster, easier and flexible than plotting information on traditional paper-based maps What is GIS?

With technology developments like satellites and the Internet, information is being collected more and more rapidly Equally, computers have been developing faster and more effective ways of handling this data Computers have also given us advanced tools, like digital rather than print maps For this new technology (e.g. digital maps) to be useful, we need to be able to link them to data so that we can look at spatial patterns in the information This is done through Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Developments in technology changing the world

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are systems for –Capturing spatial data –Managing spatial data –Analysing spatial data –Displaying spatial data –You can watch an introduction to GIS at What is GIS?

GIS works by: –Collecting spatial data (many possible methods) –Entering collected data into software –Bringing together the data and a map Simply: –GIS can be used to view data as part of a visual image –For example, many student book maps are likely produced using GIS More developed use of GIS brings different sets of data together to analyse problems What is GIS?

Example: Two sets of data put into a GIS package 1.Data shows location of road traffic accidents 2.Data shows local road network 3.Two ‘layers’ can be brought together as a simple map to show where road network accidents are –Could take this problem further by adding more data, e.g. time of day of accidents, weather conditions, etc. –Can be used to predict accident hotspots, likely impact of particular safety features such as speed ramps and roundabouts What is GIS? 1 2 3

Why is GIS important?

Can be used in a huge number of ways Now an integral part of most economic activities and emergency services Most activities which contain geographical components use GIS –For example: post code data, street name information, census data, destination data Some of the most developed users of GIS include: –Government –Financial markets –Retailers –Environmental agencies –Utilities companies Why is GIS important?

Keep record of land use –Planning departments who decide on whether to accept planning applications, where new housing estates should be built List how much council tax should be paid by households within local councils Users of GIS: Government

Used all the time Calculate risk for insurance policies (against flooding, subsidence) Used in assessments when people apply for loans Users of GIS: Financial Markets

Help decide where to locate a new store –How many people live within a given distance –How rich those people are –How easily they can get to the proposed store Analysing population information –Deciding where and when to use advertising Track which stores require new stock, which lorries the stock should travel on to minimise transport expenses Users of GIS: Retailers

Flood management to pollution monitoring Use of models to predict which weather conditions might cause disasters Monitor potential natural hazards like volcanoes Many more! Users of GIS: Environmental agencies

Assure power/water is getting where it is needed Make sure electricity/water grid is working Highlight maintenance issues or emergencies Users of GIS: Utilities companies

GIS is used across the economy of countries and beyond Now a central component of most advanced countries which rely on GIS in many ways More examples of how GIS is used: – – Users of GIS: Everyone

Getting started with GIS

Get started easily using Google Earth – –Large number of capabilities –Some GIS basics to allow you to use simple GIS ideas Getting started with GIS © 2009 Europa Technologies, © 2009 Google

Getting started with GIS: Google Earth Search box to find locations you identify Places- locations you have identified with a place mark Layers-layers of information which is loaded onto Google Earth. You can turn these on and off Navigation controls for zooming in and out and rotating image © 2009 Europa Technologies, © 2009 Google

Enter post code or longitude and latitude into the ‘Fly to’ search box Click ‘Play’ button Google Earth will ‘fly’ you to that location Google Earth: Finding locations

Google Earth has a number of layers of information Turn these on and off by checking or unchecking the boxes in the layers part of the screen Google Earth: Turning layers on and off

To measure distance, click on the ruler icon A box will appear allowing you to decide on measuring the distance either by kilometres or miles A crosshair will also appear; click it once where you want to start the measurement and again at your end point. The distance between the two points will then appear in the box Google Earth: Measuring distance Ruler icon © 2009 Europa Technologies; © 2009 Infoterra Ltd & Bluesky; © 2009 Google

Creating a ‘places’ catalogue for case studies –Create a file of places and their important features –Allows you to see all case studies you have completed over time together –Allows you to fly to them whenever you want –Must be done on the same computer as the data is stored because the information is held on the computer, not in Google Earth Google Earth: Creating a ‘places’ catalogue

Choose a location Click on the place mark icon at the top of the screen Google Earth: Creating a ‘places’ catalogue Place mark icon ©2009 Mapabc.com; ©2009 Google; Image ©2009 TerraMetrics

This will bring up a large box and an icon Place the icon over your location In the top window of the dialogue box, give it a name Then put whatever information you want about the location in the main information box, including data, website addresses, etc. Google Earth: Creating a ‘places’ catalogue Name of place mark here Information box Icon ©2009 Mapabc.com; ©2009 Google; Image ©2009 TerraMetrics

Click ‘OK’. Your place mark will now appear in ‘Places’ to the left of the screen, and you can go back to that site whenever you want by double clicking on the name Whenever you go back to the place, the dialogue box you created will pop up automatically, complete with any website addresses. Click on a website address and you will be forwarded to the website (if you are connected to the Internet) Google Earth: Creating a ‘places’ catalogue Completed place mark with information and website address ©2009 Mapabc.com; ©2009 Google; Image ©2009 TerraMetrics

By using these Google Earth tools, you are already beginning to use some basic GIS software, bringing together maps/images and information Well done! Getting started with GIS

Online GIS

Ten years ago, GIS was restricted to the use of powerful computers located in company offices and universities Now GIS is increasingly available through online sources and packages Try using some of these to help develop your work across your course Online GIS

a website where you can type in an address/post code and get a map of the local area; allows you to zoom in and out and toggle to a satellite imagewww.multimap.com maps.maplecroft.com: series of choropleth world maps with embedded information like case studies and sourcesmaps.maplecroft.com Online GIS: Map websites with links to geographical information maps.maplecroft.com Data from

The Environmental Agency has your area on its website, ‘What’s in Your Backyard?’ Contains a series of map topics which you select, enter a post code; a map for that area and topic appears Useful for background research for a controlled assessment Online GIS: Environmental data Map showing pollution in Leicestershire, © Environment Agency

Increasing number of local authorities, e.g. Nottingham, now have GIS software embedded in their websites for people to use freely Have very useful information, especially for local studies or fieldwork Online GIS: Local authority sites

Spatial literacy is the ability to ‘read’, understand and use spatial materials such as maps Spatial literacy allows you to recognise spatial patterns and understand and interpret visual data Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are used to capture, manage, analyse and display spatial data With GIS now an integral part of most economic activities and emergency services, most activities which contain geographical components use GIS Get started with GIS using software like Google Earth or online GIS systems like and integrate GIS into your geography studieswww.multimap.com Welcome to GIS