Something Basic about GIS Ming-Chun Lee

What is GIS ? GIS = Geographic Information Science (GISc) the academic theory behind the development, use, and application of geographic information systems (GIS). It is concerned with people, hardware, software, and geospatial data (Wikipedia) GISc addresses fundamental issues raised by the use of GIS and related information technologies So what is GIS? we should first look at what the words themselves mean: Geography: the real world, spatial realities, GIS is about representing, understanding, and analyzing our world, Information: data and information, their meaning and use, GIS is about measuring the real world (data) and then gaining useful information from the measurements. Systems: computer technology and its support infrastructure, GIS is a methodology, a system of techniques and principles, helping us deal with the data and derive the information

What is GIS ? GIS = Geographic Information System GIS is the merging of cartography, statistical analysis and database technology (Wikipedia) GIS = a toolbox consists of a variety of analytical tools, which enable people to better understand all sorts of geo-referenced information in an effective way Three components: Geography – the real world Information – data and information Systems – technologies So what is GIS? we should first look at what the words themselves mean: Geography: the real world, spatial realities, GIS is about representing, understanding, and analyzing our world, Information: data and information, their meaning and use, GIS is about measuring the real world (data) and then gaining useful information from the measurements. Systems: computer technology and its support infrastructure, GIS is a methodology, a system of techniques and principles, helping us deal with the data and derive the information

A Definition of GIS GIS = Geographic Information System Worboys, 1995: A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based information system that enables one to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced information. GIS is a a computer-based technology and methodology for collecting, managing, analyzing, modeling, and presenting geographic data for a wide range of applications and uses. What we mean by geographically referenced information: Anything can be located on our world, physical objects, or a event, and any description or accompanying information along with those things being described..

GIS GIS uses the analytical power of the computer to complete complex tasks Digital storage power to manage large data sets. Integration of many different types of data from many different sources Easily updated and edited

Functions of GIS Data Collection Storage & Management Retrieval Conversion Analysis Display Collection: from different data sources, allow different data formats Storage & Management: Retrieval: allow us to select data and view the data in a variety of ways, depending on what we want from the data, what kind of information we need Conversion: change data format Analysis: process data in order to gain useful information Modeling: GIS allows us to understand how things work in the real world by only looking at the data. You have to be aware that data is only a small set of measurements about the reality, it is only a small window allows us to view the reality, we want to understand what is going on in the world, we have to look at the data, and base on the analysis of the data, we model the reality, and try to gain insight about our world. Display: presenting data in different ways for easy understanding

Applications of GIS Conservation planning: where are the best place to protect?

Applications of GIS Evaluation of riparian buffer zones to target watershed restoration efforts

Applications of GIS Fire management: identifying sites for controlled burns and thinning

Applications of GIS Zoning, Permit processing, land use planning and management

Applications of GIS Transportation Network Routing

Applications of GIS How GIS can be used: Infrastructure Management Floodplain Management Emergency Response Planning Noise Pollution Analysis Participatory Planning Processes Jobs/Housing Spatial Balance and more … We have talked about what GIS means, what are GIS components, now let’s look at what GIS can do for us, or for the planners: Infrastructure Management: like where need or can be put in a new wastewater treatment facility or plant, where we can put a new park Transportation Network Routing: where a light rail or mono rail can go through, it would depend on where population are, where has high population density Floodplain Management: Emergency Response Planning: where are the current emergency response facilities, where we need to put in a new facility, how we can define emergency response districts based on the distribution of the emergency response facilities Noise Pollution Analysis: based on available data, we can understand how bad the pollution or noise is, Participatory Planning Processes: GIS capability to produce a variety of visual representations can really help laypeople the public to better understand what’s going on in their neighborhood, or in their city, help promote public participation Jobs/Housing Spatial Balance: based on Census data, we can understand the distribution of income, housing, and some other social-economic characteristics about our city, so we can try to find what the problem could be and then try to find the treatment for it.

Integrate multiple data types & sources

The GIS Data Concept Data Organized by Layers/Themes Administrative Digital Orthophoto Streets Hydrography Parcels Buildings Zoning Utilities Administrative Boundaries As I pointed out before, data is the heart of GIS. Now, let’s go understand how data is organized in GIS: Data is Organized by different Layers/Themes, each layer or theme contains a certain type of data with a particular topic (or purpose). For example, (look at the graph) Layers Integrated Using Explicit Location on the Earth’s Surface or say referencing to a certain geographic coordinate system, we will address the issue of coordinate system later in other lecture.. Data Organized by Layers/Themes

GIS Database GIS data is organized by Layers/Themes A Theme is a collection of geographic features (usually a separate file), such as boundaries, roads, together with the attributes (may stored in other files) of those features A set of Themes for a geographic area makes up a GIS Database (a group of files)

The GIS Data Structure Layers Integrate Using Explicit Location on the Earth’s Surface Themes have to be georeferenced.

Types of GIS Data Describes Objects In Terms Of: Spatial Data Absolute X,Y Coordinates – Locations Size, and Shape Attributes Characteristics associated with Geography We can categorize GIS data into three different types: First type is Spatial Data, include location, size, and shape, Absolute X,Y Coordinates – Locations Size, and Shape For example, like land parcels, cone with locations, different sizes and shapes Second one is non-spatial attributes: Non-spatial Attributes Characteristics Unrelated to Geography For example, the owners’ names of those parcels, an owner can own multiple properties, the name is one of the attribute associate with parcels, but no really location specific Topology Spatial Relationships Between Features How each feature relate with each other, like which one is connected to which one, which one is on the left of which one, those kinds of relations

GIS Associates Spatial and Attribute Data in a Geo-Referenced Database ARC INFO 1 3 5 ID AREA PERIM CLASS LANDUSE 1 260210 20688 100 Single Family 2 18210 20688 100 Multi Family 3 260210 20688 100 Commercial 4 258876 16880 200 Forest 5 3008 88 500 Water 2 4 GIS Associates Spatial and Attribute Data in a Geo-Referenced Database

Why is GIS Useful? Government and public service Tax Assessment/Zoning/Monitoring Business service and planning Business Location Transportation planning Routing Optimization Logistics and transportation Emergency Evacuation Environment Land Use Change

Why is GIS Useful? Mapping locations: Mapping quantities: GIS can be used to identify and map locations: where certain features are. Mapping quantities: GIS can be used to quantify features that meet certain criteria or relationships between features. Mapping patterns: GIS can be used to explore patterns. For example a density map can be used to examine the spatial distributions of features and detect patterns.

Why is GIS Useful? Mapping distances: Mapping change: GIS can be used to find out what's occurring within a set distance of a feature. Mapping change: GIS can be used to monitor change through time and assess the results of a policy.

Geographical Data in the Computer B C D User’s perceived phenomenon structure GIS representation of phenomenon structure Database structure Hardware Structure

From Reality to Data

Class Overview Objectives: Introduction to the Technical use of GIS Develop an understanding of geographic data organization and analysis in GIS, Develop the operational skills to perform GIS- related tasks using available software (ESRI ArcGIS) Introduction to the Technical use of GIS

Class Overview Class Structure – Learning by Doing Lectures (short and concise) Learn basic concepts Lab Exercises / Software Tutorials & Demos Learn the tools (How-to) Online / printed materials Learn from other users Project Learn how to Apply the tools Presentation Report

Class Overview GIS Project Selection of the Project Site Initial Data Identification & Acquisition Project Design & Methodology Data Analysis Presentation Report

Possible Issues for Project Community issues – Crimes An analysis of the spatial distribution of homicide Community issues – Health care / health care facilities The distribution of Drug Treatment Centers in LA Community issues – Housing The availability of low-income housing in relation to need Community issues – socio-economic statues A Study of Gentrification Community services The mapping of After School Centers Physical planning / Public utilities / Facilities A Spatial Assessment of Existing Bike Rack Locations Land use / Growth management / Urban planning Land Use Analysis of the Salmon River Watershed

Issues to explore socio-economic statues Crime Physical condition / physical fabric Street network, pedestrian environment, building typology, land use, open space socio-economic statues Crime Schools / public services

Project timeline Project Idea – Feb 25 Initial Data Acquisition – Mar 11 Project Design & Methodology – Mar 18 Data Analysis – Apr 8 Presentation - Apr 29 Final Report - Due May 6, 5:00pm

Class Overview Access to computers running ArcGIS 10.1 Internet access USB drive (flash drive or removable hard drive)

Class Overview Web Site: Me: https://webpages.uncc.edu/~mlee137/gis/ Ming-Chun Lee Assistant Professor, Ming-Chun.Lee@uncc.edu Office: Storrs 147 / CCB 705 Hours: By Appointment (email me)