What is a GIS? GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems. This system is not just a set of software and hardware, but includes you, the user.

Why GIS? GIS allows you to collect, manipulate, analyze, and display spatial data and information. Spatial data is any data that deals with locations of things. Just about anything you can imagine has a spatial component to it. The next few slides will show you some examples of what people have done with a GIS.

It all starts with DATA! Normally when you think of data you think of something like the chart below. GIS let’s you turn this table:

Into this: 1999 Now you can see WHERE the population is.

Thematic Mapping Using data regarding past natural disasters, you may create a map showing high risk areas. Source: http://www.gjep.org/qol/disaster_map.html

Transportation Analysis With the proper data you can use GIS to determine how far you can walk in a certain amount of time. The green area below shows how far a student can walk from Butterfield Elementary school within 15 minutes. Street Class Time (Seconds) Local Streets 60 seconds Minor Arterial 120 seconds Collector 180 seconds Principal Arterial 400 seconds Butterfield Elementary Developed by: Jessica A. McCullough, Nashville, Arkansas EAST student and CADIS participant.

3-D Visualization You may wish to turn a two-dimensional map into a three- dimensional map. Source: http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/forest-research/ei/maps/if-3d.html

3-D Visualization You can even make a 3D map of your city. Fayetteville, Arkansas 2003 Created by: Greg Seltz, Gravette, Arkansas EAST student and CADIS participant.

What sort of things might I work with if I use GIS?

The Internet

GPS Global Positioning Systems

Aerial and Satellite Imagery The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Can GIS help me get a good job? Adding GIS skills is one of the best moves you can make to increase your ability to get a good job. The next slide lists just a few of the industries that employ GIS specialists.

Retail/Commercial Business Agriculture Banking Healthcare Insurance Government Mining Real Estate Retail/Commercial Business Religion Telecommunications/Utilities Transportation Crop Management; Soil Management; Fertilizer Application; Pest and Disease Control; Irrigation; Erosion Control; Production Trends; Distribution Logistics; Crop Insurance Rating etc. Performance Monitoring; ATM Location Planning; Competitive Analysis; Customer Service; Loan Administration; Risk Management; Target Marketing; Compliance etc. Epidemiology; Outbreak Investigation and Tracking; Site and Facility Inspections; Program Evaluation; Site Location and Patient Distribution Analysis; Community Needs Assessment and Service Demand Analysis; Customer Service; Emergency Response Planning etc. Internet Insurance Agent Locator Service; Disaster Management; Target Marketing; Compliance; Claims Processing; Risk Management; Underwriting; Managed Healthcare etc. Crime Prevention; Land Use Planning; 911 Response; Public Works Management; Economic Development; Tax Assessment; Facility Management; Defense; Districting; Elections etc. Exploration; Environmental Protection; Management; Operations etc. Internet Home Locator Service; Title and Property Searches; Property Appraisal; Location Analysis; Demographic Reports; Risk Management; Lease Negotiation etc. Competitive Analysis; Demographic Reports; Customer Distribution Analysis; Customer Profiling; Market Analysis; Target Marketing; Site Selection; Location Analysis; Sales Territory Optimization; Trade Area Analysis etc. Mysticism; Congregant Analysis; Marketing etc. Administration; Call-Before-You-Dig, Service Dispatch; Troubleshooting Analysis; Wireless Communication Coverage; Needs Survey and Analysis; Hook-up Scheduling; Tower Location; Maintenance; Forecasting; System Implementation Planning and Design; Process Engineering and Feasibility Assessment; Data and System Integration; Data and Application Quality Assurance etc. Route Planning; Traffic Flow Analysis; Drive Time Estimates; Operations Research; Transportation Planning; In-car Navigation; Civil Engineering; Transportation Engineering; Transit Planning and Scheduling; System Implementation Planning and Design; Process Engineering and Feasibility Assessment; System Prototyping and Engineering; Software Development and Technology Transfer etc.

Learning to make a map is a great place to begin. Your first GIS project will be to make a map of your school and determine the land use areas for the various facilities on campus.

Now you are ready to begin. The remaining chapters will guide you through the process of making a map of your school. Good luck and have fun.