GIS and Layers GIS and Layers Developed by Oklahoma 4-H

Beginnings of GIS  Began in the 1960s  Use was mainly in the public sector  Has roots in cartography and mapping  Major influence on geography in the 1980s and 1990s

Definition of GIS  Geographic Information System ESRI defines GIS as: A collection of computer hardware, software, and geographic data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information.ESRI defines GIS as: A collection of computer hardware, software, and geographic data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information.

Layers  Layers are a “slice of the geographic reality in a particular area” (ESRI)  They are similar to a map legend  Layers may describe physical, biological, cultural, demographic, scale, etc. characteristics

 For Example: We have three maps (or layers) with yearly rainfall, tree species, and soil type for a specific area.We have three maps (or layers) with yearly rainfall, tree species, and soil type for a specific area. By overlaying these maps, we could determine if the amount of yearly rainfall has an effect on the type of tree that grows in certain soils.By overlaying these maps, we could determine if the amount of yearly rainfall has an effect on the type of tree that grows in certain soils.

Essentially GIS uses different layers to show the relationships between data. Soil Type Tree Species Yearly Rainfall

ESRI example of GIS map and its layers

Components of GIS  Hardware ComputerComputer  Software Computer programComputer program  Data Collected, bought, or freeCollected, bought, or free

Uses of Data  Find features or patterns  Quantities and density maps  Changes in a specific area  Anticipating a change (natural disaster preparedness)  Deciding or evaluating a course of action

How is it used?  Tracking the spread of disease  Mapping soil moisture  Trends in an evolving storm  Mapping Storm Water systems  Public road inventory  Precision Agriculture

Tracking the spread of the West Nile virus from ESRI Map Book vol. 19

Track of 2004 Hurricanes in Florida and Wind Speed, ESRI Map Book Vol. 21

Mapping soil moisture from ESRI Map Book Vol. 21

Wastewater collection system from ESRI Map Book Vol. 21

Predicting traffic problems from ESRI Map Book Vol. 16

Precision Agriculture from ESRI Map Book Vol. 20 Maturity Map Protein Map Detailed Map Maps are for Brown Rice Red is High; Purple is Low

What are other uses you can uses you can think of? think of?

 Link to ESRI map books for real life GIS maps: ning/success_stories/map_book.html ning/success_stories/map_book.html ning/success_stories/map_book.html ning/success_stories/map_book.html

Activity  If given the following layers, what inferences or assumptions can you make from them? Map of the U.S. with state capitalsMap of the U.S. with state capitals Map of the population densityMap of the population density Map of interstate highwaysMap of interstate highways Map of rivers in the U.S.Map of rivers in the U.S. Average farm size in acresAverage farm size in acres

Map of United States and State Capitals

Interstate Highways

Major Rivers

Capitals, Rivers, Highways

Population Density from 2000 Census

Capitals, Rivers, Highways, Population Capitals, Rivers, Highways, Population

Oklahoma with Highway, Rivers, Population Density

Average Size of Farms in 2002

Farm Size, Capitals, Highways, Rivers

Oklahoma Farm Size, Highways, Rivers

All maps are from the National Atlas website located at: This site allows you to use different layers to create maps.