GIS & GI Science Lecture 1

What is GIS Geographic Information Systems  Definitions  “A powerful set of tools for storing and retrieving at will, transforming and displaying spatial data from the real world for a particular set of purposes”. Peter Burrough  “Automated systems for the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis and display of spatial data”. Keith Clarke  Definitions  “A powerful set of tools for storing and retrieving at will, transforming and displaying spatial data from the real world for a particular set of purposes”. Peter Burrough  “Automated systems for the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis and display of spatial data”. Keith Clarke

 “An information system that is designed to work with data referenced by spatial or geographic coordinates. In other words, a GIS is both a database system with specific capabilities for spatially-referenced data, as well as a set of operations for working with the data”. Jack Estes  A GIS is a special case of IS where the database consists of observations on spatially-distributed features, activities, or events which are definable in space as points, line and areas to retrieve data for ad hoc queries and analyses”. Ken Duecker  “An information system that is designed to work with data referenced by spatial or geographic coordinates. In other words, a GIS is both a database system with specific capabilities for spatially-referenced data, as well as a set of operations for working with the data”. Jack Estes  A GIS is a special case of IS where the database consists of observations on spatially-distributed features, activities, or events which are definable in space as points, line and areas to retrieve data for ad hoc queries and analyses”. Ken Duecker

From: Geographic Information Systems and Science, 2nd ed. Paul Longley, Michael Goodchild, David Maguire, and David Rhind The Basics of GIS

GIS sorts and stores information in data layers

GIS TRACKS OUR WEATHER...

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS SEISMIC ACTIVITY INDEX GIS CAN FORCAST GEOLOGICAL TRENDS...

GIS CAN MAP WILDLIFE POPULATIONS.....

GIS CAN TRACK TIDAL CHANGES ALONG A COASTLINE

GIS CAN TAKE YOU AROUND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND YOUR CITY

GI Science  A discipline that incorporates cartography, remote sensing and geographic information systems.

The three elements of GI Science  Individual: Research dominated by cognitive science. Understanding spatial concepts, learning and reasoning about geographic data, and computer interaction.  Computer: Research about representation, adoption of new technologies, computation, and visualization.  Society: Research about issues of impacts and societal context.  Individual: Research dominated by cognitive science. Understanding spatial concepts, learning and reasoning about geographic data, and computer interaction.  Computer: Research about representation, adoption of new technologies, computation, and visualization.  Society: Research about issues of impacts and societal context.

GIS Applications  Modeling the Environment of the Salton Sea with GIS Modeling the Environment of the Salton Sea with GIS  Modeling the Environment of the Salton Sea with GIS Modeling the Environment of the Salton Sea with GIS

Advantages of GIS  GIS maps  Are interactive  Allow for exploration and inquiry  Allow you to choose features of interest for display  GIS provides a way to view the world in ways pertinent to a specific industry or topic.  GIS maps  Are interactive  Allow for exploration and inquiry  Allow you to choose features of interest for display  GIS provides a way to view the world in ways pertinent to a specific industry or topic.