Intro to Geographic Information Systems 101 Ken Waters Scientific Services Division Southern Region HQ National Weather Service June 30, 1999

Contents n What is a GIS? n What is a GIS composed of? n What are the main functions of a GIS? n What has caused the recent rapid growth of GIS? n What are some primary uses of GIS? n How are does NWS use GIS? n Where do we go from here?

What is a GIS? Using the US Geological Survey’s definition, A GIS is “ a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographically referenced information, i.e. data identified according to their locations ”.

What is a GIS? n n Geographically referenced is the key n n Means each data element must have some kind of reference to location in space n n GIS is NOT an off-the-shelf piece of software that is ready to run n n Much more must go into the implementation of a GIS

What is a GIS composed of? n n At its most basic, a GIS is composed of data and the analysis tool n n In reality, however, there is much more to a GIS:

What is a GIS composed of? – –The analysis software (e.g., ArcView) – –The hardware (PC, workstation, network-- server and/or Internet) – –Peripheral hardware (plotters, digitizers, GPS) – –The data n n stored in a RDBMS georeferenced format n n includes the process of acquiring the data

What is a GIS composed of? – –The database structure – –The user interface for entering data, analyzing data, updating data, and issuing reports – –Last, but not least, the user.

What are the main functions of a GIS? n Data Collection n Data Storage n Data Updating n Data Analysis n Output of reports, maps, and tables

What has caused the recent rapid growth of GIS? n Rapid increase in microprocessor speed, enabling cheaper, faster personal computers n Rapid decline in online storage costs, enabling easy storage of larger and larger databases n Growth of networking---especially the Internet

What has caused the recent rapid growth of GIS? n Development of the GPS allowing easy georeferencing from the field n Greater numbers of remote sensing platforms with increased data resolution and frequency –satellites –radar

What are some primary uses of GIS? n Display of analog mapping –Washington D.C. Metro system Washington D.C. Metro systemWashington D.C. Metro system –USGS quadrangle map excerpts USGS quadrangle map excerptsUSGS quadrangle map excerpts –NOS coastal charts NOS coastal chartsNOS coastal charts

What are some primary uses of GIS? n Interactive map creation –Massachusetts Electronic Atlas Massachusetts Electronic AtlasMassachusetts Electronic Atlas –MapsOnUs –MapQuest –TIGER Map Server TIGER Map ServerTIGER Map Server –National Atlas of the United States of America National Atlas of the United States of AmericaNational Atlas of the United States of America

What are some primary uses of GIS? n Shortest path analysis –MapsOnUs MapsOnUs –AutoPilot n Locator Services –MapsOnUs MapsOnUs –Realtor.com Realtor.com

What are some primary uses of GIS? n Traffic Information Systems (TIS) –Washington D.C. Washington D.C.Washington D.C. –CalTrans in Los Angeles, Calif. CalTrans in Los Angeles, Calif.CalTrans in Los Angeles, Calif. n Airline Flight Tracking –TheTrip.com TheTrip.com

What are some primary uses of GIS? n Monitoring Earth Systems –Real-time earthquake maps Real-time earthquake mapsReal-time earthquake maps –Blue Skies (Univ of Michigan) Blue SkiesBlue Skies –NCEP Meteograms NCEP MeteogramsNCEP Meteograms –Earthwatch Earthwatch –Texas A&M Meteorology Department Texas A&M Meteorology DepartmentTexas A&M Meteorology Department

How does the NWS use GIS? n Some use in River Forecast Centers with stream flow analysis (e.g., AMBER) n OH static display of river flood stages OH static display of river flood stages OH static display of river flood stages n AWIPS –not really a GIS –uses GIS-created shapefiles for background maps –can be modified to use GIS n Any more?

Where do we go from here? n Must work on inter-agency relationships –Many other national and state agencies are already using GIS to perform their mission –Little NWS interaction now with these other agencies –Lots of opportunities to share databases

Where do we go from here? n Integrate GIS concepts into AWIPS? n Dynamic Internet Applications –NWS watches/warnings/forecasts –Develop graphical Internet displays –One-stop shopping for weather data