Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) using ArcMap 9.0 Tuesday September 26 th, 2005 Marcel Fortin GIS & Map Librarian University of Toronto

Agenda What is a GIS? What is a GIS? Examples of GIS Examples of GIS Issues and problems/obstacles to using GIS Issues and problems/obstacles to using GIS GIS Software and Data GIS Software and Data Hands-on Hands-on

Objectives Understand the basic premise of GIS Understand the basic premise of GIS Learn the basics of GIS software and databases Learn the basics of GIS software and databases Learn the basics of different geographic datasets Learn the basics of different geographic datasets

What is a GIS? A GIS is a computer application with the capacity to assemble, store, manipulate, analyze, and display geographically referenced information A GIS is a computer application with the capacity to assemble, store, manipulate, analyze, and display geographically referenced information

What is not a GIS? A GIS is not a digital map (a digital map is only one of the outputs of a GIS) A GIS is not a digital map (a digital map is only one of the outputs of a GIS) A GIS is not a graphic design tool A GIS is not a graphic design tool A GIS is not a replacement for maps A GIS is not a replacement for maps

GIS - An Analogy GIS is to geographic display what a word processor is to writing GIS is to geographic display what a word processor is to writing In that same sense, whereas using word processing software does not make you a professional writer then using GIS software does not make you a cartographer In that same sense, whereas using word processing software does not make you a professional writer then using GIS software does not make you a cartographer

What is geographic data? In order to use a GIS, your data has to fit in the software in one way or another In order to use a GIS, your data has to fit in the software in one way or another Data is georeferenced if it has a geographic field. These are more numerous than you imagine Data is georeferenced if it has a geographic field. These are more numerous than you imagine postal codes postal codes Province Province City City longitude and latitude longitude and latitude lot numbers lot numbers concession numbers concession numbers census tract census tract wards wards etc. etc.

Example of a GIS

Example of a GIS Aerial photograph (Triathlon Inc.)

Example of a GIS DMTI Spatial’s Street Network File for Ontario

Example of a GIS 1999 Orthorectified Aerial photograph overlayed with the DMTI Spatial’s Street Network file for Ontario

Example of a GIS Map of French Language Population in Toronto, Census of Canada 2001

Example of a GIS 1870’s Map of Toronto with the Gardiner Expressway overlayed. Note the highway’s location!

Example of a GIS 1870’s map of Toronto showing current lots in the city of Toronto. Note the lots set on top of a lost stream (Garrison Creek)

Complex GIS examples Digital Elevation Model / 3d View data of mountains in the Eastern Townships, Québec ncols 1370 nrows 996 xllcorner yllcorner cellsize 30 NODATA_value

Complex GIS examples Digital Elevation Model of Mountains in the Eastern Townships, Québec

GIS Software We will be using ESRI’s ArcMap. Industry leader but also the Microsoft of GIS We will be using ESRI’s ArcMap. Industry leader but also the Microsoft of GIS Many other brands of software running on many different platforms, including Mapinfo, Idrisi, PCI, Microsoft MapPoint, GRASS, and others Many other brands of software running on many different platforms, including Mapinfo, Idrisi, PCI, Microsoft MapPoint, GRASS, and others

GIS Issues Data Access, availability, and price in Canada (Data Culture) Data Access, availability, and price in Canada (Data Culture) Data Quality Data Quality Software access and price Software access and price Computing Computing Training Training

GIS Data Access at the University of Toronto Library

GIS Data Access Data is expensive Data is expensive Data is often inaccessible Data is often inaccessible Data often does not exist (soil attribute data example) Data often does not exist (soil attribute data example) Licensing issues Licensing issues Reproduction issues (copyright) Reproduction issues (copyright)

GIS Data Access – Free Data

What will you be doing today? Downloading Data from the Map Library Web Pages Downloading Data from the Map Library Web Pages Loading data in ArcGIS Loading data in ArcGIS –one layer –several layers Working with varying Geographic Coordinate systems Working with varying Geographic Coordinate systems Exporting a Map Exporting a Map

What will you be doing thursday? Linking Datafiles Linking Datafiles ArcToolbox ArcToolbox –Converting GIS to Autocad –Converting SID to TIF –Moving files Clipping Layers by geography Clipping Layers by geography Extracting data using SQL statements Extracting data using SQL statements Exporting Layers Exporting Layers Introduction to ArcCatalog Introduction to ArcCatalog Digital Elevation Modeling using ArcScene Digital Elevation Modeling using ArcScene

Questions? Feel free to contact us at the Map Library at for further help