Geographic Information Systems GIS Software

1. The Early GISs ► SURFACE II, by Kansas Geological Survey ► SYMAP, by Harvard Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis

SURFACE II SURFACE II ► ► Surface III displays of three-dimensional, single-valued surfaces ► ► The input to Surface III is a text file containing X-Y-Z data points. The program will create a matrix of rows and columns describing the surface. The gridding methods include distance-weighted averaging, polynomial fitting, and Universal kriging, Etc.

SURFACE II SURFACE II ► ► The software can create several kinds of maps contour maps three-dimensional fishnet diagrams color-filled contours data-point postings ► ► Grids can be added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided by one another (grid-to-grid operations)

SYMAP ► Developed as general-purpose mapping package beginning in 1964 ► Output exclusively on line printers ► Poor resolution, low quality ► Limited functionality but simple to use

SYMAP.. ► A way for non-cartographers to make maps ► First real demonstration of ability of computers to make maps ► Sparked enormous interest in a previously unheard-of technology

2. Major GIS Software Packages ► ArcGIS, Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) ► Autodesk MapGuide, Autodesk Inc. ► GRASS, Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) ► IDRISI, Clark University Graduate School of Geography ► MapInfo, Pitney Bowes Business Insight ► Maptitude, Caliper Corporation ► Geomedia, Intergraph Corporation

ArcGIS (ARC/INFO) ► A long lived, full function GIS ► A vector-based package, added raster in mid 90’s ► With hundreds of sophisticated tools for map automation, data conversion, database management, map overlay and spatial analysis, interactive display and query graphic editing, and address geocoding ► A relational database interface ► Changed to object-oriented design in version 8+ in the late 1990s

Autodesk Map ► Built on the capabilities of AutoCAD, Autodesk inc. ► Extensively used in planning, engineering, and architecture ► Supports topology, Oracle and SQL query, and grids/images ► Extensive tools for coordinate conversion, map editing and digitizing ► Allows an open architecture ►

GRASS ► Geographic Resources Analysis Support System ► The first Unix based GIS, using raster data ► It is a free software with an open architecture ► Started by the U.S. Army - Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (USA-CERL), now run by OSGeo foundation ►

Grass 6.0 Features ► New Vector Engine (geometry) ► Volume visualization ► Vector network analysis

IDRISI ► A not-for profit operation (School of Geography, Clark University) ► A raster GIS, with an open architecture ► Image processing and spatial statistical analysis ► Time-series analysis, spatial decision support, uncertainty analysis, fuzzy analysis ►

MapInfo ► Start out as a less than full-blown GIS ► A vector-based package and data ready ► Suited to economic, political, cultural, industrial applications ► Geomarketing ► Site location analysis ►

Maptitude ► Related to TransCAD, GIS-Plus GIS, Caliper Corp ► Transportation-oriented GIS package ► Come with geocoded and system-ready data ► Allow creation and maintenance of database, analysis of geographic relationship, and map display ► ►

Geomedia ► A layer based GIS ► With a set of modules for different functions ► There are additional extensions for land information, parcel management, public works, and transportation ► Maintains topologically clean data without building topology ► Use Orical and SQL for attribute data ►

3. Picking up a GIS Software ► Cost ► Training ► Manual ► User support group ► Software maintenance That is all well and good, but, but does it come with a remote?

4. Readings ► Keith Clarke, 2003, Getting Started with Geographic Information Systems, 4 th edition, Prentice Hall.