GIS Lab slides Updated January 2010

Lab 1Slide 2 Part 1: Data vs. Information Data: raw facts or measurements Information: collection of facts organized/processed in such a way that they have value beyond the facts themselves. Adds meaning or context to achieve goal of user ?? What is this?

Lab 1Slide 3 Data vs. information Set of names in any order / class list Set of numbers / grades for lab “When you control the the mail you control... information!”

Fig 1.2

Lab 1Slide 5 Information is the derivative of manipulating, organizing, summarizing, and presenting data in a form suitable for decision-making or further analysis. - Hutchinson/Coulthard

Lab 1Slide 6 Principle MIS: The value of information is directly linked to how it helps decision makers achieve the organization’s goals

Lab 1Slide 7 The “Information Spectrum”.Omniscience.Wisdom.Knowledge.Information. Data

Part 2: Data and Information characteristics Often a trade-off between some of these attributes. Which ones are critical to your application?

Lab 1Slide 9

Lab 1Slide 10 Friends …. Secure and Reliable Timely and Accessible Reliable and Simple

Lab 1Slide 11 And Enemies Accessible vs. Secure Reliable/Accurate/Complete vs. Economical

Lab 1Slide 12 PART 3: What is GIS? A Geographical Information System (GIS) is a compilation of computer hardware, software, data and personnel that collects, analyzes and presents information that is tied to a geographic location. Converts data into visual form Links geographical data with descriptive data and forms the information into layers (coverages). The layers create themes that represent particular features on a map and, when combined, form a complete picture.

Lab 1Slide 13 Three Types of Data Spatial Made up of points lines and areas: Points- locations: buildings, customers etc. Lines- streets, rivers. elevations Areas- polygons representing states, counties, market areas etc. Tabular Lists, spreadsheets and databases Can be linked to spatial data Sales to a region Image Satellite images, aerial photographs and scanned data One layer Cannot be broken down

Lab 1Slide 14 Data Models Vector- spatial x,y coordinates Structured coordinates represent the shape of a feature. Highways, rivers etc. Raster - image Matrix of cells with values Satellite imagery Color-coded to create a 3 dimensional image (elevations) Digital camera, TV

Lab 1Slide 15 Uses Business Placement Law enforcement Emergency Response Census/Demographics Marketing Pollution remediation Medical (disease epidemiology) Facility management (utilities) &Much More!

Lab 1Slide 16 The original map drawn by Dr. John Snow ( ), a British physician, showing cases of cholera in the London epidemics of 1854, clustered around the locations of water pumps. (Wikipedia)

Lab 1Slide 17 Allow Pop-ups for these Albany crime spots (updated weekly) Sex offenders map for a Zip Code

Lab 1Slide 18 Albany Crime Map

Lab 1Slide 19 GIS Lab MapInfo overview Scavenger hunt – use MapInfo to answer geography questions Map of WTC and Fire Companies Metadata Thematic map of male:female ratio Use one screen to view instructions, other computer to do work