1. Something Basic about GIS
Ming-Chun Lee

2. What is GIS ? GIS = Geographic Information Science (GISc)
the academic theory behind the development, use, and application of geographic information systems (GIS).
It is concerned with people, hardware, software, and geospatial data (Wikipedia)
GISc addresses fundamental issues raised by the use of GIS and related information technologies
So what is GIS?
we should first look at what the words themselves mean:
Geography: the real world, spatial realities, GIS is about representing, understanding, and analyzing our world,
Information: data and information, their meaning and use, GIS is about measuring the real world (data) and then gaining useful information from the measurements.
Systems: computer technology and its support infrastructure, GIS is a methodology, a system of techniques and principles, helping us deal with the data and derive the information

3. What is GIS ? GIS = Geographic Information System
GIS is the merging of cartography, statistical analysis and database technology (Wikipedia)
GIS = a toolbox consists of a variety of analytical tools, which enable people to better understand all sorts of geo-referenced information in an effective way
Three components:
Geography – the real world
Information – data and information
Systems – technologies
So what is GIS?
we should first look at what the words themselves mean:
Geography: the real world, spatial realities, GIS is about representing, understanding, and analyzing our world,
Information: data and information, their meaning and use, GIS is about measuring the real world (data) and then gaining useful information from the measurements.
Systems: computer technology and its support infrastructure, GIS is a methodology, a system of techniques and principles, helping us deal with the data and derive the information

4. A Definition of GIS GIS = Geographic Information System Worboys, 1995:
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based information system that enables one to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced information.
GIS is a a computer-based technology and methodology for collecting, managing, analyzing, modeling, and presenting geographic data for a wide range of applications and uses.
What we mean by geographically referenced information:
Anything can be located on our world, physical objects, or a event,
and any description or accompanying information along with those things being described..

5. GIS
GIS uses the analytical power of the computer to complete complex tasks
Digital storage power to manage large data sets.
Integration of many different types of data from many different sources
Easily updated and edited

6. Functions of GIS Data Collection Storage & Management Retrieval
Conversion
Analysis
Display
Collection: from different data sources, allow different data formats
Storage & Management:
Retrieval: allow us to select data and view the data in a variety of ways, depending on what we want from the data, what kind of information we need
Conversion: change data format
Analysis: process data in order to gain useful information
Modeling: GIS allows us to understand how things work in the real world by only looking at the data. You have to be aware that data is only a small set of measurements about the reality, it is only a small window allows us to view the reality, we want to understand what is going on in the world, we have to look at the data, and base on the analysis of the data, we model the reality, and try to gain insight about our world.
Display: presenting data in different ways for easy understanding

7. Applications of GIS
Conservation planning: where are the best place to protect?

8. Applications of GIS
Evaluation of riparian buffer zones to target watershed restoration efforts

9. Applications of GIS Fire management:
identifying sites for controlled burns and thinning

10. Applications of GIS
Zoning, Permit processing, land use planning and management

11. Applications of GIS
Transportation Network Routing

12. Applications of GIS How GIS can be used: Infrastructure Management
Floodplain Management
Emergency Response Planning
Noise Pollution Analysis
Participatory Planning Processes
Jobs/Housing Spatial Balance
and more …
We have talked about what GIS means, what are GIS components, now let’s look at what GIS can do for us, or for the planners:
Infrastructure Management: like where need or can be put in a new wastewater treatment facility or plant, where we can put a new park
Transportation Network Routing: where a light rail or mono rail can go through, it would depend on where population are, where has high population density
Floodplain Management:
Emergency Response Planning: where are the current emergency response facilities, where we need to put in a new facility, how we can define emergency response districts based on the distribution of the emergency response facilities
Noise Pollution Analysis: based on available data, we can understand how bad the pollution or noise is,
Participatory Planning Processes: GIS capability to produce a variety of visual representations can really help laypeople the public to better understand what’s going on in their neighborhood, or in their city, help promote public participation
Jobs/Housing Spatial Balance: based on Census data, we can understand the distribution of income, housing, and some other social-economic characteristics about our city, so we can try to find what the problem could be and then try to find the treatment for it.

13. Integrate multiple data types & sources

14. The GIS Data Concept Data Organized by Layers/Themes Administrative
Digital Orthophoto
Streets
Hydrography
Parcels
Buildings
Zoning
Utilities
Administrative
Boundaries
As I pointed out before, data is the heart of GIS.
Now, let’s go understand how data is organized in GIS:
Data is Organized by different Layers/Themes, each layer or theme contains a certain type of data with a particular topic (or purpose). For example, (look at the graph)
Layers Integrated Using Explicit Location on the Earth’s Surface or say referencing to a certain geographic coordinate system, we will address the issue of coordinate system later in other lecture..
Data Organized by Layers/Themes

15. GIS Database GIS data is organized by Layers/Themes
A Theme is a collection of geographic features (usually a separate file), such as boundaries, roads, together with the attributes (may stored in other files) of those features
A set of Themes for a geographic area makes up a GIS Database (a group of files)

16. The GIS Data Structure
Layers Integrate Using Explicit Location on the Earth’s Surface
Themes have to be georeferenced.

17. Types of GIS Data Describes Objects In Terms Of: Spatial Data
Absolute X,Y Coordinates – Locations
Size, and Shape
Attributes
Characteristics associated with Geography
We can categorize GIS data into three different types:
First type is Spatial Data, include location, size, and shape,
Absolute X,Y Coordinates – Locations
Size, and Shape
For example, like land parcels, cone with locations, different sizes and shapes
Second one is non-spatial attributes:
Non-spatial Attributes
Characteristics Unrelated to Geography
For example, the owners’ names of those parcels, an owner can own multiple properties, the name is one of the attribute associate with parcels, but no really location specific
Topology
Spatial Relationships Between Features
How each feature relate with each other, like which one is connected to which one, which one is on the left of which one, those kinds of relations

18. GIS Associates Spatial and Attribute Data in a Geo-Referenced Database
ARC
INFO 1 3 5
ID AREA PERIM CLASS LANDUSE
Single Family
Multi Family
Commercial
Forest
Water 2 4
GIS Associates Spatial and Attribute Data in a Geo-Referenced Database

19. Why is GIS Useful? Government and public service
Tax Assessment/Zoning/Monitoring
Business service and planning
Business Location
Transportation planning
Routing Optimization
Logistics and transportation
Emergency Evacuation
Environment
Land Use Change

20. Why is GIS Useful? Mapping locations: Mapping quantities:
GIS can be used to identify and map locations: where certain features are.
Mapping quantities:
GIS can be used to quantify features that meet certain criteria or relationships between features.
Mapping patterns:
GIS can be used to explore patterns. For example a density map can be used to examine the spatial distributions of features and detect patterns.

21. Why is GIS Useful? Mapping distances: Mapping change:
GIS can be used to find out what's occurring within a set distance of a feature.
Mapping change:
GIS can be used to monitor change through time and assess the results of a policy.

22. Geographical Data in the ComputerB C D
User’s
perceived
phenomenon
structure
GIS
representation
of phenomenon
structure
Database
structure
Hardware
Structure

23. From Reality to Data

24. Class Overview Objectives: Introduction to the Technical use of GIS
Develop an understanding of geographic data organization and analysis in GIS,
Develop the operational skills to perform GIS- related tasks using available software (ESRI ArcGIS)
Introduction to the Technical use of GIS

25. Class Overview Class Structure – Learning by Doing
Lectures (short and concise)
Learn basic concepts
Lab Exercises / Software Tutorials & Demos
Learn the tools (How-to)
Online / printed materials
Learn from other users
Project
Learn how to Apply the tools
Presentation
Report

26. Class Overview GIS Project Selection of the Project Site
Initial Data Identification & Acquisition
Project Design & Methodology
Data Analysis
Presentation
Report

27. Possible Issues for Project
Community issues – Crimes
An analysis of the spatial distribution of homicide
Community issues – Health care / health care facilities
The distribution of Drug Treatment Centers in LA
Community issues – Housing
The availability of low-income housing in relation to need
Community issues – socio-economic statues
A Study of Gentrification
Community services
The mapping of After School Centers
Physical planning / Public utilities / Facilities
A Spatial Assessment of Existing Bike Rack Locations
Land use / Growth management / Urban planning
Land Use Analysis of the Salmon River Watershed

28. Issues to explore socio-economic statues Crime
Physical condition / physical fabric
Street network, pedestrian environment, building typology, land use, open space
socio-economic statues
Crime
Schools / public services

29. Project timeline Project Idea – Feb 25
Initial Data Acquisition – Mar 11
Project Design & Methodology – Mar 18
Data Analysis – Apr 8
Presentation - Apr 29
Final Report - Due May 6, 5:00pm

30. Class Overview Access to computers running ArcGIS 10.1 Internet access
USB drive (flash drive or removable hard drive)

31. Class Overview Web Site: Me: https://webpages.uncc.edu/~mlee137/gis/
Ming-Chun Lee Assistant Professor, Office: Storrs 147 / CCB 705
Hours: By Appointment ( me)