1. Introduction to GIS

2. Goals
Learn what GIS is
Learn some of the basic terminology used in GIS
Learn some of the basic operations and applications of GIS using ArcMap
Learn examples of analyses that can be performed with GIS

3. What is GIS? Geographic Information System
Describes and characterizes the earth
Visualize and analyze
Models geographic
information as a
set of layers

4. Types of Data Structures
Attributes & Information
Feature Classes
Raster Datasets

5. Attributes Tabular information to describe features
Can include numbers, text, date, time

6. Feature Classes
Vector data
Representation using geometry (vertices)

7. Ag Hall
Monroe St.
Polyline Feature
Polygon Feature
Point Feature
Bus Stop

8. Raster Datasets Divides world into discrete cells in a grid
Each cell has a value to represent a characteristic of that location

10. Features as Raster Data

11. Resolutions

12. Resolutions

13. Georeferencing Assigning spatial locations to map features
Coordinate systems

14. Coordinate Systems & Projections
Arbitrary designations for spatial data
Purpose is to provide a common basis for communication about a place on the earth’s surface
Use of reference datum's
Two types of coordinate systems
Geographic Coordinate Systems
Projected Coordinate Systems

15. Geographic Coordinate Systems
Uses a 3-D spherical surface to define locations on the earth

16. Projected Coordinate Systems
Compresses 3-D surface onto a flat 2-D surface
Spherical coordinates  planar coordinates

17. Projected Coordinate Systems
Has constant lengths, angles, and areas across the two dimensions
Create distortions in some aspect of distance, area, shape, or direction
Users cope by using projections that fit their intended use, geographic location, and extent

18. Datums
Define the position of the spheroid relative to the center of the earth
Provide a frame of reference for measuring locations on the surface of the earth
Define the origin and orientation of latitude and longitude lines

19. Datums
Local datums align their spheroid to closely fit the earth's surface in a particular area
Coordinates of all other points are calculated from origin point (fixed)
Datum
Latitude
Longitude
NAD 1927
NAD 1983
WGS 1984

20. Introduction to ArcMap

21. Introduction to ArcMap
File types
Tons of files for one layer
.shp, .tif, .gif, .png….
Metadata
Data about the data
Usually a text file (.txt)
Tells you important information about who created it, when, projection, etc…

24. Geoprocessing Tools

30. Getting GIS Data USDA-NRCS Geospatial Data Gateway
Oklahoma State University
University of Oklahoma