1. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

2. Flying Blind
July 24th 2003
The Economist

3. We Live in Two Worlds These are increasingly in Conflict…
Natural World
Constructed World
Self-Regulating
Managed
These are increasingly in Conflict…
…..think water use, electricity and heating

4. What is GIS?
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based system including software, hardware, people, and geographic information
A GIS can:
create, edit, query, analyze, and display map information on the computer

5. Abstracting the Real World
A method to visualize, manipulate, analyze, and display spatial data to study the world
“Smart Maps” linking a database to the map, creating dynamic displays

6. Some Ways GIS is Used Whereever Spatial Data is needed Environmental
Emergency Services
Environmental
Natural Disasters
Education
Government
Medical
Industry, Businesses
Defense
Whereever
Spatial Data
is needed

7. What can you do with a GIS?
The possibilities are unlimited…
Environmental impact assessment
Resource management
Land use planning
Tax Mapping
Water and Sanitation Mapping
Transportation routing
and more ...

8. What is Not GIS ? GPS – Global Positioning System
A static map – paper or digital
Maps are often a “product” of a GIS
A way to visualize the analysis
A software package

9. Five Data Layers “Alike” Features
Rivers
Capitals
Roads
States
Lakes

10. Geography and Databases
A GIS stores information about the world as a collection of thematic layers that can be linked together by geography
Polygon 3
Scrub 17
Very high
Clay

11. Database “Not Easy to Interpret”

12. Multiple Databases can be Linked and Related

13. How does a GIS work? GIS data has a spatial/geographic reference
This might be a reference that describes a feature on the earth using:
a latitude & longitude
a national coordinate system
an address
a district
a wetland identifier
a road name

14. Data Representation
Raster
Vector
Real World

15. Why use GIS??
GIS helps learners of any age think critically, learn in an integrated fashion, and exercise multiple intelligences.
The infinite variations possible in topic of study, scale of exploration, data engaged, analyses used, and questions asked help teachers model the importance of being a lifelong learner.

16. Combining Various Display Methods