1. Mapping Data An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Fri. November 28, 2003 Marcel Fortin GIS & Map Librarian University of Toronto marcel.fortin@utoronto.ca

2. Agenda Introductions Introductions Objectives Objectives What is a GIS? What is a GIS? Examples of GIS? Examples of GIS? Issues and problems/obstacles to using GIS Issues and problems/obstacles to using GIS Questions Questions Exercises Exercises

3. Objectives Learn the basics of GIS software and databases Learn the basics of GIS software and databases Learn the basics of different geographic datasets Learn the basics of different geographic datasets Most importantly, you will learn to ask new and unique questions about subjects and data Most importantly, you will learn to ask new and unique questions about subjects and data

4. What is a GIS? A GIS is a computer application with the capacity to assemble, store, manipulate, analyze, and display geographically referenced information A GIS is a computer application with the capacity to assemble, store, manipulate, analyze, and display geographically referenced information

5. What is not a GIS? A GIS is not a digital map (a digital map is only one of the outputs of a GIS) A GIS is not a digital map (a digital map is only one of the outputs of a GIS) A GIS is not a graphic design tool A GIS is not a graphic design tool A GIS is not a replacement for maps A GIS is not a replacement for maps

6. GIS - an analogy GIS is to geographic display what a word processor is to writing GIS is to geographic display what a word processor is to writing Using word processing software does not make you a professional writer Using word processing software does not make you a professional writer Using GIS software does not make you a cartographer Using GIS software does not make you a cartographer

7. Why use a GIS? Being able to use a word processor allows many of us to produce better reports, deliver better papers, and to store information Being able to use a word processor allows many of us to produce better reports, deliver better papers, and to store information In the same respect a GIS allows you to bring your work further. It allows you to interpret and display data in a different light In the same respect a GIS allows you to bring your work further. It allows you to interpret and display data in a different light

8. How do I know if GIS can help me? About 80% of data have a geographic component to them About 80% of data have a geographic component to them GIS can help you create intelligent, dynamic displays using data with a geographic component GIS can help you create intelligent, dynamic displays using data with a geographic component If you ever find yourself asking the question “where?” If you ever find yourself asking the question “where?”

9. What is geographic data? In order to use a GIS, your data has to fit in the software in one way or another In order to use a GIS, your data has to fit in the software in one way or another Data is georeferenced if it has a geographic field. These are more numerous than you imagine Data is georeferenced if it has a geographic field. These are more numerous than you imagine postal codes postal codes Province Province City City longitude and latitude longitude and latitude lot numbers lot numbers concession numbers concession numbers census tract census tract wards wards etc. etc.

10. How can GIS help me? The combination of spatial and attribute data allows users to ask unique spatial/geographic questions The combination of spatial and attribute data allows users to ask unique spatial/geographic questions Once users understand their data and the GIS software they can answer these questions and create unique displays Once users understand their data and the GIS software they can answer these questions and create unique displays The software/hardware facilitates storing and the querying of users’ data The software/hardware facilitates storing and the querying of users’ data

11. Example of a GIS www.mapquest.com

12. Example of a GIS 0.5000000 0.0000000 -0.5000000 627995.1250249 4836671.8749751 1999 Orthorectified Aerial photograph

13. Example of a GIS DMTI Spatial’s Street Network File for Ontario

14. Example of a GIS 1999 Orthorectified Aerial photograph overlayed with the DMTI Spatial’s Street Network file for Ontario

15. Example of a GIS Map of French Language Population in Toronto, Census of Canada 2001

16. Example of a GIS 1870’s Map of Toronto with the Gardiner Expressway overlayed. Note the highway’s location!

17. Example of a GIS 1870’s map of Toronto showing current lots in the city of Toronto. Note the lots set on top of a lost stream (Garrison Creek)

18. Complex GIS examples Digital Elevation Model / 3d View data of mountains in the Eastern Townships, Québec ncols 1370 nrows 996 xllcorner 656445.92 yllcorner 4984392.2 cellsize 30 NODATA_value -9999 9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 - 9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 - 9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 - 9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 - 9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 198.901 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 - 9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 - 9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 - 9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 - 9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999

19. Complex GIS examples Digital Elevation Model of Mountains in the Eastern Townships, Québec

20. GIS Software We will be using ESRI’s ArcMap. Industry leader but also the Microsoft of GIS We will be using ESRI’s ArcMap. Industry leader but also the Microsoft of GIS Many other brands of software running on many different platforms, including Mapinfo, Idrisi, PCI, Microsoft MapPoint, and others Many other brands of software running on many different platforms, including Mapinfo, Idrisi, PCI, Microsoft MapPoint, and others

21. GIS Issues Data Access, availability, and price in Canada (Data Culture) Data Access, availability, and price in Canada (Data Culture) Data Quality Data Quality Software access and price Software access and price Computing Computing Training Training

22. GIS Data Access Data is expensive Data is expensive Data is often inaccessible Data is often inaccessible Data often does not exist (soil attribute data) Data often does not exist (soil attribute data) Licensing issues Licensing issues Reproduction issues (copyright) Reproduction issues (copyright)

23. GIS Data Access – Free Data www.geobase.ca www.geobase.ca www.geobase.ca www.geogratis.com www.geogratis.com www.geogratis.com www.geographynetwork.com www.geographynetwork.com www.geographynetwork.com www.geographynetwork.ca www.geographynetwork.ca www.geographynetwork.ca www.gisdatadepot.com www.gisdatadepot.com www.gisdatadepot.com University of Toronto Map Library (if affiliated) www.library.utoronto.ca/maplib University of Toronto Map Library (if affiliated) www.library.utoronto.ca/maplibwww.library.utoronto.ca/maplib University of Toronto Data Library (if affiliated) chass.utoronto.ca/datalib University of Toronto Data Library (if affiliated) chass.utoronto.ca/datalibchass.utoronto.ca/datalib www.statcan.ca www.statcan.ca www.statcan.ca

24. Data Quality Government creates most data Government creates most data Third party vendors (DMTI Spatial, GDT etc.) Third party vendors (DMTI Spatial, GDT etc.)

25. Data Quality Source: NTS Sheet 32c01 1 st edition 2 nd edition

26. Software issues GIS software licenses available across most campuses in Canada GIS software licenses available across most campuses in Canada Price of software can be prohibitive otherwise Price of software can be prohibitive otherwise Learning curve is steep Learning curve is steep

27. Computing Issues Extra RAM Extra RAM Extra processing speed Extra processing speed Good quality (expensive) Video Card Good quality (expensive) Video Card Extra large Screen Extra large Screen Upgrades Upgrades

28. GIS Issues - Training Community College diplomas Community College diplomas University of Toronto/Ryerson undergraduate and graduate programs University of Toronto/Ryerson undergraduate and graduate programs ESRI Canada www.esricanada.com courses ESRI Canada www.esricanada.com courseswww.esricanada.com ESRI Virtual campus courses ESRI Virtual campus courses University map libraries University map libraries

29. What specifically are you going to be doing? Module 1 - Getting to know ArcMap Module 1 - Getting to know ArcMap Module 1.5 – Learn how to create a printable map Module 1.5 – Learn how to create a printable map Module 2 - Using different types of datasets together in a GIS Module 2 - Using different types of datasets together in a GIS Module 3 - Learn how to make a thematic map Module 3 - Learn how to make a thematic map Module 4 - Manipulate and modify GIS datasets Module 4 - Manipulate and modify GIS datasets Module 5 - Create new datasets and convert them to GIS layers Module 5 - Create new datasets and convert them to GIS layers Module 6 - Drawing GIS layers using an air photo Module 6 - Drawing GIS layers using an air photo Module 7 – Georeference an image to convert it to a GIS layer Module 7 – Georeference an image to convert it to a GIS layer

30. Questions?