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What is GIS?

What is GIS?. GIS = Geographical information systems. Okay to leave now? No! Two parts to the definition …?. You signed up for the course -. What does GIS suggest to you? Who might use a GIS (and why)?. MoSoSos*. *mobile social-software services. Some textbook definitions.

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What is GIS?

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  1. What is GIS? CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  2. GIS = Geographical information systems • Okay to leave now? • No! • Two parts to the definition…? CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  3. You signed up for the course - • What does GIS suggest to you? • Who might use a GIS (and why)? CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  4. MoSoSos* *mobile social-software services CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  5. Some textbook definitions “A powerful set of tools for collecting, storing, retrieving at will, transforming and displaying spatial data from the real world.” Burroughs 1986 (Principles of Geographical Information Systems for Land Resources Assessment) CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  6. Some textbook definitions ”A decision support system involving the integration of spatially referenced data in a problem solving environment.”Cowen 1988 (Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 54:1551-4) CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  7. Some textbook definitions ”Any manual or computer based set of procedures used to store and manipulate geographically referenced data.” Aronoff 1989 (Geographic Information Systems: a Management Perspective) CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  8. Some textbook definitions ”An information system that is designed to work with data referenced by spatial or geographic coordinates. In other words, a GIS is both a database system with specific capabilities for spatially-referenced data, as well as a set of operations for working with the data.” Estes & Star (in Clarke 2001, Getting Started with Geographic Information Systems) CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  9. Some textbook definitions ”A special case of information systems where the database consists of observations on spatially distributed features, activities or events, which are definable in space as points, lines, and areas, to retrieve data for ad hoc queries and analyses.” Dueker (in Clarke 2001, Getting Started with Geographic Information Systems) CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  10. What do these definitions have in common? CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  11. Here’s what we think … • A GIS is a special type of database, designed to be used with spatially or geographically-referenced objects (features, processes, or events) CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  12. Here’s what we think … • A GIS is a special type of database, designed to be used with spatially or geographically-referenced objects (features, processes, or events) • A GIS contains operations or tools for working with spatial data. These tools include typical database operations (sorting, selecting, querying, etc.) plus specifically geographic operations (setting and changing scales and projections, etc.) CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  13. Here’s what we think … • A GIS is a special type of database, designed to be used with spatially or geographically-referenced objects (features, processes, or events) • A GIS contains operations or tools for working with spatial data. These tools include typical database operations (sorting, selecting, querying, etc.) as well as operations specific to geographic issues (setting and changing scales and projections, etc.) • A GIS serves a wide variety of purposes, centering on the storage, display, and analysis of spatial data. CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  14. Two things that a GIS isn’t* • A computerized cartographic (map-drawing) system GISs often display their data and analyses by means of maps, but they are themselves much more than just the map. * But is often confused with CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  15. Two things that a GIS isn’t* • A GPS (Global Positioning System) Both the U. S. & Russia operate satellite systems that can provide ground coordinates to a hand-held unit, but the coordinates, without other data, don’t constitute a GIS. (Why not?) * But is often confused with CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  16. The class mascot Name ??? Useful information? CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  17. A Real-life GIS CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  18. Looks like just a map? CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  19. Look at “tool bar” at left CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  20. Use the Zoom tool CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  21. Where’s SBU? CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  22. How to find our mascot? CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  23. Add Hydrant layer… CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  24. It still looks like just a map CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  25. But let’s use the Identify tool CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  26. Here’s the database CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  27. What could you use this for? CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  28. The Ends Justify The Means • Academicians appreciate “beautiful” solutions & wonderful techniques • “Real People” appreciate solutions that work and often don’t care where they come from • A GIS is a tool; it is “beautiful” to the degree that it can produce good solutions CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  29. Tools vs. Products (Carpentry) • A carpenter uses tools such as planers and routers • A carpenter is not a “planer and router expert” (though s/he has such expertise) • A carpenter produces woodcraft, but must be able to use the tools CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  30. Tools vs. Products (GISers) • A GISer uses tools, primarily a GIS • A GISer is not a software expert (though s/he has such expertise) • A GISer produces solutions to problems involving geographic data; to do so, s/he must be able to use the tools CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  31. An Important Hierarchy • DATA – the bits and bytes that we ask a computer system to store • INFORMATION – Data put into context • KNOWLEDGE – Information applied to real world situations CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  32. MCI What is it? CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  33. What is MCI? • Telecommunications company? • Initials of Michael C. Irving? • 1101 in Roman Numerals? • The Marine Corps Institute? • Motor Coach Industries? • Without context, you can’t tell! CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  34. Components of a GIS (the tools) • Computer Systems and Software • Spatial Data • Data Management and Analysis Procedures • People CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  35. Outputs of a GIS (the solutions) • Maps • Database-type reports (including query results and calculations) • Prose-style reports CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

  36. The key to being effective • Knowing what questions to ask • And designing the GIS to answer those questions CS 128/ES 228 - Lecture 1a

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