4. A GIS is a system
(hardware + database
engine) that is designed
to efficiently, assemble,
store, update, analyze,
manipulate, and display
geographicallygeographically
referenced informationreferenced information
(data identified by their
locations).
++
Information System
Geographic Position
What is GIS?What is GIS?
GIS = Geographic Information System
5. GIS links graphical features (entities) to tabular data
(attributes)
What is GIS?What is GIS?
6. Data can be:
1. Positioned by its known spatial
coordinates
2. Input and organized (generally in layers)
3. Stored and retrieved
4. Analyzed (usually via a Relational DBMS)
5. Modified and displayed
Key Functions of a GISKey Functions of a GIS
10. Raster:
Stores images as rows and columns of numbers with a
Digital Value/Number (DN) for each cell.
Units are usually represented as square grid cells that are
uniform in size.
Data is classified as
âcontinuousâ (such as in an
image), or âthematicâ
(where each cell denotes a
feature type.
Numerous data formats
(TIFF, GIF, ERDAS.img
Representing Spatial ElementsRepresenting Spatial Elements
11. Vector:
Allows user to specify specific spatial locations and
assumes that geographic space is continuous, not
broken up into discrete grid squares
We store features as sets of X,Y coordinate pairs.
Representing Spatial ElementsRepresenting Spatial Elements
12. Entity RepresentationsEntity Representations
Points - simplest element
Lines (arcs) - set of
connected points
Polygons - set of
connected lines
We typically represent objects in space as three
distinct spatial elements:
We use these three spatial elements to
represent real world features
13. AttributesAttributes
⢠In the raster data model, the cell
value (Digital Number) is the
attribute. Examples: brightness, rainfall
value, landcover code, SST, etc.
⢠For vector data, attribute records are
linked to point, line & polygon features.
Vector data can store multiple attributes
per feature. Vector features are linked
to attributes by a unique feature number.
14. Raster vs. VectorRaster vs. Vector
Raster Advantages
1. The most common data format Easy to
perform mathematical and overlay operations
2. Satellite information is easily incorporated
3. Better represents âcontinuousâ- type data
Vector Advantages
1. Accurate positional information that is best for
storing discrete thematic features (e.g., roads,
shorelines, sea-bed features.
2. Compact data storage requirements
3. Can associate unlimited numbers of attributes
with specific features
15. ⢠Data Assembly
⢠Data Storage
⢠Spatial Data Analysis
and Manipulation
⢠Spatial Data Output
GIS FunctionsGIS Functions
19. ⢠Tables
⢠Maps
⢠Interactive Displays
⢠3-D Perspective
View
Spatial Data OutputSpatial Data Output
GIS FunctionsGIS Functions
20. Is GIS about software only?Is GIS about software only?
⢠A Geographic Information
System is not only about
computers, software and
electronic data.
⢠A GIS is an organised
collection of :
⢠Hardware
⢠Software
⢠Network
⢠Data
⢠Procedures
⢠And people!
21. Desktop GISDesktop GIS
⢠A GIS, or GIS software, allows
you to interactively work with
spatial data.
⢠A desktop GIS is a mapping
software that needs to be
installed onto and runs on a
personal computer.
⢠In this course, we will use
ArcGIS which is developed by
ESRI.