History and Purpose of GIS
Why use GIS?
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A GIS computer software package is as
important to a cartographer as a Word
Processor is to a writer.
A Geographical Information System is a
method of:
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spatially storing,
analysing,
manipulating,
managing and
displaying geographical data.
GIS Timeline
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GIS began in 1950’s
1966 GIS demonstrated by Howard Fisher
1969 ESRI founded
1970’s satellites aid GPS
1971 GIS project used a layering system to display data
1979 Odessy developed
1980’s maps moved from military and tax use to commercial use
GIS masters in third level Edinburgh College began in the mid
1980s.
• 1986 MapInfo developed
• 1986 SPOT satellite was launched.
• 1992 the Lebanon used GIS to rebuild electrivity network the
What people use GIS?
• These people would include
Archaeologists, Architects, Commercial
Companies, Doctors, Engineers,
Historians, Law Enforcement Agencies,
Meteorologists, Military, Planners,
Property Developers, Politicians, and
Statisticians to name but a few.
What can maps display?
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Roads
Rivers
Urban areas
Place names
Railway
Places of
interest
• Town names