GIS TUTORIAL 1
Lecture 1
Introduction to GIS
Outline

GIS overview

GIS data and layers

GIS applications and examples

Software overview

GIS Tutorial 1 overview
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Lecture 1
GIS OVERVIEW
What is GIS?
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
Geographic information systems (GIS) are
computerized systems designed for the
storage, retrieval, and analysis of
geographically -referenced data
GIS uses advanced analytical tools to
explore at a scientific level the spatial
relationships, patterns, and processes of
cultural, biological, demographic, economic,
geographic, and physical phenomena
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Unique capabilities of GIS


GIS stores related
geographic features
in separate
collections of files
called map layers
Map layers can be
reused easily,
assembled into any
number of map
compositions, and
overlaid for analysis
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Spatial Data
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Every Geographic Information System
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How GIS differs from Related Systems

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DBMS--typical MIS data base contains implicit but not explicit locational
information
 city, county, zip code, etc. but no geographical coordinates
 is 100 N. High around the corner or across town from 200 E Main?
automated mapping (AM) --primarily two-dimensional display devices
 thematic mapping (choropleth,etc such as SAS/GRAPH, DIDS, business
mapping software) unable to relate different geographical layers (e.g zip
codes and counties)
 automated cartography--graphical design oriented; limited database ability
facility management (FM) systems- lack spatial analysis tools
CAD/CAM (computer aided design/drafting)--primarily 3-D graphic
creation (engineering design) & display systems
 don’t reference via geographic location

CAD sees the world as a 3-D cube, GIS as a 3-D sphere
 limited (if any) database ability (especially for non-spatial data)
GIS answers the following

Location: What is at...? Where is it?
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Condition: Status of features?

Trends: What has changed since...?

Patterns: What spatial patterns exist?

Modeling: What if…?
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Map Where Things Are
Mapping where things are lets you find places that have the features
you're looking for, and to see where to take action.
*Find a feature—People use maps to see where or what an individual
feature is.
*Finding patterns—Looking at the distribution of features on the map
instead of just an individual feature, you can see patterns emerge
Map Quantities

People map quantities, like where the most and least are, to
find places that meet their criteria and take action, or to see the
relationships between places. This gives an additional level of
information beyond simply mapping the locations of features.

Children under age
18 - per pediatrician
Map Densities
While you can see concentrations by simply mapping the
locations of features, in areas with many features it may be
difficult to see which areas have a higher concentration than
others. A density map lets you measure the number of
features using a uniform areal unit, such as acres or square
miles, so you can clearly see the distribution
Population density Asia
Find What's Inside

Use GIS to monitor what's happening and to take specific action by mapping
what's inside a specific area.

For example, a district attorney would monitor drug-related arrests to find out
if an arrest is within 1,000 feet of a school--if so, stiffer penalties apply
Find What's Nearby

Find out what's occurring within a set distance of a
feature by mapping what's nearby
Flood risk in lower Mekong
River Delta
Map Change

Map the change in an area to anticipate future
conditions, decide on a course of action, or to evaluate
the results of an action or policy

Land use, Cape Cod 1951-1999:
Scale of GIS data
Global to local
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Vector data

Map features
 Points, lines, polygons

Feature attributes
 Every feature has attributes (e.g., name, area,
population)
Shape
Name
Class
Pop2000
State
Point
New York
City
8,008,278
NY
Point
Los Angeles
City
3,694,820
CA
Point
Chicago
City
2,896,016
IL
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Raster data
Stored electronic image
or picture taken as an
aerial photograph or
satellite image
Composed of a rectangular array of
square cells, called pixels, with a number
in each cell representing the solid color fill
of that cell
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The evolution of GIS
Computerized years
Early
Years
1960
1970
Specialized
Years
1980
1990
Connect &
Collaborate
2000
2010
Special thanks to Eric Hoel, Matt McGrath, and Craig Gillgrass of Esri, UC 2009
Early years – 1960s

Roger Tomlinson
 “Father of GIS”

Canadian Geographic Information System
 First computerized GIS
 Assisted in regulatory procedures of land-use
management and resource monitoring
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Early years – 1960s

Howard T. Fisher
 Harvard Graduate School of Design
 Laboratory for Computer Graphics and
Spatial Analysis
 Important theoretical concepts in spatial
data handling were developed
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Early years – 1960s

Jack Dangermond
 Environmental science and landscape architecture
degrees (Harvard GSD, 1969)
 Founded Esri with wife Laura in 1969
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Early years – 1960s and 1970s

GPS (Global Positioning Systems)
 Space-based positioning, navigation, and timing
system
 US Department of Defense (DoD)
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Specialized years (1980s and 1990s)
Desktop GIS applications released
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ArcINFO (Esri)
Map Info
ArcGIS (Esri)
Mapguide (Autodesk)
Bentley Map, PowerMap (Bentley Systems)
Geomedia (Intergraph)
Smallworld (GE)
Grass, uDig, ERDAS
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Current and future GIS

Desktop GIS
 Advanced analysis and geoprocessing tools


Mobile GIS
GIS web solutions




ArcGIS Online
ArcServer
Google Earth
Bing Maps
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Lecture 1
GIS DATA AND LAYERS
GIS example


Identify polluting companies and their
proximity to populations in poverty,
water features, or schools
Start with
 Databases
 Map layers
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Databases
Not easy to interpret
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Data shown as GIS layers
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Political features
Municipalities
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Physical features
Lakes, rivers, etc.
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Administrative data
Schools
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Interactive GIS
Identify features on map
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Interactive GIS
Select features in table and map
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Proximity selections
Polluting companies near water
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Buffers
Schools and children within 2-mile buffer of polluting company.
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Statistics to support visuals

US Census data (tracts within pollutant
buffers)
 The mean percentage of total population in
poverty in these tracts is 23.25% as opposed to
9.54% who are outside of these tracts.
 The mean percentage of children under the age
of 18 living in poverty within these tracts is 26%
as opposed to 11.74% of children living in
poverty who are outside of these tracts.
 The mean median income of the tracts whose
centroid is within the top/multiple polluter buffers
is $29,290 as opposed to a mean median income
of $53,690 for those outside of these buffers.
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Statistics to support visuals

Schools
 There are 25 schools within the top/multiple
pollutant buffers.
 The total enrollment of these schools is 1,754
students.
 Of these schools, there are 1.9% Native
American, 7.3% Asian, 25.3% Black, 8.2%
Hispanic, and 20.7% White students.
 This supports racial inequalities found by
environmental justice projects.
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Lecture 1
SOFTWARE OVERVIEW
ArcMap (Desktop GIS)
Main menu
Table of
contents
Standard
toolbar
Map
document
window
Identify
results
window
Tools
toolbar
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Map documents
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
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(.mxd) extension
“Points” to layers
Saves layer colors, symbology, etc.
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Tutorial 1-1.mxd

Two layers
 USCities (red points, restricted to major cities)
 USStates (yellow polygons)
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Adding map layers
Separate files added to a map document
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Geodatabases
The geodatabase is a "container" used to
hold a collection of datasets (GIS features,
tables, raster images, etc).
Country layer
World.gdb
Graticule layer
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ArcCatalog
Arranges and manages geographic
information in workspace folders and
geodatabases.
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ArcToolbox
Advanced tools
with form-based
input by users
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Lecture 1
GIS TUTORIAL 1
OVERVIEW
Part I Using and making maps

Chapter 1: Introduction
 Learn the basics of working with existing GIS data and maps

Chapter 2: Map design
 Learn how to create maps
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Chapter 3: GIS outputs
 Learn how to build and export maps using GIS data, map
animation, and ArcGIS Online
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Part II Working with spatial data
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Chapter 4: File geodatabases
 Learn how to create geodatabases and import data into them

Chapter 5: Spatial data
 Explores the basic data types used within GIS and then shows
how to use the Internet to gather GIS data
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Chapter 6: Geoprocessing
 Perform spatial analysis using geoprocessing tools
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Chapter 7: Digitizing
 Learn how to digitize vector data and transform data to match
real-world coordinates

Chapter 8: Geocoding
 Learn how to map address data as points through the geocoding
process
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Part III Analyzing spatial data

Chapter 9: Spatial analysis
 Use buffering points for proximity analysis, conduct site suitability
analysis, use multiple ring buffers for calibrating a gravity model,
use data mining with cluster analysis

Chapter 10: ArcGIS 3D Analyst
 Introduces ArcGIS 3D Analyst, allowing users to create 3D
scenes, conduct fly-through animations, and conduct line-of-sight
studies

Chapter 11: ArcGIS Spatial Analyst
 Introduces ArcGIS Spatial Analyst for creating and analyzing
raster maps, including hillshades, density maps, site suitability
surfaces, and risk index surfaces
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Chapter structure

Tutorials
 Multiple tutorials in every chapter
 Include step-by step exercises

Your turns
 Reinforce the skills learned in the step-by-step exercises

Advanced assignments
 Found at the end of each chapter.
 Provokes critical problem-solving skills
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Data


\EsriPress\GIST1\Data\
Map layers, file geodatabases,
data tables, etc.
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Maps
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\EsriPress\GIST1\Maps\
Map documents
Starting place for tutorials
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MyAssignments
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\EsriPress\GIST1\MyAssignments\
Empty folders
Location to save end-of-chapter
assignments
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MyExercises
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\EsriPress\GIST1\MyExercises\

Location to save tutorial exercises
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FinishedExercises
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\EsriPress\GIST1\MyExercises\
FinishedExercises
Completed exercises from each chapter
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Summary

GIS overview

GIS data and layers

GIS applications and examples

Software overview

GIS Tutorial 1 overview
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