GIS: The Grand Unifying Technology Introduction to GIS What is GIS? Why GIS? Contributing Disciplines Applications of GIS GIS functions Information about this course What is GIS? It is a: Tool, a science, a software It is a marriage between computer cartography and database management It tells you what is where and why It can model change over time and space. what is your zip code? What comprises GIS? An integration of five basic components People Data Software Hardware Procedures How can GIS help? Who does GIS …almost everyone. GIS Specialist/ GIS Analyst: designs projects GIS Technician: works under the direction of a GIS Specialist Ancillary GIS Duties: Police and Fire Depts., NGOs, City Planning, Resource Management, Marketing/Business General Public: GIS in cars, UPS, Elections in Florida Increasing Skill Level GIS Scientist: writes algorithms Contributing Disciplines Geography understanding the world and man’s place in it Cartography-art display Remote of map making of spatial information Sensing (define) images from space and air source of information for GIS Contributing Disciplines Photogrammetry accurate measurement from photographs Surveying high quality positional data Geodesy accurate shape of the earth positional data (control points) Statistics GIS models are often statistical in nature Contributing Disciplines Computer e.g. Science CAD, database management Math especially Civil geometry and graph theory Engineering application roads etc. driven Why GIS? better administration of geographical data property ownership tax records utilities forests etc. Why GIS? framework for analyzing spatial problems easy manipulation of map related information insight into spatial relationships Why GIS? better administration of geographical data property ownership tax records utilities forests etc. Applications Street Network Based vehicle routing address matching site selection Applications Natural Resource based forestry management wildlife preservation agricultural land management wetland preservation Applications Land Parcel Based Zoning Land Acquisition (greenways) Water Quality Management Applications Facility Management Utilities (pipes, cables, etc.) Facility maintenance You want to buy a house? Must be close to school. Must live near a main road. Would like to live close to urban area. Would like to live in an area with a low crime rate. You need to find… Map showing schools. Map showing main roads. Map showing location of urban center. Map showing insurance zones as a surrogate measure for crime rates. GIS Functions Capture Store Query Analyze Display Output Capturing Data Paper Maps GIS Data Digital Data satellite with radar altimeter orbit 48585.5, 3759432 Coordinates GPS Storing Data: Vector & Raster Formats Database consists of points, lines and polygons Grid Cells or pixels Query Identifying specific features I know what but where? Ex. What county is this? Identifying I features based on conditions know where but what? Ex. California counties with population greater than 500,000 Analysis Proximity – which parcels are within 100 feet of the road? Overlay Well type Building owner Soil type Drilled Smith Sandy loam Network analysis – examines how linear features are connected and how resources flow through them. Traffic flow, water flow Display Maps Graphs Reports Output Paper map GIS Data Image Cowboy.jpg Internet Document Texas.mxd Organizing spatial data A GIS works with thematic layers of spatial data Answer questions by comparing different layers of data Cartography – the science of map making Scale Projections Coordinate Datums Systems Topics presented in this class Introduction to GIS Introduction to cartographic principles Models of Reality: Vector and Raster data models Implementation of a GIS Spatial Data Introduction to GPS Spatial Analysis Sampling, Error and Uncertainty Cartographic Design Future of GIS Why should you learn GIS? It is one of the biggest specialized skills in demand today. It is a multibillion $$$$ industry. It touches just about every discipline in some way. It affects your daily life and will do so increasingly in the future. What should you know about this course? It will be an adventure. It will not be presented on a silver platter. It is technology dependent, and technology does not always work. If you think the instructors have all the answers, we have some beach front property we would like to sell you. You are in the drivers seat, what you get out of this class will depend on you. The Course Goal…