Introduction to Geographic
Information Systems
(GIS)
SGO1910 & SGO4930
Fall Semester 2006
Lecturer: Karen O’Brien (karen.obrien@sgeo.uio.no)
Lab Instructor: Hallvard Berge (hallvb@student.sv.uio.no)
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http://www.workingdogweb.com/Paleolithic.htm
http://www.srrb.nt.ca/projects/cmapping
http://www.1uptravel.com/worldmaps/south-africa9.html
Google Earth
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Offers maps and satellite images for complex or
pinpointed regional searches.
Fly from space to your neighborhood.
Type in an address and zoom right in.
Search for schools, parks, restaurants, and
hotels.
Get driving directions.
Tilt and rotate the view to see 3D terrain and
buildings.
Save and share your searches and favorites.
Add your own annotations.
Course Objectives
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To provide students with a basic
understanding of geographic
information science;
To provide students with practical
experience in using ArcGIS software;
To apply both theory and practice in
a research project (”Oslo project”).
Readings:
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Longley, P. A., Goodchild, M. F.,
Maguire, D. J., and D. W. Rhind.
2001. Geographic Information
Systems and Science. Second
Edition. Chichester: John Wiley and
Sons, 517 pp.
Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 14,
15, 18
Grading
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30% Two mid-term quizzes (Week 39
& Week 44)
30% Final Project
40% Final Exam
Lab Assignments
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Submitted on your own home page
Due dates: All labs must be
completed before the final exam.
Labs will not be graded, but they will
be spot checked, and you are
required to complete all labs (one
will be excused)
GIS Labs
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ArcGIS 9.0 (GIS)
Excel (data base files)
NVu (web pages)
Adobe Photoshop (sizing maps and
pictures)
WinZip (decompressing files)
Mid-term quizzes
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Each quiz has 25 questions
Multiple choice, true-false questions
based on readings and lectures
45 minutes to complete the quiz
Project
Identify a problem or question to address
related to Oslo;
 Collect and edit data;
 Use GIS to map and analyze data;
 Present results in a written report.
*(masters students may choose to write a
paper relating GIS to a research theme)
Due: December 15, 2006
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Final Exam
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December 1, 2006, 09.0012.00 (3 hours)
Essays, short answer, multiple
choice, true-false
Based on lectures, readings, and labs
Questions
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Office hours by appointment
Lab assistance: to be announced
Why take this course?
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GIS is a useful tool with a wide range
of applications;
GIS is a skill that is in demand, with
a growing market;
Geographers have numerous
advantages related to GIS;
GIS is challenging (but fun!)
What is a GIS?
1.
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A computer system capable of holding
and using data describing places on the
earth’s surface.
An organized collection of computer
hardware, software, geographic data,
and personnel designed to efficiently
capture, store, update manipulate,
analyze, and display all forms of
geographically referenced information.
Geographic Information System
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Organized collection of
• Hardware
• Software
• Network
• Data
• People
• Procedures
Software
People
Data
Network
Procedures
Hardware
”A GIS by any other name”
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Land Information System
Delivery Routing System
Emergency Response System
Disaster Planning System
Crime Monitoring System
Real Estate ”Homefinder” System
Why is GIS Important?
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Provides a consistent framework for
integrating spatial and other kinds of
information within a single system (ideal
for interdisciplinary work).
Permits manipulation and display of
geographical (digital) data in new ways.
Makes connections between activities
based on geographic location.
What can a GIS do?
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Location (Where is it...)
Condition (What is it...)
Trend (What has changed...)
Pattern (What is the pattern...)
Routing (Which is the ’best’ way ...)
Modeling (What if...)
A Brief History of GIS
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GIS’s origins lie in thematic cartography.
Many planners used the method of map overlay
using manual techniques.
Manual map overlay as a method was first
described comprehensively by Jacqueline Tyrwhitt
in a 1950 planning textbook.
HcHarg used blacked out transparent overlays for
site selection in Design with Nature.
Map Overlay
SOLUTION MASK
SOILS
PARKS
URBAN
FOREST
Figure 1.3 Map overlay as presented in Design with Nature by Ian McHarg. Each transparent layer map
“blacked out” areas excluded as unsuitable locations.
A Brief History of GIS (cont.)
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The 1960s saw many new forms of geographic
data and mapping software.
Computer cartography developed the first basic
GIS concepts during the late 1950s and 1960s.
Linked software modules, rather than stand-alone
programs, preceded GISs.
The Harvard University ODYSSEY system was
influential due to its topological arc-node (vector)
data structure.
A Brief History of GIS (cont.)
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GIS was significantly altered by (1) the PC and
(2) the workstation.
User Interface developments led to GIS's vastly
improved ease of use during the 1990s.
During the 1990s, new GIS software could better
exploit more advanced hardware.
So far in the 2000s:
• Internet becomes major deliver vehicle for GIS
• More than 1 million active users of GIS
• GIS is linking to other technologies (e.g. mobile phones,
palmtops, etc.)
Late 1970s
1970s
http://www.acme.com/jef/punch_car
ds/
Interest in GIS is Rising
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Applications via Internet
Price reductions
Greater awareness
Improved ease of use
Better technology
Proliferation of data
Commercial software packages
Real applications
Proven cost:benefit cases
Business of GIS
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GIS industry is worth over $7 billion
• Software
• Data
• Services
• Publishing
• Education
GISystems, GIScience and GIStudies
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GISystems
• Emphasis on technology and tools
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GIScience
• Fundamental issues raised by the use of
GIS and related technologies
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Spatial analysis
Map projections
Accuracy
Scientific visualization
GIStudies
• Systematic study of the use of geographic
information
Sources of Information on GIS
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The amount of information available about GIS
can be overwhelming.
Sources of GIS information include journals and
magazines, books, professional societies, the
World Wide Web, and conferences.
GIS has Web Home pages, network conference
groups, professional organizations, and user
groups.
Most colleges and universities now offer GIS
classes in geography departments.
GIS Resources: Conferences
GIS Konferans: Oslo Plaza 1.-3. februar 2006
•Norsk ESRI brukerkonferanse 2007
Den 18. norske ESRI brukerkonferansen går av stabelen i
februar 2006. Konferansen byr på en rekke foredrag, tekniske
minikurs, bransjeseminar og sosiale aktiviteter. Vi ser frem til
spennende dager sammen med deg! Påmelding og mer informasjon
kommer senere.
•Pris: 150 NOK ( dagsbesøk)
See http://www.geodata.no/
GIS Resources: Glossies
Major GIS-Only Journals
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International Journal of Geographical
Information Systems
Geographical Systems
Transactions in GIS
Geo Info Systems
GIS World
Specialty Journals
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Business Geographics
GIS Law
GIS Asia/Pacific
GIS World Report/CANADA
GIS Europe
Regular GIS Papers
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Annals of the Association of American
Geographers
Cartographica
Cartography and GIS
Computer; Computers, Environment, and Urban
Systems
Computers and Geosciences
IEEE Transactions on Computer Graphics and
Applications
Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote
Sensing
Occasional GIS papers
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Cartographic Perspectives
Cartographica
Journal of Cartography
Geocarto International
IEEE Geosciences
International Journal of Remote Sensing
Landscape Ecology
Remote Sensing Review
Mapping Science and Remote Sensing
Infoworld
Popular Distribution Magazines
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Business Geographics
Geo Info Systems
GIS Law
GIS World
GPS World
GEODATA
Summary
Geographic problems usually involve
location.
 GIS – A special class of information
systems that keep track of events,
activities and things, but also where
these events, activities, or things
happen or exist.
 The difference between GIS and basic
mapping and spreadsheet programs
lies in its ability to handle spatial
data.
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How do I use GIS?
Global Environmental Change
 Vulnerability, adaptive capacity,
human security
 GIS as a tool for assessing uneven
outcomes;
Who are the winners and losers from
global change?
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GIS and Quantitative Analysis:
Vulnerability to climate change and economic
changes in Indian agriculture
Context
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Agriculture in India
• 27 % GDP
• 700 million people
• more than 60 % is rainfed cultivation
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Both climate change and economic
globalization are ongoing processes with
uneven impacts. Indian agriculture will be
confronted by both processes
simultaneously, leading to changing
patterns of vulnerability.
Main objectives
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Assess vulnerability of agriculture to
climate change in the context of economic
changes
Use GIS to identify highly vulnerable
areas and social groups
Interview farmers in highly vulnerable
areas to understand how farmers are
coping with climatic and economic
changes
Methodology
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GIS-based vulnerability profile
Village-level case studies
Integration of macro- and micro- scale
analyses
Globalization vulnerability
Climate Change Vulnerability
Double Exposure: Areas that are
Vulnerable to both Climate Change
and Globalization
Case study approach
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Questionnaire-based
survey
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Economic status
Agricultural practices
Coping mechanisms
Access to facilities
(electricity, irrigation,
health, education, loans,
etc)
• Participatory rural appraisals
• Focus group discussions with
small and marginal farmers
• One-to-one meetings with
village heads and district
administrative officers