Introduction to GIS (Lecture)

GIS

 Topic: GIS Task:

There are six components of GIS tasks. They are-

a) Data input
b) Manipulation
c) Management
d) Query and analysis
e) Visualization
f) Presentation and planning.

a) Data input: Before a geographic data is used in a GIS it must be converted into suitable
digital format. The processing of converting data from paper maps to computer files is
called digitizing.

b) Manipulation: It is likely that data types required for a particular GIS project will need
to be transformed or manipulated in some way to make them compatible with one’s own
system. This would be a temporary transformation for display purposes or permanent one
is required for analysis. GIS technology offers many tools for manipulating spatial data
and for weeding out unnecessary data.

c) Management: For management it is best to use a DBMS to help tools, organized and
managed data. DBMS is nothing more than computer software for managing database.

d) Query and analysis: GIS provides both simple click query capabilities and sophisticated
analysis tools to provide timely information for managers and analyst. GIS technology
really comes into its own when used to analyze geographic data to look for pattern and
trends of any scenarios. There are two analysis-

 Proximity
 Overlay analysis

 Proximity: How many houses lies within 100 meter of a given water body?? To answer each
type of question, GIS technology uses a process called buffering to determine the proximity
relationship between features.

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 Overlay analysis: The integration of different data layers involves a process called overlay.
At its simplest this could be a visual operation; but analytical operations are required for one
or more data layers to be joined physically. This overlay can integrate data on soils, slope,
vegetation or land ownership with tax assessment.

e) Visualization: For many types of geographic operation the end result is best visualized
as a map or graph.

f) Presentation and planning: The presentation and planning is the ultimate goal or task of
GIS.

 Topic: Description of some GIS software:

1. SPANS (Spatial Analysis System): SPANS produced by intera Tydac Technologies Inc,
Canada; which is one of the most famous software of GIS. Up to version 4.3 it requires
one colour and one monochrome monitor for visualization using DOS (Disk Operating
System). At present SPANS costs around 22,000 canadian dolar which is well equipped
with windows.

2. IDRISI: this is a grid base geographic analysis system that is designed to provide
inexpensive access to computer assisted geographic analysis technology. Modules in the
package include data entry and storage, management, retrieval and display, general
analysis, statistical analysis etc.

3. Poligrid: This is an Apple Macintosh computer based GIS for local application features
including map digitizing, map overlay, land suitability analysis etc.

4. ARC- GIS: This is one of the most well known professional GIS packages which works
across world platforms that is, micro computer to mainframe systems produced by ESRI,
California. Later ARC- VIEW (Visualization softwares) have been integrated with ARC-
INFO which is name as ARC- GIS.

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5. ILWIS (Integrated Land and Water Information System): It has been used in
Netherland, Belgium and Italy. It is used mainly for land and soil based data processing.

6. Autocad/ Cad (Computer Aided Design): Autocad is a comprehensive drawing and

drafting package which can be used to digitize map and can be transferred to other
programs through its DXF files. It can also be used to overlay maps.

 Topic: What kind of people use GIS??

People use GIS would include-

Archaeologist, Architects, Commercial companies, Doctors, Engineers, Historians, Law

enforcement, Agencies, Meteorologists, Military, Planners, Properties, Developers, Politicians
and Statisticians etc.

 Topic: “GIS is a combination of spatial data (graphic data) and non-spatial

data (Attribute data).”- Explain.

All spatial data contains in a GIS are geographically referenced using a map projection.
Actually GIS is essentially a combination of two types of data bases.

1. Spatial data
2. Non- spatial data
Spatial data: Information about location and shape of geographic nature and relationship among
geographic features usually stored as co- ordinates or topography or topology.
Non-spatial data: The characteristics of a geographic feature described by a numbers of
characteristics, typically stored in tabular format. It refers to the properties of spatial entities. For
example: Latitude: 90 ͦ 25ʹ05΄΄ N, Latitude: 24 ͦ 25΄05΄΄E; pH: 5.5; Soil: Clay loam.

 Topic: Topology??

Topology is a mathematical procedure for explicitly defining spatial relationships between

the features in coverage.

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Characteristics:
1. ARCs connect to each other at nodes is known as connectivity.
2. ARCs that connect to surrounding an area defining a polygon are known as areal
definition.
3. ARCs have direction of left and right side is known as contiguity.

 Topic: GIS is a planning tool- Explain?

The basic decision of a decision maker is necessary based on information or data. All types
of decision making should be based on information provided and or analyzed. A planner requires
all available relevant information that helps to understand the existing environment. The cause of
various force that shapes our socio-physical environment is necessary before making any
proposal to achieve any desired goals of the society.
An easy access of information is equally important for a planner. In case of land use planning an
adequate information system is vital. Land information aided by recent progress in computer
technology resulted in the development of the procedures named “LTS (Land Information
System)” and by adding more geographical and spatial references it is now widely known as
GIS. In the database chain, GIS stands at a very significant position. As we can observe that GIS
comes from planning on provided information, it can be regarded as a planning tool.

 Topic: GIS activities in Bangladesh:

 Agriculture and soil component

1. BARC (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council)

Activities: BARC prepared a computerized database on soil climate, hydrology and socio-
economic data of about 300 upazilas. They also have AEZ (Agro- ecological zone) database.

2. SRDI (Soil Resource development Institute)

Activities: SRDI prepared a database on soil nutrient status of Bangladesh. Besides SRDI
has soil salinity maps, landuse maps, digital thematic maps on various issues related to land
and soil.

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3. BRRI (Bangladesh Rice Research Institute)

Activities:
a. Spatial database for BRRI varieties including their adaptation and productivity mapping in
Bangladesh.
b. Mapping the environmental index of the rice growing areas of Bangladesh.

 Water Component:

1. WARPO (Water Resources Planning Organization)

Activities:
a. WARPO prepared a database regarding water resource development related to water
resource especially surface water.
b. River network changing database.
c. River course changing database.

2. SWMC (Surface Water Modeling Center)

Activities: Database on surface water modeling.

 Environment:

1. CEGIS (Center for Environmental GIS)

Activities:
a. Environmental impact assessment program sharing with WARPO.
b. National water resource database.
c. National fisheries database.
d. Digital support system for As related disaster, flood, vulnerability in shrimp culture
sites.
e. Crop suitability modeling.
f. Digital elevation modeling.

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 Others:

1. BBS ( Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics)

Activities: National census data on population, economics and agriculture in mouza level.

2. LGED (Local Government Engineering Department)

Activities: Database on base maps, socio- economic database and infra- structural database.

3. SoB (Survey of Bangladesh)

Activities: Database on boundary maps of districs, upazilas and topographic features.

4. DLRS (Directorate of Land Records and Survey)

Activities: They are preparing a database on mouza level countrywise.

 Academic:

1. DU (SWED, Geography and Environment, Geology)

Activities:
a. SWED (Soil, Water and Environment Department) is preparing a database on soil
resources and land qualities; land use maps of different districts.
b. Geography and Environment Department is preparing a database on human resource
development.

2. BUET (URP; Urban and Regional Planning Department)

Activities: Dhaka metropolitan development planning map.

3. KU (Khulna University)
Activities:
a. Khulna metropolitan development planning map,
b. Sundarban biodiversity mapping.
c. Potential shrimp culture mapping.

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4. RU ( Rajshahi University)
Activities:
a. Training activities for student and professionals.
b. Rajshahi city cadastral mapping and management.
c. Crop management practices mapping in barind areas.

 Topic: Application of GIS in agricultural research and development:

1. Landscape Modeling
2. Crop suitability:
a) Drainage
b) Texture
c) Soil pH
d) Soil consistency
e) Soil moisture condition
f) Salinity
g) Land condition
h) Water recession condition
3. Fertilizer management
4. Water management
5. Identification of natural calamities
6. Present and potential land use assessment.

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