Scribd
Upload
72 views

Md. Nabil Zawad: Lecturer

This document provides an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It defines GIS as a system that handles geographical data by capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying it on maps. The core functions of GIS involve creating or capturing geographic data, managing it, analyzing it, and displaying it on maps. GIS has many applications across various disciplines like environment, agriculture, transportation, and more. It allows users to combine different data sources, create new information, and visualize spatial relationships.

Uploaded by

Md Tareq
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
72 views

Md. Nabil Zawad: Lecturer

This document provides an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It defines GIS as a system that handles geographical data by capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying it on maps. The core functions of GIS involve creating or capturing geographic data, managing it, analyzing it, and displaying it on maps. GIS has many applications across various disciplines like environment, agriculture, transportation, and more. It allows users to combine different data sources, create new information, and visualize spatial relationships.

Uploaded by

Md Tareq
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 13

CE 215 : Introduction to GIS

Md. Nabil Zawad


Lecturer
Department of Civil Engineering
Presidency University (PU)
What is GIS ?
Geographic Information Systems

• As the name implies, GIS is a system that handles


geographical information.

• Geographical Information or Geographical Data:


- Simply, anything (i.e., objects with a spatial structure) that
can be put on a map is geographical data.
- Most often, these data are often described by geographical
co-ordinates.
• Map: A map is a generalized 2-D description of the real world.
What is GIS ?
• Basically, GIS is an integrated tool, capable of analyzing,
manipulating, storing and visualizing (usually in a map)
geographical information in order to provide solutions to real
world problems and help in planning for the future.

• In a GIS, you connect data with geography. And you


understand what belongs where. Because you don’t fully
understand your data until you see how it relates to other
things in a geographic context.
Basic Functions of GIS
So, if we breakdown the definition of GIS, it really comes down to
just 4 simple ideas:

1. Create or Capture
geographic data.
2. Manage it.
3. Analyze it and…
4. Display it on a map.

These are the


primordial functions
of a GIS.
Core Elements of GIS
1. People: GIS Specialists
2. Methods: should comply specific methods, rules & policies.
3. Data: must be reliable, relevant & accurate.
4. Hardware: Server, Computers, Printers/Plotter, Scanner etc.
5. Software: ArcGIS, GRASS GIS, QGIS, GeoDa, gVSIG etc.
WHY GIS?
• GIS simplifies geographical analysis & presentations of it.
• It can combine a lot of different information.
• GIS creates new information by combining existing data.
• Data are easier to store & handle compared to traditional paper
maps and reports.
• Handling data & maps becomes faster.
• GIS can simulate a model which is impossible in ordinary maps.
• Easy to edit & update information.
• Data are easy to visualize & can be shared with anyone, anytime.
WHO USES GIS?
• It had been estimated that 80% of
the informational needs of local
government policy makers are
related to geographic location.

• The use of GIS application in


Bangladesh started in 1991 by ISPAN
for the FAP-19 (Flood Action Plan-19)
project. The organization is now
named as EGIS (Environmental and
GIS Support Projects for Water
Sector Planning).
APPLICATIONS OF GIS
Unbelievably, GIS is being integrated in almost every discipline:

 Environment: climate change, GW studies, EIA, mapping out dead zones…


 Agriculture: mapping of crop/soil types, precision farming…
 Weather: rainfall, temperature, weather warnings, studying weather patterns…
 Transportation: transportation modelling, traffic control and mapping, ITS, road
assessment…
 Real Estate & Land Planning: real estate metrics, construction, price comparison..
 Media: to communicate stories with maps and target advertising campaigns…
 Military: location intelligence, logistics management, spy satellites..
 Police: investigation analysis, in-vehicle mobile mapping, first response,
geographic profiling…
 Medical Science: public health information, health map, locating disease & its
patterns… and many more.
MAP
A map is a generalized 2-D description of the real world.

• To interpret the
complex real world,
maps must be
generalized.
• How?
- Simplify
- Sort out
- Divide the map
in different
thematic layers.

 This simplification is only possible in a GIS-map which makes it dynamic


and user-friendly.
GEOGRAPHICAL DATABASE

Spatial LINK
Or Attribute
Data
Geometric UNIQUE ID
Data NUMBER
Spatial or Geometric Data
• Geographical data can be
represented as 3 different
types of geometrical
objects in a GIS:

 POINT OBJECTS: (Drill


holes, Sample points, Wells
etc.)
 LINES: (Roads, Watercourses
and Borders)
 POLYGONS: (Land use,
Lakes and Properties)

* Geometrical Objects: Objects with


some sort of spatial structure
(Example – vegetation, topography,
buildings, roads etc.)
ATTRIBUTE DATA
• Attribute data is data that provides information about the geometrical objects.

• Every feature in a GIS map has a record in a table linked to it.

For example, a sewer pipe (represented by a line) can have information


about its length, diameter, flow rate, most recent maintenance, or an endless
list limited only by the user’s needs. These are known as attribute data.

• In the map you can highlight (select) a feature, open up the table, and examine
all the information related to it.
THANK YOU

You might also like