5/24/12

Mapping Essentials and

Overview of Geographic Information System

Maps
• reduced and simplified model
of reality containing
geographical information

• … a graphic representation of
the cultural and physical
environments

• … preeminent means of
recording and communicating
information about the location
and spatial characteristics of
the natural world

1
 5/24/12

Maps
• Man, even since pre-historic times, have used maps of
one form or another.
• These maps were engraved in wood, stone, baked clay
and animal skin.

Clay Tablet map from Redrawing with interpretation

Ga-Sur, 2,500 B.C.

The value of maps

1. As a way of
recording and
storing
information

2. As a means of
analyzing
locational
distributions and
spatial patterns

3. As a method of
presenting
information and
communicating
findings

2
 5/24/12

Cartography
• Cartography is the means by which the surface of the
earth is represented as faithfully as possible.

• Cartography is the creation, production, and study of

maps.

• Cartography is the science and art of making maps

and charts.

Basic Map Contents

1. Primary content (main theme)
• actual subject of the map (i.e., land use, geology,
geomorphology, population density)

2. Secondary (base maps, basic map information)

• For thematic maps this is the topographic base. For all maps, it
includes the coastlines and boundaries of municipalities and
provinces, and also includes the grid and graticule.

3. Supportive (marginal information)

• Map Title – defines information & purpose of the map
• Legend – contains the symbols used in the map
• Scale – ratio of map distance to ground distance
• Date and Author – date and creator of map
• North Orientation –The north orientation provides the user the
proper perspective in interpreting the information on the map
• Explanatory Text – Further clarification, interpretation and
evaluation of the contents of the maps

3
 5/24/12

Basic Map Contents

Basic Map Contents

4
 5/24/12

Map Title

Legend
• The legend
lists the
symbols used
on a map and
what they
depict

5
 5/24/12

Scale

• Map scale is the amount of reduction that takes place

in going from real world to map plane.
• Map scale is the ratio of map distance to ground
distance.

Types of Maps
1. General
• shows basic physical and cultural features (i.e. base map,
vicinity map)

2. Thematic
• a simple map depicting a single theme or subject.
• Topographic, slope, soil, land use, cadastral maps, etc.

3. Analytical
• illustrates the derived results on an analysis and synthesis of
two or more variable factors according to desired output
(e.g., analysis of soil type, slope, rainfall intensity => flood
hazard areas)
• can be derived from overlay analysis or sieve analysis of
various thematic maps

6
 5/24/12

Base Map and Vicinity Map

General Maps
USES IN LAND
MAP TITLE SOURCE SCALE INFORMATION
USE PLANNING
1. Base Maps Topo map National Planning Political § working sheet in
(NAMRIA), – 1:1,500,00 boundaries, preparing various
cadastral Regional Planning permanent maps
map, – 1:250,000 physical features, § different types of
political Provincial Planning supportive information may
boundaries – 1:50,000 contents be overlayed to
(LMB) Metropolitan visually relate
Planning development
– 1: 25,000 trends,
City/Town constraints
Planning
– 1:5,000/1:10,000

1.1. General 1:5,000 / 1:10,000 Boundaries of the

Base Map whole area

1.2. Urban 1:2,000 / 1,4000 Detailed info on

Base Map urban areas,
roads, facilities

1.3. Vicinity 1:250,000 or other Geographic § pinpoints specific

Map location of area in location of a
relation to the study area
next bigger area § tool for analysis
on the influence
and limitation of
planning area
§ visualizes effect
of development
and plans of the
study area on the
outlying areas

7
 5/24/12

Thematic Maps
MAP TITLE SCALE AGENCY INFORMATION USES
Topographic 1:50,000; NAMRIA Point elevations, major - presents info. on
physical features which
Map 1:250,000 road network, built up are important for
areas, water bodies, determining potential &
other surface features limitation for land dev.
- essential in
determining run-off
patterns, erosion,
sedimentation, site
stability
Soil Map 1:50,000 BSWM Soil qualities, stability, -essential in
determining land use
resource potential suitability
- determining
appropriate agri. crops
- important factor in
determining strength &
capability to hold and
maintain structure
- soil capability to hold
water, erosion
Climate Map 1:500,000 PAGASA Climate type, prevailing - determines type of
crops to be planted and
wind, rainfall planting schedule
- determines
concentration of stream
run-off and potential of
run-off to carry
pollutants
- prevailing wind is
essential in allocation
of areas for specific
purposes

Topographic Map

8
 5/24/12

Slope Map

Thematic Maps
MAP TITLE SCALE AGENCY INFORMATION USES
Present Land 1:50,000; BSWM Land uses, mainly - index of soil and
weather condition
Use and 1:250,000 agricultural and forest,
Vegetation Map generalized built up
areas, major roads, and
stream networks

Protected 1:50,000 BSWM Highly restricted, - identify areas under

NPAAID and SAFDZ
Areas for moderately restricted,
Agriculture Map conditionally restricted
areas from conversion,
areas marginal to
agriculture

Road Network 1:10,000 DPWH Existing and proposed - determining and

locating future road
Map road network by requirements
administrative
responsibility and
surface type

9
 5/24/12

Land Use Map

Color Codes for Land Use Maps

Source: HLURB (1996), Mapping, Vol. VII

10
 5/24/12

Thematic Maps
MAP TITLE SCALE AGENCY INFORMATION USES
Geological Map 1:250,000 MGSB, Subsoil structure, fault - shows earthquake
prone areas
DENR lines, rock types - presents site’s ability
to support structures
Cadastral Map LMB Public record of land - reliable source of data
on ownership,
ownership boundaries and areas
- basis for land taxation
and assessment of land
values
Land varying scales NAMRIA Alienable and - identification of
control measures
Classification disposable lands, regarding use dev.
Map timberlands, - Identify physical
unclassified public constraints of
expansion areas
forests.
- Identify limits of A&D
that could be owned by
private citizens

Types of Thematic Maps

1. Choropleth
• The most commonly used method of thematic mapping
• particularly suited for charting phenomena that are evenly distributed
within each enumeration unit

2. Proportional symbol
• Also known as graduated symbols, these maps represent data associated
with point locations (i.e., cities or counties).
• The data is displayed with proportionally sized symbols to graphically
represent a realistic difference in occurrence.

3. Isarithmic
• These maps, also known as contour maps, depict smooth continuous
phenomena such as precipitation.
• They are also well-suited to displaying three-dimensional values such as
elevation i.e; on topographic maps.

4. Dot
• A map using dots to show the presence of a feature or occurrence and
display a spatial pattern.

11
 5/24/12

Chloropleth Map
• On a choropleth
map, political
divisions or
administrative
areas are
shaded
according to
their respective
ratios or
proportions.

Proportional Symbol Map

• uses a symbol of
differing size to represent
quantities.

• This allows to represent

data related to a specific
point or area

• A symbol is chosen to
represent the information
and then scaled to match
the data at each location
on the map.

12
 5/24/12

Isarithmic Map
• Isarithms are one way
of representing
continuous numerical
values on a sheet of
paper.

• When these isarithms

represent elevations,
they are called
contours.

Other Isarithmic Maps

• Isotherms show
temperature

• Isobars show pressure • Isohyets show precipitation

13
 5/24/12

Dot Map
• uses dots to show
the presence of a an
object or occurrence
of an event
• map of Dr. John
Snow in tracing
source of cholera
outbreak in Soho,
London in 1854
• used to display
spatial pattern (e.g.,
1 dot = 1 death)

Analytical Maps
MAP TITLE SOURCES INFORMATION USES
Serves as an analytical tool
Rainfall intensity, in determining land capability
vegetation types, and soil suitability for specific
Shows degree of
Erosion Slope map, soil crops, identifying suitable
susceptibility to erosion
Potential map - BSWM areas, for urban dev’t.; &
of an area
determining protective
measures for land dev’t. &
mgt.
Rainfall intensity, May be used in identifying
environmentally critical areas
tidal fluctuations, that would require attention;
Flooding Slope map, soil Shows areas where
also used in determining the
Hazard map - BSWM flooding usually occur
type and capacity of
drainage & other
environmental projects
Used in determining specific
Indicates the suitability of
Soil erosion, areas for cultivation
areas suitable for uses such
Land Capability potential flood, soil as cultivation, forest, pasture
according to soil
Classification land; helps in identifying
conditions conservation mgt.
dev’t. constraints & proper
requirements
land mgt. schemes

14
 5/24/12

Analytical Maps
MAP TITLE SOURCES INFORMATION USES
Provides the planner an idea
where the urban district
could be most suitably
Soil map,
situated as well as a guide
erosion
Provides data on the on how/ where the diff. land
potential map,
Soil Suitability degree of soil suitability uses w/I the urban zone
slope map,
for urban development could be located; helps
flooding hazard
determine direction of urban
map - BSWM
growth & guides the
formulation of mgt. controls
& measures
Existing land
Illustrates the obstacles
use map, land
to development in the Use in identifying areas for
Development capability/ soil
physical sense like development with the least
Constraints suitability
subsidence or flooding limitations
maps, special
risks
projects map

Flood Hazard Map

15
 5/24/12

Using Computers in Mapping

• Advantages • Disadvantages

1. Lower cost for simple 1. High capital cost, though

maps, faster production this is now much reduced

2. Greater flexibility in 2. Relatively few full-scale

output - easy scale or systems have been
projection change - shown to be truly cost-
maps can be tailored to effective in practice,
user needs despite early promise

3. Other uses for digital

data

GIS Overview
• We can describe any element of our world in two ways:
location information and attribute information

Attribute Information:
Location Information: What is it?
Where is it?

Species: Acacia
Height: 15 m
Age: 75 Yrs
51°N, 112°E

16
 5/24/12

GIS Overview
• GIS software links the location data and the attribute data:

Geographic Information System (GIS)

ü a computer-based technology
designed to:
1. capture geographic data from
various sources, and
2. process these data to produce
information and graphical outputs

in support of planning, management

and decision-making concerning
the utilization of land resources

ü a computer-based tool for mapping

and analyzing things that exist and
events that happen on earth.

17
 5/24/12

Uses of GIS

• Used in Organizing Data

– Geographic Data (Maps)
– Descriptive Data (Databases)
– Images

• Used in Distributing Data

• Used in Analyzing Data

• Used in Visualizing Data

History
YEAR SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS

Roger Tomlinson and colleagues developed the Canada Geographic

1963 Information System for Canadian Land Inventory. This project
pioneers much technology and introduces the term GIS.
The Harvard Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis
1964 was established in Harvard University under the direction of Howard
Fisher. Two years later, Symap, the first raster GIS was created.
The United States Bureau of Census developed the DIME-GDF (Dual
1967 Independent Map Encoding-Geographic Database Files), a data
structure and street address database for the 1970 census.

1969 ESRI Inc. and Intergraph Corp were formed. MapInfo Corp was
formed in 1986

Ian McHarg’s book “Design With Nature” was published. This book
1969 was the first to describe many of the concepts in modern GIS
analysis, including the map overlay process.

18
 5/24/12

History
Landsat 1 (originally named ERTS –Earth Resources
1972
Technology Satellite), the first of many remote sensing
satellites, was launched.
ESRI Inc. launched ArcInfo, the first major commercial GIS
1981
software system.

1985 GPS (Global Positioning System) becomes operational.

Clarendon Press publishes “Principles of Geographic

1986 Information Systems for Land Resources Assessment by P.A
Burrough. More than a hundred books on GIS have been
published since then.
The first technical journal on GIS, the International Journal of
1987
Geographic Information Science, was published.

The first global magazine on GIS, GEO World (formerly GIS

1988
World),was published.

History

Bill Clinton signs Executive Order 12906 which leads to the

1994 creation of US National Spatial Infrastructure (NSDI),
clearinghouses and Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)

Internet-based GIS products were introduced by major GIS

1996
companies almost simultaneously.

The first World GIS Day was celebrated by more than 1.2 million
1999
participants

The GIS industry passed the US$ 7 billion mark and now had
2000
more than million core users and perhaps 5 million casual users.

SOURCE: Longley, Goodchild, Maguire, and Rhind. 2005.

19
 5/24/12

Thematic Layers
Addresses

Boundaries

Land use/land cover

Parcels

Planimetry - Buildings,
streets, water bodies

Orthophoto with
contour

Geodetic control
points

An Analogy of GIS?

Addresses

Boundaries

Land use/land
cover

Parcels

Planimetry - Buildings,
streets, water bodies

Orthophoto with
contour

Geodetic control

20
 5/24/12

Simplified View of GIS

Maps
GIS

Database

Tables/DBs

Spatial
Modeling
Tools
Maps Linked to Data

21
 5/24/12

GIS Components

Ø Hardware

Ø Software

Ø Data

Ø Methods

Ø People

22
 5/24/12

GIS Components
l Hardware – the device that the user interacts with directly in
carrying out GIS operations.

GIS Components
l Software – The engine for carrying out GIS operations. It is a
collection of programs that encapsulate geographic
processing functions.

23
 5/24/12

GIS Components
• Software

• Commercial GIS
– ESRI (ArcView, ArcGIS, etc.) (http://www.esri.com)
– Mapinfo (http://www.mapinfo.com/)
– Manifold (http://www.manifold.net)

• Open Source GIS Software

– GRASS GIS (http://grass.itc.it/)
– Quantum GIS (http://www.qgis.org)
– ILWIS (Integrated Land and Water Information System) (http://
52north.org/downloads/ilwis)
– MapWindow GIS (http://www.mapwindow.org)

GIS Components
l People – Skilled workers who design, program, and maintain it,
supply it with data, and interpret its results.

l Methods – GIS requires management. An organization must

establish procedures, lines of reporting, control points, and other
mechanisms for ensuring that its GIS activities stay within budgets,
maintain high quality, and generally meet the needs of the
organization.

l Data – Digital representation of selected aspects of some specific

area of the Earth’s surface or near surface, built to serve some
problem solving or scientific purpose.
Sources:
a. Thematic maps
b. Aerial Photography
c. Satellite Imagery
d. GPS readings
e. Ground surveys

24
 5/24/12

GIS  Benefits  
ü Make map-making flexible

MAPS

CHARTS

DATABASES

PICTURES

IMAGES
CAD

25
 5/24/12

GIS  Benefits  
ü Organizational integration
ü Facilitate better decisions

GIS  Benefits  
ü Better data management

aerial photo satellite data

map ground survey data

26
 5/24/12

GIS  Benefits  
ü Increased efficiency/productivity

2 3
1 Plotting and Verification in Tax Map
Field Appraisal and Evaluation
Submission of required documents

QC
Div A Div B Div C Approval

7
Certificate Reception Fee collection Examiner
of Title Task A Task A Task A
A C E Task B Task B Task B
To To To
Encoding and Issuance of B D F

Tax Declaration •Workflow Technology

4
•Parcel-based Audit Property Identification
Number (PIN) Assignment

6Billing and Payment 5

Assessor’s Office
of tax dues Signature of Tax Declaration

Factors  Aiding  Rise  of  GIS  

ü Revolution in Information Technology and

Communication technology

ü Rapidly declining cost of computer hardware

ü Enhanced functionality of software and their user-

friendliness

ü Visualizing impact of GIS

27
 5/24/12

Principles
of GIS

In GIS, elements of the real world

are classified into:

¡ vector

¡ raster

28
 5/24/12

Vector Data
• Vector is shape-based data
– A representation of the world using points, lines, and polygons
– Vector models are useful for storing data that has distinct
boundaries, such as country borders, land parcels and streets
• Boundaries/locations tied to coordinates
• Used for discrete data

Raster Data
• Raster is cell-based data
– Cells are organized into rows and columns, assigned index position
number
– Many storage formats: e.g.. TIFF, jpeg, ESRI Grid, etc.
• Useful for storing data that is continuous, such as elevation, slope, and
temperature

29
 5/24/12

Raster Vector
• Cells • Points, lines, polygons

• Continuous • Discrete

• Cell-based • Shape-based

Geographic data models used in GIS

Data model Example applications

Computer-Aided Design Automating engineering design and drafting

(CAD)
Graphical (non- Simple mapping
topological)
Image Image processing

Raster/Grid Spatial analysis and modeling especially in environmental

and natural resources applications
Vector/Georelational Many operations on vector geometric features in
topological cartography, resource analysis and modeling
Network Network analysis in transportation, hydrology and utilities

Triangulated Irregular Surface/terrain visualization, analysis and modeling

Network (TIN)

30
 5/24/12

CAD and graphical data models

• CAD – real world entities are

represented as point, line, and
polygon vectors

• Computer cartography – all

paper map entities were stored
as points, lines, and polygons

Raster data model

• Uses an array of cells, or pixels,

to represent real-world objects Raster representation. Each color represents diff. value of a
nominal-scale variable denoting land cover class
• Cells can hold attribute values
based on one of several encoding
schemes
– Nominal-distinguishes one entity
from another (e.g. letters, colors)
– Ordinal-values have natural order
(e.g. classes of soil quality)
– Interval- differences known
between values (e.g. Celsius
temperature)
– Ratio- with “true” zero value (e.g.
weight, age)

• Useful as backdrop map and for

analytical applications

Raster data with associated value attribute table

31
 5/24/12

Vector data models

1. Features
• Features are vector objects of
type point, polyline, or polygon
• Simple features: lines and
polygons can overlap and
there are no relationships
between any of the objects
• Topological features:
essentially simple features
structured using topological
rules (geometrical relations)
used for validating data, editing
and query optimization (i.e.
network connectivity,
overlapping polygons, etc.)
1

Representation of point, line, and polygon objects using the vector data model

2. Network data model

• Special type of topological feature
model

• Used to model flow of goods and

services

• Networks are modeled as points

or nodes (street intersections,
water valves, switches) and lines Network representation sample
(streets, pipes, transmission lines)

• Network topological relationships

define how lines connect with
each other at nodes, and how
flows can move through a network

• Used in various applications such

as routing emergency responses
over a street network, calculating
power load drops over an
electricity network, etc.)
Routing over a street network

32
 5/24/12

Wireframe showing all triangles

3. Triangulated Irregular
Networks (TIN) data model
• Represents a surface as contiguous non-overlapping
triangular elements (created by Delaunay
triangulation)
Shaded by elevation
• Is a topological data structure that manages
information about the nodes comprising each triangle
and the neighbors of each triangle

• An efficient way of storing surface representations

such as terrains that have substantial variations in
topography

Draped with satellite image

Topology of a TIN TIN surface sample

Map projections
• Maps are flat but the Earth is an ellipsoid/spheroid. To represent three-
dimensional space (the earth's surface) in two-dimensional space (a
map), a mathematical transformation called a projection must be
performed.
• Direct projection of a spherical object to a plane cannot be performed
without distortion.

33
 5/24/12

Map projection

-­‐    a theoretical surface

generally defined as
mean sea level.

Map projection types

34
 5/24/12

Spherical coordinate system

• A spherical coordinate system is a reference system used to
locate and measure geographic features on the surface of a
sphere-like object, like the earth.

• Locations in a spherical coordinate system are measured in

degrees of latitude and longitude (also called geographic
coordinate system).

• Values are positive or negative depending on their quadrant

location. For the earth, coordinate measures begin at the prime
meridian for east/west measures, and at the equator for north/
south measures.

Spherical coordinate system

l The Greenwich prime meridian has a
longitude value of 0 and is also called
the Greenwich meridian because it
runs through Greenwich, England.

l The equator is an imaginary line on the

earth's surface midway between the
North and South Poles with a latitude
value of 0.

l In a spherical coordinate system,

measurements are expressed in
degrees, minutes, and seconds (DMS) lThe network of parallel latitude lines
or in decimal degrees (DD). For and converging longitude lines is called
example, 55°30'00" has the same a graticule.
value as 55.5°.
The network cannot be called a grid
l
because the lines do not meet at right
angles.

35
 5/24/12

Spherical coordinate system

• Latitude values range from 0° to 90°in
the northern hemisphere, going from the
equator to the North Pole. In the
southern hemisphere, they range from
0°to -90°, going from the equator to the
South Pole.
– angle from a point on the earth’s
surface and the equatorial plane,
measured from the center of the
sphere

• Longitude values range from 0° to 180°

in the eastern hemisphere, beginning at
the prime meridian in Greenwich,
England, and traveling east across
Europe, Africa, and Asia. In the western
hemisphere, longitude values range
from 0° to -180°, starting at the prime
meridian and traveling west across the
Americas.
– angle from a point on the earth’s
surface and the prime meridian
plane, measured from the center of
the sphere

Cartesian coordinate system

• A planar, or two-dimensional, system for
locating real-world features on a flat
surface.

• Real-world locations are measured

using x and y coordinate values from a
specified point of origin.

• All lines intersect at right angles (grid).

Because graticule lines do not meet at
right angles, converting a graticule to a
grid causes locations and shapes of
features to change and results in an
overall distortion of the earth's surface.

• Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) is

commonly used in Philippines

36
 5/24/12

Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System

Spheroid

• Earth is actually slightly pear-shaped and bumpy, but a sphere or spheroid

(ellipsoid) is used to approximate its shape.

• There are a number of standard spheroids used to describe the shape of the
earth. In the Philippines, these include the Clarke 1866 spheroid and the
WGS84 (World Geodetic System 84) spheroid.

37
 5/24/12

Datum

• Datum - a point of reference used to measure locations on the

surface of the earth.

• Luzon 1911 datum

– Origin near San Andres Point on Marinduque Island
– Spheroid/Ellipsoid of reference is Clarke 1866
– Philippine topographic (NAMRIA) maps uses the Luzon 1911
datum

• WGS84 datum
– Earth-centered datum

Displaying data using different map projections

38
 5/24/12

Spatial Reference Framework for the Philippines

A B C

Datum WGS84 Luzon 1911 PRS92

Spheroid WGS84 Clarke 1866 Clarke 1866

Coordinate UTM UTM/PTM UTM/PTM

System

" WGS84 (World Geodetic System 84) - commonly used datum

based on satellite measurements
" Luzon 1911 – Most commonly used datum for Philippines
" PRS92 (Phil. Reference System 1992) – adjustment of Luzon
datum.

Data Input and

Data Output

39
 5/24/12

GIS Data Input

1. Keyboard entry
2. Manual digitizing
3. Operator-assisted digitizing
4. Scanning
5. Photogrammetric methods
6. Satellite remote sensing systems
7. Field survey
8. Satellite positioning systems
9. Other computer systems

1. Keyboard entry

• Keyboard entry is primarily used for entering tabular data

• Typical attribute data sets entered can be:
– vegetation classes
– soil types
– etc.

40
 5/24/12

2. Manual digitizing

• Conventional digitizing is the manual

process of converting geographic map
data into digital form.
• The digitizing process is as follows:
1. Map is placed on a flat digitizing tablet and
affixed using tape.
2. Operator identifies control points which have
known geographic locations. Usually four or
more points are identified.
3. Operator digitizes the control points by moving
the cursor to each location and then activating
the digitizer by pressing a button. Cursor
4. Software then performs calibration to enable any
features digitized to be transformed into true
geographic coordinates.
5. Map features are then digitized by tracing their
boundaries and activating the digitizer as
required.

Digitizing table

3. Operator-assisted digitizing
• Also known as heads-up digitizing because the operator
works with his head up looking at the screen rather than with
his head down following the cursor on a digitizing tablet.

41
 5/24/12

4. Scanning

• Scanning is an automated
process of converting from paper-
based products to digital formats.

• In the scanning process:

– a map is passed through a
scanning system which has a
number of scanning detection
units;
– the detection units “detect” the
reflected light emitted from
features on the map;
– the reflected light is converted
to a reflectance value
– the image can then be
converted to vector format and
edited

Large-format roll-feed image scanner

5. Photogrammetry & remote sensing

• Both are concerned with

collecting geographic data
using remote means.

• Planimetric and topographic

information are usually derived
from aerial photographs.

• Land cover and other

information are usually derived
from satellite imagery.

• Scanned aerial photographs

and remotely sensed data are
in digital raster format already.

42
 5/24/12

6. Field surveys

• Traditionally, field measurements are made by

surveyors or field staff who use specialized equipment
and procedures for gathering geographic data.

• Field measurements usually include:

– measurements of distance and direction
– measurements in both horizontal and vertical
planes

• Measurements can be made with:

– compasses, transits and theodolites (for direction)
– tapes, chains and distance meters (for distance)
– levels (for elevation)
– GPS (all of the above)
Field surveying

7. Satellite-based positioning systems

• GPS (United States), GLONASS

(Russia) and GNSS (Europe) are
three civilian satellite positioning
systems that are operational at
present.

• Primarily developed for military

applications, the American and
Russian systems are subject to
degradation for civilian use.

• Receivers cost anywhere

between US$ 1,000 to US$
100,000 and give accuracy from
100 m to 1 cm (using
sophisticated GPS data
processing techniques).

43
 5/24/12

8. Others

• Other map data are available from a variety of

databases, some of which are in digital format.

• Some local data that are available, include:

– Municipal boundaries, 1:250,000
– 100-m contours, 1:250,000
– Barangay boundaries (from NSO)

Data Output  
ü Maps / Reports / Charts or Graphs
ü Outputs are generated via printers, plotters, and
monitors

44
 5/24/12

Data Output:  Cartographic  

• Cartographic

1. Map

2. Surface

Data Output:  3D  Presenta@on  

45
 5/24/12

Data Output:  3D  Presenta@on  

Data Output:  Non-­‐cartographic  

• Non-cartographic
1. Table
2. Chart
3. Report

46
 5/24/12

Spatial Analysis

Queries
• User “interrogate” the system to obtain an immediate answer
• Queries may involve pointing at a map, typing a question, pulling down a menu
and clicking on some buttons, or sending a formal SQL (Standard Query Language)
request to a database
• Users query a GIS database by interacting with different views (i.e. map view, table
view, etc.)

47
 5/24/12

Measurements
• Measurements, such as knowing the total area of a parcel of land, or the length of a
stretch of a road, are obtainable by simple calculations inside a GIS
• Because of the curved surface of the Earth, a GIS will almost always underestimate
the true length of a geographic line
– the length of a line in a 2-D GIS representation will always be the length of the
line’s planar projection, not its true length in 3-D, and the difference can be
substantial if the line is steep
– area of a parcel of land is the area of its horizontal projection, not its true surface
area

Effect of the Earth’s curvature on the measurement of distance

Measurements

Area = 387.73 sq.m.

Magnify

48
 5/24/12

Transformations
• Simple methods that transforms GIS objects and databases into more useful
information
• Buffering – builds new objects by identifying all areas that are within a certain
specified distance of the original objects
• Point in Polygon – are used to determine whether a point lies inside or outside a
polygon (e.g. locations of transmission line poles – identification of land owner on
which each pole lies, to verify that the company pays the necessary fees)
• Polygon Overlay – are used to interrogate datasets by combining them (e.g. land
cover vs ownership. The result will be a single dataset in which every polygon is
identified with one land cover type and one ownership type)

Buffering Point in Polygon Polygon Overlay

Note: Datasets have been offset slightly for clarity.

Proximity Analysis/Buffering

• Buffering: A buffer is a zone of a specified

distance around a certain feature or features.
• Buffers tend to be used in instances where one
is trying to determine, lessen or absorb an
impact.

49
 5/24/12

Overlay Analysis

• Combination of two or more

thematic maps

SLOPE MAP

+
SOIL MAP

+
RAINFALL
INTENSITY MAP

=
FLOOD HAZARD
MAP

Overlay Analysis

Land
Tax Use
LotPayment
Parcel
Road
Status

50
 5/24/12

Optimization
• Useful for location-allocation problems (where to locate, and how to allocate demand
for service to the central facilities)
– p-median problem – locating p facilities such that the sum of the distances is
minimized (i.e. location of public facilities, in which the objective is to locate for
maximum total accessibility)
– coverage problem – seeks to minimize the furthest distance traveled (i.e. location
of emergency facilities, in which the objective is to cover emergency situations
within a fixed number of response time)
• Also useful for routing problems (e.g. routing and scheduling of delivery vehicles)
– Shortest path problem – seeks to minimize path (distance traveled or travel time)
through a network (e.g. Traveling salesman problem (TSP) – shortest path
problem with multiple destinations)

Locating the central facility using straight-line distance Locating the facility using the road network

Optimization (Logistics Application)

• Logistics deal with the
movement of goods and
people from one place to
another

• Find Best Route - Find the

most efficient travel routes

• Find Closest Facility -

Determine which facility or
vehicle is closest

• Find Service Area - Find a

service area around a site,
to learn what is around the
site

51
 5/24/12

GIS Application: Local Government

l Property Assessment and Taxation

l Business Permits and Licensing

l Building Permits and Facilities Management

l Public Safety, Traffic Management

l Health and Sanitation

l Disaster Preparedness and Response

52
 5/24/12

Thank you for your attention.

Contact details:
Jun T. Castro, Dr. Eng.
Associate Professor
UP School of Urban and Regional Planning
[email protected]

53