Geographic Information Systems

(GIS)

Overview

Alex Takura Kuhudzai

 Who am I?

Experience: Umvoto Africa from 2008 until June 2020

COGTA Gauteng 1 September 2021 -current
Education: BSc Hons in Applied Remote Sensing and GIS from Fort Hare,
2008
Mtech (Cartograpphy) from CPUT, 2021
Communication?

Contact: Strictly email and will be attended to after hours.

Class rep (anyone to take the initiative to create a
whatsapp group) and messages will be responded
to almost immediately. Cell number is 074 214
0384 and email is [email protected]
 What is GIS?

G - Geographic
I - Information
S - Systems
Geographic: Real World, Spatial Realities,
Applied to geographic data
Information: Data and their meaning, to be used for a
purpose - toward the solution of a problem
Systems: Computer Technology and support infrastructure
G - Geographic Spatial Data
Spatial data:
 Information associated with a geographic locality
 Geographically referenced data
Non-Spatial Data
Spatial (Attributes)
Data
DRANA
TALIKA
SMITH

ADDRESS X Y NAME VALUE

12 Oxford Crt. 560 000 200 000 Smith 5000
12 14 16 14 Oxford Crt. 580 000 200 000 Talika 6000
OXFORD COURT
11 13 15
16 Oxford Crt. 600 000 200 000 Drana 7000
A St.
What is GIS?

G S I
Information is the heart of GIS
I - Information

Without the I, the G and the S are

unrelated and disconnected.
It is easy to concentrate on dazzling systems,
but in Information resides the real work and
value of GIS applications

Data: facts or measurements

Information: meaning from multiple
facts or measurements
IS - Information System
“A set of processes, executed on raw data, to
produce information that will be useful in
decision-making”
Functionality: • Observation
• Measurement
• Description
• Explanation
• Forecasting
• Decision-Making
GIS versus IS??
1. Geography - the connection between
elements of the system
• Location, proximity and spatial distribution
• Spatial links to attributes of points etc.
2. Analysis of spatial data
3. “Spatial Intelligence”:
• The system thinks points etc. are actual
spots on the surface of the earth
Need for better Information Systems
“The gap in the availability, quality,
coherence, standardization and
accessibility of data between the
developed and the developing world has
been increasing, seriously impairing the
capacities of countries to make informed
decisions concerning environment and
development.”
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Earth Summit 1992
GIS Basic Principles

Model the Real World

GIS Basic Principles

Themes / Layers / Coverages

 Themes / Layers: Georeferencing
E.g. Suitability Viewed from the top, all the
unsuitable areas are obscured
Analysis (coloured) and the other areas
represent suitable zones.

Note all layers must be

Registration pins drawn to the same scale to
hold the overlays in a ensure that they overlay
common spatial it ab
le correctly
s u
reference Un
GIS Basic Principles

Census Tracts
Roads
Bus Routes
Shopping Centres
Industrial Sites
La
titu de
de git u
Lon

GIS: An integrating
technology
Where did GIS evolve from??

Geography
Cartography
Remote Sensing
Surveying & Photogrammetry
GIS
Computer Science

Mathematics & Statistics

Components of a GIS
GIS Components - 1. HARDWARE
GIS Components - 2. DATA

 Data and Information

 Spatial Data
 Data Types
 Databases
 Data / Information
1 2 Vegetation Sample Sites
1 3
3 1 - Red Mangrove
2 4
1 2 - Black Mangrove
DATA 2 3 4
5 3 - Coconut Palm
2 2 3
5 4 - Ivory Nut Palm
4
3 3 4 5 6 5 - Lime
6 - Orange
INFORMATION AND DATA INFORMATION
Vegetation
1 Zones Categories
A
A - Mangrove
2
3 B B - Palm
5
C - Citrus
C
4 6
Spatial Data
Spatial data:
 Information associated with a geographic locality
 Geographically referenced data
Non-Spatial Data
Spatial (Attributes)
Data
DRANA
TALIKA
SMITH

ADDRESS X Y NAME VALUE

12 Oxford Crt. 560 000 200 000 Smith 5000
12 14 16 14 Oxford Crt. 580 000 200 000 Talika 6000
OXFORD COURT
11 13 15
16 Oxford Crt. 600 000 200 000 Drana 7000
A St.
Spatial Data - Primary Characteristics
POSITION / LOCATION SPATIAL
SPATIAL
Known Coordinate CHARACTERISTICS
System, X - Y RELATIONSHIPS

71
71 72
72 AREA 73
73
11
11 Shape PERIMETER

Di
sta
nc
Proximity e
12
12
DATE:
TIME 1991

DESCRIPTION / ATTRIBUTE COLOUR = CLASS

(In Database)
 Types of GIS Spatial Data
Nominal

Point Arc / Line Polygon

Qualitative

Airport Forest
River
Town Ocean

Swamp
H Hospital Boundary
Ordinal
Rank

City Highway Minor

Flooding
Main Road
Town Major
Gravel Road
Village Flooding
Trail
Quantitative

10 People Density
Interval

Contour Lines
100 People 300
200
1000 People 100
Visualization of Data
DATA DATA DATA DATA
NATION NATION
QUANTITY QUALITY QUANTITY QUALITY
Algeria South 50
45 High High
Africa
Angola 20 Medium Sudan 40 Medium
Benin 40 High Swaziland 21 Low
Burkina
42 High Tanzania 10 Low
Faso
Burundi 21 Medium Togo 15 Low
Cameroon 18 Low Tunisia 11 Low

Which is preferred?
Table of Data?
OR

A Map?
GIS Components - 3. SOFTWARE
 There are many GIS software systems
available
 They range from low-cost low-
performance packages to expensive
and very powerful ones
 This also includes support programs;
such as statistical, word processing and
others
GIS Software: Functionality

Input & Verification

Storage &
Query Database
Input Management

Output & Transformation &

Presentation Manipulation

GIS
 GIS Functions
Representations of
GIS Functionality information they operate on

Observed Documents
Phenomena and maps

Data acquisition

Raw Data

Storage Preliminary Display

and retrieval data processing and Interaction

Structured Data
Database Graphics
Search
and analysis

Interpretations
What does a GIS do?

?
GIS Generic Question: LOCATION
East 10 11 12
Where is?
3 X Q: Where is
Feature X
South

4
Z A: X = 3 South, 12
Y East
5

What exists at a specific location

Q: What is at 5 South. 11 East
A: Y
GIS Generic Question: Areal Relationships
MEASUREMENT

5 km
Distance X Y

Perimeter

Area / Size 10 km2

 GIS Generic Question:
Neighbourhood Analysis / Topology
Adjacency
B is adjacent to A
C is adjacent to B
B C
C is not adjacent to A

Connectivity
B is connected to A
B C
C is not connected
2 km
Proximity
B C
B is within 2 km of C
GIS Generic Questions: Attributes

PROPERTY AREA
OWNER TAX CODE SOIL QUALITY
NUMBER (ha)

1 100,000 TALATU B HIGH

2 50,100 BRAUDO A MEDIUM

3 90,900 BRAUDO B LOW
4 40,800 ANUNKU A HIGH
Who?

A Attribute Description B Where do certain

Q: What are the attributes of conditions exist? (Field)
Property 2? Q: Who owns High soil
A: (Look at records) properties?
A: Talatu and Anunku
GIS Generic Question: Relational Database

PROPERTY AREA
OWNER TAX CODE SOIL QUALITY
NUMBER (ha)

1 100,000 TALATU B HIGH

2 50,100 BRAUDO A MEDIUM

3 90,900 BRAUDO B LOW

No
4 40,800 ANUNKU A HIGH
No

Area: > 40,000 ha

C SITE SUITABILITY
Owner: Not Anunku
(Set of Conditions) Tax Code: B
Q: Which property has: Soil Quality: High

A: Property Number 1
 GIS Generic Question:
Patterns and Relationships

Z Z 1: Does Feature X occur

X
in a pattern?
Y A: Yes; in a line from NW
Y X
to SE.
Y
Z X 2: Is there a relationship
Z between X and Y?
A. Yes; Y is always close
3. What other spatial or functional to X
patterns exist?
A. Feature Z is always near a border
and increases in size from west
to east.
GIS Generic Questions: Trends

A B A B
C C D

1980 1990
1 How did items A, B and C 2 What has changed since
change from 1980 to 1980?
1990?  Change in size of A and B
A: Increased size  Change in location of B
B: Decreased size; moved  Change in shape of C
C: Changed shape  Addition of D
GIS Generic Question: Modelling
GENERALISATION MODEL

Rice Cane Fruit Rice

Agriculture
Cane Rice Rice Fruit

Pine Mix
Pine Vegetation
Bare Brush Bare

DATA MODEL
GIS Analysis: Map Algebra
Map Algebra

Selecting and Transforming

GIS Data by Layer
GIS Analysis: Information for a Location

Layers of
Information
collated for
a single
location
GIS Components -
4. ORGANIZATION AND PEOPLE
 The most important part of a GIS structure
 Training
 Experience
 Continuity
 GIS Management
 GIS Technical Skills
 Communication with decision makers
GIS within an organization

Management

Aims and
Information Queries from
for
Management
GIS Management

Data Gathering
 Definition of GIS
There are many ways to view GIS:
Purpose - why build a GIS?
Capabilities - what it does?
Process - How it does it? Functional - what
applications?
Who does it - Institutional /
Skills required Procedural - How a
GIS works
Map view Structural - how a GIS
Database View is put together

Spatial Analysis View

Generic Definition of GIS

A comprehensive GIS
requires means of…...
1. Data Input Subsystem
2. Data Storage and
Retrieval Subsystem
3. Data manipulation and
analysis subsystem
4. Data reporting subsystem
Toolbox Definitions of GIS
 A powerful set of tools for retrieving at
will, transforming and displaying spatial
data from the real world for a particular
set of purposes.
(Burrough, 1986)

 Automated systems for the capture

storage, retrieval, analysis and display
of spatial data.
(Clarke, 1995)
Information Systems Definitions of GIS
 A geographic information system is a special case of
information systems where the database consists of
observations of spatially distributed features, activities,
or events, which are definable in a space as points, lines
or areas. A geographic information system manipulates
data about these points, lines, and areas to retrieve data
for ad hoc queries and analyses. (Dueker,
1979)

 An organizational structure that integrates technology

(computers and capture peripherals, imaging and
positioning systems, communications systems) with a
database, images, spreadsheet, text, maps, expertise
(integral part of GIS) and continuing financial support
(costs high, long term investment) over time (growth in
time of technology, expertise). (Carter, 1989)
Key Points from Definitions
Capture & Collection
of Spatial Data
Information Systems
• corporate databases
Manipulation into
appropriate formats Geomatics
• measurement / analysis
Analysis of Data & of earth data
Modelling Modelling
• PURPOSE of GIS, not
just mapmaking
Decision Support
Output
A revised definition of GIS (Chrisman)
“The organized activity by which people
 Measure aspects of geographic phenomena and processes;
 Represent these measurements, usually in the form of a
computer database, to emphasize themes, entities and
relationships;
 Operate upon these representations to produce more
measurements and to discover new relationships by
integrating disparate sources; and
 Transform these representations to conform to other
frameworks of entities and relationships
These activities reflect the larger context (institutions and
cultures) in which these people carry out their work. In
turn, GIS may influence these structures.”
 GIS is a …….
 TECHNOLOGY A system of hardware,
software, data,
peripherals and people
 METHODOLOGY An approach to
managing and analyzing
spatial and non-spatial data.
 PROFESSION A new specialization
 BUSINESS Selling hardware,
software, data and services
What is the appeal of GIS?
 Integration of great quantities of spatial
information
 Powerful selection of analytical tools to
explore this data
 Manipulate and display this information
in new and more objective ways
What is the appeal of GIS?
 Potentially, there can be as many
thematic GIS coverages of an area as
there are environmental and human
attributes
 The ability to separate information in
layers and combine these layers is why
GIS holds such great potential as
research and decision making tools!!
Assignment
 What is the most important component
of a GIS system?
 One page write up to be submitted
within a week via email.