DATA

PREPARATION
 DATA INPUT
• The most expensive part of a GIS project is data base construction.
• Converting from paper maps to digital maps used to be the first step
in constructing a database.
• In recent years this situation has changed as digital data
clearinghouses have been commonplace on the internet. We can
look at what are available in public domain before deciding to create
new data.
• Government agencies
• Private companies
 DATA INPUT

• The topic of data input is still important for two reasons:

• Public data are intended for all GIS users rather than users of a particular
software package. We must be familiar with metadata and data conversion
from one format to another.
• Proliferation of online data suggests that government agencies and private
companies are continually producing new data.
• New data must be produced to be put on the internet or to be sold to
customers. Even for a GIS user we may not find the digital data we need
for a project and we may have to create our own data.
 EXISTING GIS DATA
• To find existing GIS data for a project is often a matter of knowledge,
experience, and luck.
• Internet is also a medium for finding existing data from nonprofit organizations
and private companies.
• Common types of GIS data on the internet are the data that many
organizations regularly use for GIS activities are called framework data which
include seven basic layers: geodetic control(accurate positional framework for
surveying & mapping), orthoimagery(rectified image such as orthophoto),
elevation, transportation, hydrography, governmental units and cadastral
information.
 METADATA
Metadata provides information about geospatial data.
They are integral part of GIS data and are usually prepared and entered during
the data production process.
Metadata are important to anyone who plans to use public data for a GIS
project.
i. Metadata let us know if the data meet our specific needs for area
coverage, data quality and data currency
ii. Metadata show us how to transfer, process and interpret geospatial data
iii. Metadata include the contact for additional information
 METADATA
• FGDC metadata standards describe a data set based on the following categories:

a) Identification information-basic information about the data set, including title,

geographic data covered and currency.
b) Data quality Information- information about the quality of data set, completeness,
consistency, sources of information and methods used to produce data
c) Spatial data organization information-data representation in the data set, such as
method for data representation (vector or raster)
d) Spatial reference information (projection, datum, coordinate system)
e) Entity and attribute information ,contents of data set, such as the entity types and
their attributes)
f) Distribution information- about obtaining the data set
g) Metadata reference information-currency of metadata information and
responsible party
 CONVERSION OF EXISTING
DATA
Data conversion is a mechanism for converting GIS data from one format
to another.
• Proprietary data formats require special translators for data conversion,
whereas neutral or public format require a GIS package that has
translators to work with the format.
a. Direct Translation (uses a direct translator in a GIS package to directly
convert geospatial data from one format to another).It used to be the only
method for data conversion before the development of data standards
and open GIS.
b. Neutral Format
 CONVERSION OF EXISTING
DATA
Neutral Format
• A neutral format is a public format for data exchange. The Spatial Data Transfer
Standard (SDTS) is a neutral format approved by the federal information
processing standards (FIPS) program in 1992.
• SDTS uses profiles to transfer spatial data. Each profile is targeted at a particular
type of spatial data. Currently there are five SDTS profiles:
a) Topological Vector profiles (TVP) covers DLG,TIGER and topological based
vector data
b) Raster Profile and extensions (RPE) accommodate DEM and other raster data
c) Transportation Network Profile (TNP) covers vector data with network topology
d) Point profile supports geodetic control point data
e) Computer Aided Design and Drafting Profile (CADD) supports vector based
CADD data with or without topology
 CREATING NEW DATA
A. Remotely Sensed Data
• Satellite images can be digitally processed to produce a wide variety of
thematic data for a GIS project.
• Landcover/Landuse, vegetation types, crop health, eroded soils,
geological features, the composition and depth of water bodies.
• Satellite images provide timely data if collected at regular interval it
provides temporal data use for recording and monitoring changes in
the terrestrial and aquatic environments.
• Ikonos and Quickbird images can now be used to extract detailed
features such as roads, trails, buildings, trees, riparian zones and
impervious surfaces.
 CREATING NEW DATA
B. Field Data
i. GPS
ii. Survey data
Survey data consists of distances, directions and elevations. Coordinate
geometry (COGO) a study of geometry and algebra provides the methods
for creating geospatial data of points, lines and polygons from survey data.
 CREATING NEW DATA

C. Text Files with x,y coordinates

Geospatial data can be generated from a text file that contains x, y

coordinates.
The x,y coordinates can be geographic or projected.
Each pair of x,y coordinates creates a point. Therefore we can create
spatial data from a file that records the location of weather stations,
epicenter or a hurricane track.
 CREATING NEW DATA
D. Digitizing/Vectorization

Digitizing is the process of converting data from analog to digital format.

• Manual Digitization

i. Heads-down digitization (using table or tablet)

ii. Heads-up (on screen) digitization (using computer screen)

 CREATING NEW DATA
• Digitizing usually begins with a set of control points which are later
used for converting the digitized map to real world coordinates
• Digitizing point feature is simple
• Digitizing line feature can follow either point mode or stream mode
a. Point mode: The operators selects points to digitize in point
mode
b. Stream mode: lines are digitized at a present time or distance
interval
 SPATIAL DATA EDITING

• Data Checking and Cleanup: During SPATIAL EDITING, problems

such as overshoots, undershoots and spikes are either flagged for
editing by the user or corrected automatically
DIGITIZATION ERRORS
REMOVING DIGITIZATION ERRORS
 CREATING NEW DATA
E. Scanning
• Scanning is a digitizing method that converts an analog map into a scanned
file which is then converted back to vector format in a process called
digitization.
 IMPORTANCE OF SOURCE MAP

• Despite the increased availability of highly resolution remotely sensed

data and GPS data maps are still a dominant source for creating new
GIS data.
• Accuracy of digital map is related to accuracy of source map
 GIS DATA INPUT (SPATIAL)

Preparing digital spatial data involves three steps:

1. Preparing digital base map (scan, digitize, and georeference)
2. Creating a database and/or individual table to store data that will be
gathered in the field
3. Creating a final map that is ready for editing in the field
 DIGITAL BASE MAP PREPARATION

a) Compile tabular data with x, y location information into a spreadsheet and add
to GIS application
b) Scan paper map products
• Clip scanned image to area of interest and save as compatible file format
(tiff, jpeg)
• Georeference scanned image

c) Convert raster into vector through digitization (vector data preparation)

d) Confirm that all datasets are in the same coordinate system, projection and
datum
• If coordinate system is undefined, find original coordinate system and
establish spatial reference
• If not all the same, project to a common coordinate system and datum
(Define and Assign Projection)