GIS IN NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENTS:

LECTURE 1

OUTLINE

•Course and assessment

•What are the functions of GIS and GIS definition

•Brief history of GIS

•How does a GIS work?

•Complimentary disciplines

•Spatial and attribute data

The geographic method

WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF GIS?

1. Data capture

2. Data compilation

3. Data storage

4. Manipulation

(eg. Coordinate

transformations, Projections

and Edge matching)

5. Analysis

WHAT IS GIS?

GISGISPeople Data

Methods

Hardware

Software

What is GIS continued•A GIS can be seen as a computer-based system to support data acquisition, management, manipulation, analysis, modelling and display of spatially-referenced data for addressing complex planning and management issues.

What is GIS cont.

Definitions of GIS can be categorised according to the type of emphasis:

• GIS as a tool box

• GIS as an information science

• GIS as an approach to science.

What is GIS cont.

•GIS is primarily a decision support tool. •It has the ability to integrate information and to assist in decision making and understanding. •All definitions include the essential features of spatial references and dataanalysis.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF GIS

The first GIS, Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS) was created in the 1960s. Three important trends contributed to the development of GIS:

1. refinement of cartographic techniques 2. development of spatial analysis techniques – overlay concepts in land suitability analysis3. development of digital computer systems – microprocessor.

Recent developments include powerful computers, web-based developments and map servers, mobility

HOW DOES A GIS WORK?

•Data is input into the GIS.•Through relational database management and query/analysis tools GIS allows multi criteria analysis of social, environmental and economic data across spatial and temporal scales.

RELATED DISCIPLINES

SPATIAL AND ATTRIBUTE DATA

SPATIAL AND ATTRIBUTE DATA

continued

SPATIAL AND ATTRIBUTE DATA cont.