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Geographic Information Systems

Cartographers Geographers Business managers Marketing strategists Financial analysts Professional planners

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Geographic Information Systems

Think of all the uses for GIS that you came across in your reading…..

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Geographic Information Systems

A system for mapping and analyzing the geographical distribution of data Data are any information stored in a

database as long as it can be linked to a location

GIS databases are relational

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Geographic Information Systems

Like Access, information is stored as records. Each record in a GIS database

contains information used to draw a geometric shape

A point, a line, a polygon

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GIS

Stores any information that can be linked to places

Does 2+2=4 have anything to do with geography? No, but if it were true in some places

but not in others it would

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GIS

Luxury cars are mostly bought by people who earn more than $100,000 a year.

Significant percentage of Hispanic consumers prefer to buy groceries with Spanish-language labeling or to shop in a store where Spanish is spoken.

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GIS

GIS map files can represent Whole world or part by any of various

subdivisions (postal codes, streets, political boundaries)

Natural and manmade features (lakes, rivers, highways, hospitals)

Almost any place with almost any kind of statistical info

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GIS

Human beings excel at pattern recognition

Much easier to see relationships in spatial or map format than in a table of rows and columns Easier to make connections

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GIS – Data visualization

Lets you visually represent the data in any field of a map file as: Different shades of color Symbols of different sizes Dot patterns of varying density

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GIS – Data analysis

Has full array of query tools More powerful than traditional

databases 3 stores – want to compare the

demographics around each to understand why two are thriving and one is not

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GIS – Data analysis

Calculate a demographic profile for all households within a 15 min. drive from each store

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GIS – Data presentation

GIS helps you communicate what you know

Makes your case with clear and compelling visuals

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GIS Application Find where your best customers are located

Company sells food products to stores, cafes, restaurants, and other outlets in your city

Marketing presentation - show the stores you sold the most products to last year

You have a database with name, street address and last year’s sales for each customer

You have street data for your city

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