What is GIS and its Applications ? Everything you Need to Understand About Geographic Informations Systems, so That you can Benefit From Using one.

By mgameiro

What is GIS and its applications book is a book that is written for those who have interested in learning more about Geographic Information Systems and how it can help them make better decisions in their projects, business, departments, etc.

 

Perhaps you don't even know for sure what are the capabilities of such a system, and a better understanding of what it is, how it works and the basic concepts behind GIS will empower you to make a good decision if to implement such a system in your project of business will bring a worthwhile benefit that will justify the financial investment.

 

By reading this book you will get the knowledge necessary to make such a decision, at least to see if you need more information to keep pursuing the answer you seek for. It is an entertaining book for those who don't know anything about GIS and also deep enough and a reference for those who already have some knowledge about it. It will also serve as a good reference point for those who work with GIS and have an interest in disseminating the knowledge by indicating a good book for those who want to learn more.

 

This book will not teach you any specific software, it is not a tutorial on how to do things, but it is a book full of concepts that you can apply to any GIS software, you will find some indications of FREE software you can use if you wanted to start without any software buying cost. Even thou it is been said that technology can become outdated very fast and you need the latest version, that is only true if you are referring to the technology itself, not when you are talking about core concepts with this book is full of it.

 

In this book you will find the following topics:

● History of GIS

● GIS Characteristics & Components

● GIS important Concepts, features, and distinctions

● GIS job market

● GIS Applications & study cases

• Language: English
• Publisher: mgameiro
• Release date: Oct 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9786599717666

Book preview

What is GIS and its Applications?

1. Introduction

Ageographic information system (GIS) is a software platform used to capture, store, search, analyze, and visualize geographical information. Disaster management is one of several GIS applications.

A magnitude 9.0 earthquake happened on the eastern coast of Japan on 11th March 2011 and became the most destructive earthquake to strike Japan in history. The earthquake caused huge tsunami waves that apparently reached up to 40 meters high and traveled up to 10 km inland. GIS was critical in assisting rescuers and disaster management in conducting relief efforts, mapping heavily damaged regions and infrastructures, prioritizing healthcare requirements, and locating emergency housing in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. GIS was also integrated into social media platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr, allowing users to watch occurrences in real time based and explore map overlays of streets, satellite images, and terrain. In September 2011, the University of Tokyo hosted a special session on GIS and the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami as part of the worldwide Spatial Thinking and GIS symposium to share knowledge on the importance of GIS in disaster risk management.

On August 21, 2011, Hurricane Irene originated over the warm waters of the Caribbean, and in the next week, it proceeded up the Eastern Coast of the U.S. and as far north as Atlantic Canada.

Hurricane Irene and the earthquake that occurred so rapidly enabled national authorities and groups to construct GIS large datasets, apps, and analytics before the storm reached those locations. Media organizations like as MSNBC and CNN, and also firms such as Esri and Yahoo, established online storm monitors. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offered GIS datasets on predicted path, wind direction, wind velocity, and storm surge, while the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supported catastrophic relief and rehabilitation activities. Despite the fact that major flooding was recorded in upstate New York and Vermont, the preparations managed to limit the scope of Hurricane Irene's devastation.

Geographic information system was helpful in combining information from various data sources to offer geographic information that proved crucial for rescue efforts during both the Great East Japan Earthquake and Hurricane Irene. Geographic information system is the foundation of geospatial techniques, which includes remote sensing, cartography, surveys, and photogrammetry. Geospatial technology is among the thirteen areas designated by the United States Department of Labor in its High Growth Job Training Initiative (http://www.doleta.gov/brg/jobtraininitiative/) as of June 2014. These industries are expected to contribute a significant number of new employment to the economy, or they are enterprises that are being changed by technological innovation, necessitating new set of skills sets for employees.

1.1. Geographical Information System

Geospatial data define the coordinates as well as the features of spatial objects. As illustrated in Figure 1.1, to characterize a highway, we mention to its position (i.e., where it is) and its features (e.g., size, title, maximum speed, and orientation). The capability of a GIS to collect and analyze geospatial data separates it from other information systems and enables it to be used for the incorporation of geographical as well as other information. According to the United States Department of Labor, it also defines Geographic information system as an increasingly developing industry.

FIG. 1.1: GEOSPATIAL data is an illustration. A planar coordinate system underpins the road network. The x and y coordinates of the termination locations, as well as other features of a street segment, are listed in the box that appears on right.

1.2. Components of Geographical Information System

AGeographic information system, like other technological tools, needs the following elements in addition to geographic information:

● Hardware: Pcs for processing data, storing, and input or output; printers and plotters for reporting and hard copy maps; digitizers and scanners for geospatial digitizing; and GPS and portable devices for fieldwork are examples of Geographic information equipment.

● Software: GIS software, whether commercial or open license, consists of tools and apps that run on a computer to arrange information, interpret information, visualize information, and perform other functions. For specific information analytics, supplementary apps developed in C++, Visual Basic, or Python may be utilized in Geographic data. Menu options, symbols, and command prompts are typical user interactions for these application programs whether running on a Windows, Mac, or Linux operating system.

● People: Geographic information experts set the vision and objectives for utilizing GIS, as well as analyze and deliver the findings.

● Company: Geographic information activities operate within an institutional strategy; hence, they must be incorporated into the firm's environment and decision-making procedures for issues such as the importance and goals of Geographic data, Geographic information system education, information collection and distribution, and standard protocols.

1.3. GIS Software Products

According to several commercial studies, Esri and Intergraph dominate the Geographic information business operations of software marketplace and software profits.

Esri's primary software application is ArcGIS for Desktop, a configurable software available in three licensing tiers: Basic, Standard, and Advanced (formerly ArcView, ArcEditor, and Arclnfo, respectively). All three versions of the system run on Windows operating systems and utilize the same apps and plugins, although their abilities vary slightly: Desktop Basic supports data integration, querying, displaying, and analytical; Desktop Standard supports more data editing functions; and Desktop Advanced supports more data conversion and analysis functions than Desktop Basic and Desktop Standard. GeoMedia is Intergraph's software application package. Approximately 30 apps in the GeoMedia product package are used for mapping generation, sharing of information, and analysis of data in transit, utilities and telecommunications, intelligence and military, and other industries.

The Geographic Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS) is a free and open-source geographic information system (GIS) computer program. GRASS was created by the United States Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories and is now maintained and administered by a global community of nodes. QGIS, SAGA, ILWIS, DIVA-GIS, and PostGIS are some more free software GIS applications. Some Geographic information products are designed for specific customer segments. TransCAD, for instance, is a transportation-specific software suite. Oracle and IBM have also joined the GIS database market with relational database management systems capable of handling geospatial information.

1.4. Elements of GIS

Geospatial data, collecting data, information administration, data presentation, pattern discovery, and analysis of data are the pedagogic components of GIS.

Geospatial Data

Geospatial data, by definition, encompass the location of landmarks. We either use a geographic or a projected coordinate system to find spatial characteristics on the Earth's surface. A GCS is represented in terms of geographical coordinates i-e; lat and long, whereas a projected coordinate system is stated in terms of x and y coordinates. There are several projected coordinate systems in the world to be used in GIS. The Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid system, for instance, splits the Earth's surface into 60 regions within 84N and 80S. A fundamental premise of GIS is that map layers depicting distinct geographic information must be geographically aligned; in other terms, they must have the same reference frame.

FIG. 1.2: THE VECTOR data method incorporates x- and y-coordinates to express point features (a), whereas the raster data model utilizes pixels in a grid to express point features a grid to express points characteristics (b).

Data Acquisition

Getting information is typically the initial stage in carrying out a Geographic information endeavor. The emergence of information clearinghouses and geoportals has been connected to Geospatial consumers' desire for geographic information. Since the early 1990s, several tiers of government in the U.S. and several other nations have put up webpages to share publicly available data and guide people to various sources of data. To make utilization of publicly available data, it is necessary to get metadata, which contains information about the data. If no public data is accessible, new information can be developed by digitizing paper maps or photographs, creating aerial photographs, or converting Geolocation data, survey responses, location information, and word documents with x and y locations.

Attribute Data Management

To manage attribute values, which might be huge in the context of vector data, a Geographic information system often includes a database management system (DBMS). Each polygon in a soil map, for instance, might be connected with thousands of characteristics pertaining to soil physical-chemical parameters, as well as soil analyses. Relational database stores feature information as a set of tables. These tables can be created, managed, and changed individually, but they can also be connected for information searching and retrieving. A database management system (DBMS) provides join and relate functions.

Data Display

Making maps is a common GIS function since maps serve as a gateway to GIS. In GIS, making maps can be casual or professional. When we see geographical information on maps, it is casual; when we create maps for corporate demonstrations and publications, it is professional. To communicate geospatial data to the map viewer, a corporate map includes the title, map body, legend, scale bar, as well as other features. To create a quality map, we must first learn map icons, colors, and typography, as well as their link to the plotted information. Moreover, we must understand map design concepts like the layout and visual hierarchy. After creating a map in a GIS, it may be published or exported as multimedia data for demonstration purposes.

Data Exploration

The actions of displaying, altering, and retrieving information utilizing maps, tables, and graphs are referred to as data exploration. These actions provide an in-depth summary of the information and serve as a prelude to professional data processing. GIS data investigation can be map or attribute based. Information categorization, aggregation of data, and map contrast are all part of the map-based exploration. A feature-based query can use characteristic or geospatial information. Attribute data inquiry is similar to databases query using a DBMS. Spatial data query, on the other hand, is distinctive in GIS since it permits users to opt for characteristics related to spatial connections such as confinement, overlap, and closeness.

Data Analysis

A Geographic information system has a plethora of information analysis capabilities. Some are essential instruments, which means they are often used by GIS users. Other technologies are often topic or specific. Buffering and overlaying are two fundamental vector data techniques: buffer produces buffer zones from features extracted, and overlaying merges the geometry and characteristics of the input data. Local, neighborhood, zonal, and global operations are the four main techniques for raster images, based on whether the function is conducted at the scale of single pixels, clusters of cells, or cells inside a whole raster.

The topography is essential for research into forest management, soil degradation, hydrological modelling, and animal ecosystem compatibility.

Applications of GIS

Geographic information system is an effective instrument since a large portion of the data we receive on a daily basis includes a geographical element. A common statistic amongst GIS users is that 80% of information is geographical. Geospatial data has been used for land use planning, environmental vulnerability assessments, animal ecosystem assessment, river area surveillance, timber administration, and city planning since its inception. Over the last two decades, the number of sectors that have profited from the usage of Geographic data has grown dramatically. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is a pioneer in the establishment and marketing of geographic information systems (GIS).

The United States Geological Survey official site (http://www.usgs.gov/) offers case histories along with geographic information for apps such as weather and changes in land, ecology assessment, geomorphologic modeling, petroleum evaluation, watersheds, coastline management, natural disasters (volcanism, flood, and landslide), underground water decline, and groundwater levels governance. The United States Census Bureau, with an emphasis on demographic data and GIS applications, offers GIS-compatible TIGER (Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing) items, such as lawful and quantitative geographical regions, roadways, railways, and waterways, which can be merged with economic and demographic information (http://www.census.gov).

Natural resources, environmental disasters, ground and surface water hydrology, weather forecasting, climate control and reporting, risk of flooding, soil quality, environmental conservation, habitat for wildlife, agricultural production, forest management, landform monitoring and risk, land use planning, estuarine governance, archaeological sites, city design, transit, wellness, and combat activities are among the sectors covered by a fast keyword search