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Copyright, 1998-2014 Qiming Zhou GEOG3600/4017. Geographical Information Systems What Is a GIS?

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2 What is a GIS? Why does GIS matter? Spatial problem solving Geo-science, technology and business Where is a GIS from? Components of a GIS The future

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What Is a GIS?3 Interpretation of the words GIS: A particular form of information system applied to geographical data A system: A group of connected entities and activities which interact for a common purpose An information system: A set of processes, executed on raw data, to produce information which will be useful for decision making Geographical data: Spatially referenced data sets

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What Is a GIS?4 GIS a system A GIS is an information system Its common purpose: decision making for managing use of land, resources, or any spatially distributed activities or phenomena It processes raw geographical data It produces information for decision making of spatial activities

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What Is a GIS?5 Definitions of GIS A container of maps in digital formThe general public A computerised tool for solving geographical problems Decision-makers, community groups, planners A spatial decision support systemManagement scientists, operations researchers A mechanised inventory of geographically distributed features and facilities Utility managers, transportation officials, resource managers A tool for revealing what is otherwise invisible in geographical information Scientists, investigators A tool for performing operations on geographical data more efficiently Resource managers, planners, cartographers Definitions of a GIS and the groups who find them useful (from Longley, et al., 2001, pp. 10)

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What Is a GIS?6 Alternative names of GIS Multipurpose geographical data system Multipurpose input land use system Computerised GIS System for handling natural resources inventory data Image-based information system Land resource information system Planning information system Resource information system Natural resource management information system Spatial data handling system Spatial data management and comprehensive analysis system Geographically referenced information system Geo-information system Spatial information system Environment information system Automated GIS Land information system Automated mapping and facilities management Knowledge based GIS

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What Is a GIS?7 Why does GIS matter? Almost everything that happens, happens somewhere. Knowing where something happens can be critically important. Longley, et al., 2011, pp. 4

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What Is a GIS?8 Examples of geographical problems Government: where to locate public facilities (e.g. schools, hospitals and police stations)? Transportation: where to build the new highway that serves most critical bottleneck of the road network? Commercial: where to build new shops or good distribution centres that make most cost effective services? Travellers: where am I and how can I travel from Hong Kong International Airport to Hong Kong Baptist University? Country park management: where to locate hiking tracks that provide the best scenery for hikers at different levels with the minimum impact on the environment?

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What Is a GIS?9 A case of life: finding a hotel http://hotels.ctrip.com/Domestic/ShowHotelMap.aspx

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What Is a GIS?10 Hotel booking http://hotels.ctrip.com/Domestic/ShowHotelMap.aspx

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What Is a GIS?11 Where to have our lunch? http://www.dianping.com

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What Is a GIS?12 How can we get there? http://www.dianping.com

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What Is a GIS?13 Lets go! http://ditu.google.cn

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What Is a GIS?14 The technical concerns Spatial is special (Longley, et al., 2011). Geospatial subset of spatial (on earth) Technical matters Multi-dimensional Voluminous Projected onto a flat surface Special methods of analysis Large variety of geographical information Updating is complex and expensive Visualisation and map making requires large amount of data

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What Is a GIS?15 Spatial problem solving Information systems help us to manage what we know by making it easy to organize and store, access and retrieve, manipulate and synthesise, and apply to the solution of problems. (Longley, et al., 2011) Data: raw facts Information: contents assembled from raw facts Evidence: results of analysis Knowledge: information that is understood Wisdom: Policies developed and accepted

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What Is a GIS?16 Hierarchy of decision- making infrastructure Decision-making support infrastructure Ease of sharing with everyone GIS example WisdomImpossible Policies developed and accepted by stakeholders KnowledgeDifficult Personal knowledge about places and issues EvidenceOften not easyResults of GIS analysis InformationEasy Contents assembled from raw facts DataEasyRaw geographical facts (After Longley, et al., 2011, pp. 12)

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What Is a GIS?17 Geo-science, technology and business Geo-science: knowledge about how the world works Information on how it looks, its forms and how it works Prediction GIS combines general scientific knowledge with specific information, and gives practical value to both. The test-bed for geography Geo-technology: to support both science and problem solving. Geo-business: software, data, geo-service, publishing and education

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What Is a GIS?18 Where is a GIS from? Geography Cartography CAD and computer graphics Surveying and photogrammetry Remote sensing and space technology

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What Is a GIS?19 Origins of GIS Geography Remote sensing Cartography CAD & computer graphics Surveying & photogrammetry

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What Is a GIS?20 A brief history of GIS The era of innovation 1960s 70s The era of commercialization 1980s 90s The era of exploitation The 21 st century

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What Is a GIS?21 The era of innovation YearTypeEvent 1957ApplicationFirst known automated mapping produced (Swedish meteorologists and British biologists) 1963TechnologyCGIS development initiated 1963GeneralURISA established 1964AcademicHarvard Lab established (SYMAP, 1966) 1967TechnologyDIME developed (for 1970 US Census) 1967Academic & generalUK experimental cartography unit (ECU) formed 1969CommercialESRI formed (Jack Dangermond) 1969CommercialIntergraph formed (Jim Meadlock) 1969AcademicDesign with Nature published (Ian McHarg) 1969AcademicFirst technical GIS textbook (Nordbeck & Rystedt) 1972TechnologyLandsat 1 launched (ERTS-1) 1973GeneralFirst digitizing production line (Ordnance Survey, UK) 1974AcademicAutoCarto 1 conference 1976AcademicGIMMS (Tom Waugh) 1977AcademicTopological data structures (ODYSSEY GIS)

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What Is a GIS?22 The era of commercialization YearTypeEvent 1981CommercialArcInfo launched (first major commerical GIS software) 1984AcademicBasic Readings in GIS published (Marble, et al.) 1985TechnologyGPS operational 1986AcademicPrinciple of GIS and Land Resource Assessment (Burrough) 1986CommercialMapInfo formed (first desktop GIS product) 1987AcademicIJGIS launched (first academic journal) 1987GeneralChorley Report (Handling Geographical Information, UK) 1988GeneralGISWorld begins (first world-wide GIS magazine) 1988TechnologyTIGER announced US census 1988AcademicUS and UK research centres announced (US NCGIA, UK RRL) 1980s

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What Is a GIS?23 The era of commercialization YearTypeEvent 1991AcademicGIS: Principles and Applications published (Maguire, et al.) 1992TechnicalDigital Chart of the World released (US Defence Mapping Agency) 1994GeneralExecutive Order signed by President Clinton (NSDI) 1994GeneralOpenGIS Consortium born 1995GeneralFirst complete national mapping coverage (Great Britains Ordnance Survey) 1996TechnologyInternet GIS products introduced 1996CommercialMapQuest (Internet mapping service, later purchased by AOL for $1.1 billion) 1999GeneralGIS Day (first GIS Day attracted over 1.2 million global participants) 1990s

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What Is a GIS?24 The era of exploitation YearTypeEvent 1999CommercialIKONOS 2000CommercialGIS passes $7 billion 2000GeneralGIS has 1 million core users 2002GeneralLaunch of online National Atlas of the US 2003GeneralLaunch of online national statistics for the UK 2003GeneralLaunch of geospatial one-stop (US federal e-government) 2004GeneralNational Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) formed 2006TechnologyLaunch of Google Earth 2007CommercialPitney Bowes purchased MapInfo ($408 million) 2007CommercialNavtech was purchased by Nokia (street data provider, $8.1 billion) 2008CommercialTeleAtlas purchased by TomTom (street data provider, $2.9 billion)

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What Is a GIS?25 Components of a GIS Computer hardware GIS software People Data

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What Is a GIS?26 Computer hardware

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What Is a GIS?27 GIS software

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What Is a GIS?28 Aims and queries from management Management Information for management Data gathering People

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What Is a GIS?29 GIS User Multimedia Maps Existing data Data gathering and retrieval Ground survey Satellite imagery Data

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What Is a GIS?30 The future Technology diffusion People oriented applications Interactive and real-time applications Cleverer and more comprehensive To use GIS, or not to use?

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What Is a GIS?31 System, science, study and service Geographical information system Emphasising infrastructure Geographical information science Emphasising principle and theory Geographical information study Emphasising data and data mining Geographical information service Emphasising socio-economic service

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What Is a GIS?32 Geographical information service

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What Is a GIS?33 Image view

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What Is a GIS?34 Map view

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What Is a GIS?35 3-D view

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What Is a GIS?36 Street view

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What Is a GIS?37 Get direction

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What Is a GIS?38 Everything has a location

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What Is a GIS?39 Everyone is a provider

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What Is a GIS?40 Everyone is connected

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What Is a GIS?41 GIS and geography Many roots of GIS come from principles of geography. However, many geographers remain suspicious of the use of GIS in geography. Lack of geospatial data Science and technology, with which GIS is strongly associated, are viewed by some as fundamentally flawed. Geography itself is sometimes too ambiguous. The bias that GIS presents the Earths surface is often at the expense of others.

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What Is a GIS?42 Why do we bother? GIS is becoming an essential tool for geography study and practices. Geographical data is becoming more widely available and less expensive so that the ability in using such data efficiently and wisely gives competitive margin for a business. Using GIS will eventually make your study in geography easier, more efficient and enjoyable. After all, the technology is already in your life, whether you like it or not!

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What Is a GIS?43 Summary GIS was initially a system, or merely a toolbox for geographical applications. It has now advanced as science, technology, service and business. It has become an essential part of management and decision-making practices. In modern era, peoples life is increasingly dependent upon the information and services provided by GIS.