Geographic Information Systems:Tools for Exploring Spatial

Phenomena

Darren Ruddell

School of Geographical Sciences

Arizona State University

Introduction

Third-year PhD student in the School of Geographical Sciences Specializing in GIS and Sustainability Completing GIS certificate program

BA in Political Science from San Diego St. MS in Global Technology & Development

from ASU Peace Corps Volunteer, Cameroon 2000-02

Geographic Information Science

What is GIS?

How do we useGIS?

GIS: A type of Informatics

GIS is a technology used for handling, processing, and analyzing geographic data.

GIS is a research tool: Explore spatial data Produce digital maps Estimate trends Planning/resource

management

Why GIS Matters

Almost everything happens somewhere

Knowing where some things happen is critically important

Position of boundaries Location of hospitals Routing delivery vehicles Management of forest stands Allocation of funds for

environmental concerns

Why is Geographic Information Special?

Multidimensional, need 2 coordinates

GIS databases store spatial attributes

• Examples?

Understanding GIS: key terms

Data: observations or measurements recorded from real world objects. Data are transmitted through signals.

Information: the intelligent interpretation of data. Must know the rules.

Knowledge: the body of information collected over time.

Example

Signal: . . . - - - . . . (3 short, 3 long, 3 short tones)

Data: If the syntax of Morse code is known, the signal can be translated into data: SOS

Information: This message only makes sense after the receiver interprets (decodes) it, i.e. after it becomes information: 'Save Our Souls'

What is the most common method for converting data to information?

The current role of computer science in society

worldwide fast communication (e.g. internet services)

large changes in job requirements (e.g. from the typewriter to the word processor)

data as a tool of power, problems of data protection

computer criminality

History of Computer ScienceBC number systems of the Sumerians, Egyptians, Romans; abacus used for calculations; Greek mathematicians PYTHAGORAS (- 500), EUCLID (-300), ARCHIMEDES (-250) among others, lay the foundations of geometry and algebra~ 500 Indian-Arabian decimal system with the number 01524 Adam RIESE writes a computation book according to the decimal system1623 SCHICKARD constructs the first mechanical computing machine for Kepler with 2 basic computational (+, -) forms1818 reliable mechanical computation machines are mass-produced1838 BABBAGE designs the 'analytical engine', steered by a program written on punched cards; he was not able to technically materialize his design; his assistant ADA writes the first "program"1886 HOLLERITH builds an electric counting machine for the punched cards1941 ZUSE builds the first electronic programmable machine Z3 (2000 relays);

1 multiplication takes 4 seconds1944 AIKEN at IBM builds the programmable machine MARK1 (length 15m, 80 km wires); 1 multiplication takes 3 seconds1950 VON NEUMANN, TURING, among others, develop the principal of the modern computer: single processor; program and data in the same memory1954 In the USA, ENIAC is developed as the first electronic computer (18,000 electron pipes, 20 tons); 1 multiplication takes 3 milliseconds1964 FORTRAN becomes a widely distributed programming language, especially in the natural sciences

1973 UNIX developed as an operating system for workstations1976 WOZNIAK & JOB build the first personal computer (Apple) in the USA.

CRAY builds the first supercomputer1979 MS-DOS for PCs is developed 1983 First PC-XT (extended) from IBM arrives on the market>> now Hardware becomes increasingly powerful and more affordable; software becomes more efficient but requires more hardware resources

Definition of Computer Science

The science concerned with the systematic and automatic processing of data and information with the help of computers.

Geographic Information Science

Spatial component of information: The spatial reference informs geoscientific questions. Geoscientists are interested in special features (attributes) of spatial objects, also called geographic objects.

the science concerned with the systematic and automatic processing of spatial data and information with the help of computers.

Spatial is Special

Task 2:

"Look for all locations of home fires in Phoenix and the distance they are from a fire station." This task can only be completed with the help of a geographic information system (GIS), which has special capabilities allowing it to analyze the relationship between geographic objects (home fires and fire stations).

Task 1:"Look for all locations of home fires in Phoenix." This task can be completed with the help of a normal information system (database).

GISystems

Use of hardware, software, tools

GIScience Theory behind how to solve

spatial problems with computers

Dissecting a common landscape

GIS combines data at a single location to provide a better understanding of that place.

GIS merges and analyzes various databases

Dissecting a common landscape

Representation:

•Points

•Lines

•Polygons

Points, Lines, and Polygons

Exercise: Your dorm, house, or apartment? Your commute to school? This classroom? The intersection of two streets?

The GIS pipeline

Data gathering (input)

Data storage and specification

Data use and analysis

Data output

So what? Applications

Examples of GIS use

GIS questions: 1. Locations - What is at….?

parcel no. 565-23a area 118,245 sq. ft. owner Triangle Development address 500 Water St., Pittsburgh zoning R-3assessment $950,000

Who owns the lot at 3233 E. College Ave and what is its zoning?

Examples of GIS use

GIS questions: 2. Objects - Where is…?

Where are houses located you might consider buying?

parcel no. 565-23a area 118,245 sq. ft. owner Triangle Development address 500 Water St., Pittsburgh zoning R-3assessment $950,000

Examples of GIS use

GIS questions: 3. Patterns - Which things are related…?

Where have traffic accidents occurred over the past year at intersections without a traffic light?

Examples of GIS use

GIS questions: 4. Models - What if…?

??What would happen to traffic patterns if a new Wal-Mart were built here?

Examples of GIS use GIS questions: 5. Trends - What has changed since…?

How has land cover changed since 1950?

Examples of GIS use… Summary

Wide range of applications:

engineering

mining

natural resource management

agriculture

planning (all gov’t levels)

etc...

Examples of GIS use… Summary1. Natural Resource Management

Forest & Wildlife Hydrological Minerals

2. Urban and Regional Management Public Works Landuse Planning Emergency Response

3. Commercial Site Selection Market Area Analysis Routing

4. Agricultural Management Animal Management Field Records Climate Change / Human Impact

What do I need to know to havea career in GIS?

Theory and concepts (GIScience) How to think spatially How to ask questions spatially

Software training (GISystems) How computers store spatial information How to answer spatial questions

Getting started Read Experiment with the

software Talk to GIS users Talk with me Talk to each other Pay attention Take a GIS course

Questions??