Lecture 1

Introduction to Geographic
Information Systems
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems with QGIS

Contents

Definition of GIS

GIS Application Examples

A asic fact

!e deal with information daily

Approximately "# $ "% & of the information we

deal with has a spatial component'

L(CA)I(* +A))E,S

+odel of the !orld

Definition - GIS

Any information system that

Integrates.

Stores.

Edits.

Analy/e.

Shares. and

Displays '''GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Definition $ Geographic Information

Geographic Information is '''

Information aout place on the Earth0s surface

1nowledge aout where something is

2nowledge aout what is at a gi3en location

4Goodchild. 15567

Geographic Coordinate System

'' a coordinate system that enales e3ery location on

Earth to e specified y a set of numers or letters'

A common choice of coordinates is latitude. longitude

and ele3ation'

Geographic Coordinate System

+ap 8ro9ections

Commonly a map projection is a systematic

transformation of the latitudes and longitudes of
locations on the surface of a sphere or an ellipsoid into
locations on a plane.

Map projections are necessary for creating maps.

+ap 8ro9ections

Questions GIS can answer

Location : !here is it;

Condition''' !hat is it;

8atterns '' <ow is it distriuted;

)rends : !hat has changed since;

+odeling : !hat if;

=ohn Snow0s Cholera +ap
http>??www'udel'edu?9ohnmac1?frec@"A?cholera?choleraA'html

(ther Definitions of GIS
A container of maps in digital form The general public
A computerized tool for solving
geographic problems
Decision makers, community groups,
planners
A spatial decision support system Management scientists, operations
researchers
A mechanized inventory of
geographically distributed features
and facilities
Utility managers, transportation
ofcials, resource managers
A tool for revealing what is
otherwise invisible in geographic
information
Scientists, investigators
A tool for performing operations
on geographic data that are too
tedious or epensive or inaccurate if
performed by hand
!esource mangers, planners,
cartographers

GIS Application Examples

GIS Application Examples

GIS Application Examples

GIS Application Examples

8arts of a GIS

)as1s in a GIS

GIS and )echnology

GIS and )echnology

GIS and )echnology

GIS and )echnology

Google Earth

Google +aps

!i1i+apia

+icrosoft Birtual Earth 4Cing7

Dahoo +aps

(penStreet+ap

!a/e

(penStreet+ap

Google +ap

Google Earth

(penStreet+ap ED

(S+ Cuildings