Systems
(GIS)
Esubalew Nebebe,
October, 2017
What is a GIS ?
(Geographic Information System)
Data
The availability and accuracy of data can affect the results of any query
or analysis.
Hardware
Hardware capabilities affect processing speed, ease of use, and the
type of output available.
Software
This includes not only actual GIS software, but also various databases,
drawing, statistical, imaging, or other software.
Procedures
Analysis requires well- defined, consistent methods to produce
accurate, reproducible results.
Data, Information & Metadata
Data:
representations that can be operated upon by a computer
Information:
data that has been interpreted by a human being
Metadata:
data about data
Spatial data quality
Lineage
Temporal accuracy
Completeness
Logical Consistency
GIS Capability
Capturing data
A GIS must provide methods for inputting geographic (coordinate) and
tabular (attribute) data. The more input methods available, the more
versatile the GIS.
Querying data
A GIS must provide utilities for finding specific features based on
location or attribute value.
Analyzing data
A GIS must be able to answer questions regarding the interaction of
spatial relationships between multiple datasets.
Displaying data
A GIS must have tools for visualizing geographic features using a
variety of symbology.
GIS functionality
Capturing data
Data Sources
Primary Sources
Ground Survey, Field name collection, Aerial Photo, Satellite Imageries, census etc..
Secondary Sources
Existing maps, Different documents, etc..
Capturing Methods:
Photogrammetry, Ground Survey, Remote Sensing, Digitizing from existing
information, etc
Storing data
There are two basic models used for geographic data storage: vector and raster. A GIS
should be able to store both types of geographic data.
Vector formats
Discrete representations of reality
The vector data model represents geographic features much the same way maps do-using
points, Lines and areas.
x, y & z (Cartesian, polar or geographic) coordinate system is used to references real
world locations.
Raster Formats
Use square cells to model reality
Instead of representing features by their x, y coordinates the raster data model assigns
values to cells that cover coordinate locations. Raster format is well suited to spatial
analysis and is also appropriate for storing data collected in grid format. The amount of
detail you can show for a particular feature depends on the size of the cells in the grid.
Query
Identifying specific features
One common type of GIS query is to determine what exists at a particular location. In this
type of query, the user understands where the features of interest are, but wants to know
what characteristics are associated with them. This can be accomplished with GIS because
the spatial features are linked to the descriptive characteristics.
eg. Selecting sub-cities in Addis Ababa with a Population of greater than 1.5 million
The vector data model stores positional coordinates for each shape.
The raster format uses a grid of square cells to represent real-world entities.
Components of geographic data
There are three main components to geographic data:
Geometry represents the geographic features associated with real-world
locations. Geographic features are abstracted into (drawn as) points, lines, or
polygons (areas).
Attributes are descriptive characteristics of the geographic features.
Behavior means that geographic features can be made to allow certain types of
editing, display, or analysis, depending on circumstances that the user defines.
Feature behavior is most easily implemented in the geodatabase.
E.g. Rules: river may not overpass road
Feature spatial relationships
On a map, feature spatial relationships, or where they
are located in space relative to one another,
communicate important information