Government 1008 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems Lecture 1: Introduction to Course and Content Sumeeta Srinivasan Reference: Longley, Goodchild, et al. Geographic Information Systems and Science, 2005
Outline for Today Course description Objectives, lecture format, evaluation and project, schedule Course overview What is GIS?
Course Objectives 1. An understanding of the nature of spatial data and the principles of geographic information systems 2. Hands-on experience in using commercially available GIS software 3. Provide experience in implementing a project using available data
Evaluation Lab exercises (7): 41% 5 points each for Labs 1-4, 7 points each for Labs 5-7 Mid term exam: 20% Final project: 25% Participation: 14%
Standard Format for Classes Lecture (1 hour Tuesdays) 45-60 min. lecture 15-20 min. discussion Lab exercise (2 hours Thursdays) 2-? hours (may extend beyond class times) that should be ideally returned to the instructor before the next lab
Final Project Project proposal by November 16 th Should include spatial and non-spatial data Background research (context) All data should be available to you by Nov 16 th The final project Formal in-class presentation (5% of the course grade on Dec 12 th ) and Project summary report (20% of the course grade by Jan 1 st )
Readings Longley, Paul A., Michael F. Goodchild, David J. Maguire, David W. Rhind. 2005 Geographic Information Systems and Science, (John Wiley & Sons) Optional: Ormsby, T., Napoleon, E., Burke, R., Groessl, C., and L. Feaster. 2001. Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop. Redlands, CA: ESRI Press (Includes ArcGIS valid for 180 days) Other materials distributed in class or available on the web (Check links on syllabus)
Course Schedule 1. Introduction 2. Principles of GIS Nature of spatial data Georeferencing 3. Techniques Spatial data models Spatial databases 4. Analysis Visualization and cartography Spatial analysis techniques Spatial models and applications 5. Policy, Planning and Management
How this course fits in overall General Introduction to GIS No background necessary Unlike courses in HSPH, GSD or Anthropology material covered is not discipline dependent In Spring 2008: ES103 Spatial Analysis More in spatial statistics and modeling Assumes statistics background Topics are predetermined Gov1009 Advanced Workshop No quantitative background but introductory GIS background needed Topics explored will depend on student interests Other courses to look at Biostatistics (HSPH) and Statistics (FAS) offer Spatial Statistics in Spring
Outline Course description Objectives, lecture format, evaluation and project, schedule Course overview What is GIS?
Overview Outline What is GIS? Vocabulary Why is geographic information different? How does it combine? What is GIS? History of GIS GIS Applications Social Implications Summary
The Vocabulary Geographic Earth s surface and near-surface Spatial any space (including geographic) Geospatial synonymous with geographic
Geographic Information is: Multidimensional Voluminous Requires projection to flat surface Unique analysis methods Analyses require data integration Data updates are expensive and time consuming Map displays require fast data retrieval
Data, Information, Evidence, Wisdom and Knowledge Decision-making Ease of sharing Support Infrastructure Wisdom Impossible Knowledge Difficult Evidence Difficult Information Easy Data Easy
Geographic Information on the World How it looks Form How it works Process Knowledge about process more valuable than form, because can be used to predict GIS combines General scientific knowledge in software Specific information in databases
Forms of General Knowledge Classifications - eg. what is a wetland? (established rules) Rule sets - eg. how can wetlands be used, how wilderness defined Models - (Social Science or Physical Science) Social Science models may be of much lower precision
Problem Solving Components and stages Objective or goal - often maximize or minimize (cost, distance) Tangible (well defined scale) vs intangible - eg. quality of life, environmental impact Multiple objectives - eg. cost and environmental impact Multi-criteria decision-making techniques
Geographic Information System Container of maps Computerized tools for solving geographic problems Spatial decision support system Mechanized inventory of geographically distributed features and facilities Method for revealing patterns and processes in geographic information
Brief History of GIS 1960 70s Innovation First GIS Canada Land Inventory DIME US Bureau of Census Harvard Laboratory for Computer Graphics Major vendors started (e.g. ESRI, Intergraph) Landsat satellite launched Key academic conferences (e.g. AutoCarto)
Brief History of GIS 1980, 90s Commercialization Commercial GIS software (e.g. ArcInfo) First GIS textbooks First global data sets 2000s Exploitation Internet becomes major deliver vehicle More than 1 million active users
A Morning of Life with GIS Activity GIS Application Alarm goes off Electricity asset management Shower Mail Hydraulic model predicts water usage Target consumer marketing Shuttle to class Real time traffic monitoring Breakfast Precision agriculture Read newspaper Sustainable forestry
A Morning of Life with GIS Activity GIS Application Alarm goes off Electricity asset management Shower Mail Hydraulic model predicts water usage Target consumer marketing Shuttle to class Real time traffic monitoring Breakfast Precision agriculture Read newspaper Sustainable forestry
Source: http://www.dsslink.com/app1098.htm
A Morning of Life with GIS Activity GIS Application Alarm goes off Electricity asset management Shower Mail Hydraulic model predicts water usage Target consumer marketing Shuttle to class Real time traffic monitoring Breakfast Precision agriculture Read newspaper Sustainable forestry
Applied Problem Solving Goals Rational resource allocation Monitoring spatial distributions Understanding the importance of place Understanding processes Prescription of strategies for maintenance and conservation
Five Ms of Applied GIS Mapping Measuring Monitoring Modeling Managing This course Spring courses
Local Government Major user of GIS 70-80% of local government tasks are geographicallyrelated Many applications, e.g. Asset inventories Transportation planning Land management Economic development Elections Public health delivery
Tax Assessment Raising revenue from property taxes Maintain property register Evaluate land/property value fairly Deal with public enquiries and complaints Assign value to property based on Cost of replacement Income if rented Market comparison with recent sales
Business and Service Planning Application of GIS to retail market decision making GIS has been applied at all scales Operational processing day-to-day transactions (eg. vehicle routing) Tactical allocation of resources to short-term (weekly) problems (eg. target marketing promotional campaigns) Strategic longer term goals and missions (eg. store location planning)
www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0506articles/sears-holdings.html Sears Holdings Corporation Deploys GIS Navigation and Mapping System
Logistics Many applications of GIS in transportation and logistics, eg. Infrastructure maintenance Travel planning Routing Vehicle tracking Two components Static infrastructure Dynamic - vehicles
Planning for Emergency Evacuation Major natural and human-induced events may necessitate area evacuations GIS can be used to create effective evacuation vulnerability maps based on Distribution of population Street map Model demand and impact of bottlenecks on speed of evacuation using standard GIS network tools Adjacency, connectivity, shortest path network calculation
dotdgis.dotd.louisiana.gov dotdgis.dotd.louisiana.gov/website/gis-t2006.ppt
Environment Many environmental applications of GIS Natural resource inventory Environmental remediation Sustainable development Precision agriculture Natural hazard mitigation Environmental impact analysis
High productivity and low emission tradeoffs in Agriculture
Social Implications of GIS Favors generalization, possibly at expense of minorities and individuals Use is not always neutral and can be applied to military and industrial surveillance Tendency to be technological rather than human need focused Maintains and extends the status quo of societal power structures
Growing Interest in GIS Applications via Internet Price reductions Greater awareness Improved ease of use Better technology Proliferation of data Commercial software packages Real applications Proven cost:benefit cases
GISystems, GIScience and GIStudies GISystems Emphasis on technology and tools GIScience Fundamental issues raised by the use of GIS and related technologies (eg.) Spatial analysis Map projections Accuracy Scientific visualization GIStudies Systematic study of the use of geographic information
Summary GIS is fundamentally a problem-solving science Many application of GIS across a very wide range of areas Understanding the science behind applications will help