WHAT
IS A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM?
IS A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM?
A geographic
information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing
spatial data. GIS technology integrates common database operations such as
query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic
analysis benefits offered by maps.
information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing
spatial data. GIS technology integrates common database operations such as
query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic
analysis benefits offered by maps.
These abilities distinguish GIS from other
information systems and make it valuable to a wide range of public and private
enterprises for explaining events, predicting outcomes, and planning
strategies. GIS is considered to be one of the most important new technologies,
with the potential to revolutionize many aspects of society through increased
ability to make decisions and solve problems.
information systems and make it valuable to a wide range of public and private
enterprises for explaining events, predicting outcomes, and planning
strategies. GIS is considered to be one of the most important new technologies,
with the potential to revolutionize many aspects of society through increased
ability to make decisions and solve problems.
The major challenges that we face in the world today
— overpopulation, pollution, deforestation, natural disasters – all have a
critical geographic dimension.
— overpopulation, pollution, deforestation, natural disasters – all have a
critical geographic dimension.
Local problems also have a geographic component that
can be visualized using GIS technology, whether finding the best soil for
growing crops, determining the home range for an endangered species, or
discovering the best way to dispose of hazardous waste. Careful analysis of
spatial data using GIS can give insight into these problems and suggest ways in
which they can be addressed.
can be visualized using GIS technology, whether finding the best soil for
growing crops, determining the home range for an endangered species, or
discovering the best way to dispose of hazardous waste. Careful analysis of
spatial data using GIS can give insight into these problems and suggest ways in
which they can be addressed.
Map making and geographic analysis are not new, but
a GIS performs these tasks better and faster than do the old manual methods.
And, before GIS technology, only a few people had the skills necessary to use
geographic information to help with decision making and problem solving.
a GIS performs these tasks better and faster than do the old manual methods.
And, before GIS technology, only a few people had the skills necessary to use
geographic information to help with decision making and problem solving.
Today, GIS is a multi-billion-dollar industry employing hundreds of thousands of
people worldwide. GIS is taught in high schools, colleges, and universities
throughout the world. Professionals in every field are increasingly aware of
the advantages of thinking and working geographically.
people worldwide. GIS is taught in high schools, colleges, and universities
throughout the world. Professionals in every field are increasingly aware of
the advantages of thinking and working geographically.
GIS aims to address and answer the
following questions:
following questions:
·
Is
this school’s catchment areas optimised? Is it overstretched or could we
increase the catchment area?
Is
this school’s catchment areas optimised? Is it overstretched or could we
increase the catchment area?
·
How
do we allocate civil resources to where they are most needed?
How
do we allocate civil resources to where they are most needed?
·
Is
this hospital overstretched while this one is barely used? Why is that?
Is
this hospital overstretched while this one is barely used? Why is that?
·
Where
are recorded cases of a certain disease? Are we applying medical resources in
the right places to combat it?
Where
are recorded cases of a certain disease? Are we applying medical resources in
the right places to combat it?
·
Are
our roads in the right place? Should we build more? And where?
Are
our roads in the right place? Should we build more? And where?
·
Is
our public transport network optimised? What is the contingency if one route is
cut off? (the national rail authority in the UK faced a harsh reality in
January 2014 when the only rail link to West Devon and beyond
was destroyed by storms, something they had prepared for three years previously (7))
Is
our public transport network optimised? What is the contingency if one route is
cut off? (the national rail authority in the UK faced a harsh reality in
January 2014 when the only rail link to West Devon and beyond
was destroyed by storms, something they had prepared for three years previously (7))
·
Is
aid going to the people who need it most in this disaster zone?
Is
aid going to the people who need it most in this disaster zone?
·
Is
it sensible to build houses here? (is it a floodplain and if so, what would we
need to do and how much money would we need to invest in not making it an
insurance nightmare)
Is
it sensible to build houses here? (is it a floodplain and if so, what would we
need to do and how much money would we need to invest in not making it an
insurance nightmare)
·
Can
we legally build houses here? (Is the area an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty) or SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) or a conservation area?
Can
we legally build houses here? (Is the area an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty) or SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) or a conservation area?
·
Can
we predict where new oil pockets might exist based on data of past oil pockets
and existing survey data?
Can
we predict where new oil pockets might exist based on data of past oil pockets
and existing survey data?
·
How
has a particular landscape eroded over the last X number of years? Will this
erosion be a danger to existing settlements any time soon?
How
has a particular landscape eroded over the last X number of years? Will this
erosion be a danger to existing settlements any time soon?
·
Which
newspapers and magazines sell best in which towns and cities, and even in
cities, which districts sell the most copies? Are we providing adequate
distribution?
Which
newspapers and magazines sell best in which towns and cities, and even in
cities, which districts sell the most copies? Are we providing adequate
distribution?
·
Where
is best to place our new restaurant? A fast food outlet and an exclusive
restaurant will both looking for the best site but both may look at different
data sets and parameters.
Where
is best to place our new restaurant? A fast food outlet and an exclusive
restaurant will both looking for the best site but both may look at different
data sets and parameters.
·
Which
countries, cities and areas are the biggest polluters? What can we do about it?
How do we plan our city to minimise pollution of residential areas?
Which
countries, cities and areas are the biggest polluters? What can we do about it?
How do we plan our city to minimise pollution of residential areas?
These questions are vital
to our everyday lives but there are other uses, perhaps not useful to the wider
population, but certainly to researchers in certain fields. Questions such as:
to our everyday lives but there are other uses, perhaps not useful to the wider
population, but certainly to researchers in certain fields. Questions such as:
·
What
is the geographic distribution of certain endangered plants or animal life?
What can we learn from this new distribution?
What
is the geographic distribution of certain endangered plants or animal life?
What can we learn from this new distribution?
·
How
did this surname spread and in which part of the country is it most prevalent?
How
did this surname spread and in which part of the country is it most prevalent?
·
Can
we find as-yet undiscovered buried features by plotting local finds? (for
example Roman pottery in high density of one area may lead to a villa that
we’ve not yet found)
Can
we find as-yet undiscovered buried features by plotting local finds? (for
example Roman pottery in high density of one area may lead to a villa that
we’ve not yet found)
·
How
can we plot the spread of migrating peoples during a particular era using
specified data types? (for example, looking at and plotting known dates of
burial can demonstrate
How
can we plot the spread of migrating peoples during a particular era using
specified data types? (for example, looking at and plotting known dates of
burial can demonstrate
The
potential of GIS is limitless (1) in many of the cases above,
particularly for those concerned with resource planning, complex formulas are
calculated to ensure the most efficient delivery. Whether you know it or not,
your daily life relies heavily on GIS.
potential of GIS is limitless (1) in many of the cases above,
particularly for those concerned with resource planning, complex formulas are
calculated to ensure the most efficient delivery. Whether you know it or not,
your daily life relies heavily on GIS.
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