GIS

Geographic Information System Spatial Information System Environmental Information System Heritage Information System

Heinz Rther University of Cape Town

Definition (s) An organised collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data and personnel designed to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyse, and display all forms of geographically referenced (spatial) information ...... certain complex spatial operations are possible with a GIS that would be very difficult, time consuming, or impracticable otherwise
....

GIS

A GIS is made of layers Geographic data.

Elementary Surveying - Dr. George Sithole

GIS

A GIS is made of layers Geographic data. Each layer comes with its own attribute data.

Attribute tables

Elementary Surveying - Dr. George Sithole

Components of a GIS
Data (spatial and attribute) and databases Software (spatial manipulation, database management, statistical analysis, output design) Hardware including processors (PCs, Minis, Mainframes) and peripherals (digitizers, scanners, printers, plotters) 'Liveware' i.e. people, skills

Data Types in GIS

Point data Vector data Raster data Attribute data

Points :
. . . . . . . . . . .

e.g. wells, sample sites, huts, schools, clinics

Lines :
Simple

Complex

Curves

Networks

e.g. roads, rivers, powerlines, faults

Polygons
Marsh Farm

Urban Area building Forest Lake

GIS
1 2

Vector data

polygons

x
5

ID
4

Class Sand Grass Water House Paving

10

1 2 3

2 4 4
Elementary Surveying - Dr. George Sithole

4 5

Columns

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

GIS
2

Raster data

3 5

ID
4

Class Sand Grass Water House Paving

11

1 2 3

Rows

2 4 4
Elementary Surveying - Dr. George Sithole

4 5

Attached to Points Lines Polygons

What are the main functions of a GIS ?

Data capture : digitising, scanning, importing, manual data entry Data storage and management : database design, data integration Data manipulation/editing : cleaning and editing of data, dissolving boundaries, layering, georeferencing Data display : display of spatial and attribute data on screen

Data Manipulation and analysis Spatial analysis Simple searches Network analysis Buffering Corridor analysis Proximity analysis Boolean analysis (union, intersection, etc.,) etc.,

14

Presentation/ Visualisation Map making Charts Tables 3D Views Generation animations etc.,

15

GIS
Geographic Information System (GIS)
Spatial data analysis Scenarios: Buffer/Corridor analysis

Buffers can be created around points, lines and polygons.

This buffer shows access to water points.

16

Problem Area
It is too easy to produce a professional looking map inaccurate or incorrect GIS systems are produced without professional knowledge

Problem Areas
GISs are misunderstood as mere digital mapping systems and their important function as a query system is overlooked

Problem Areas
Discrepancies due to : Map projection Reference ellipsoid

Orange peel effect

One cannot flatten out an orange peel without breaking it therefore Map projections are required

Reference Ellipsoid

1. Clark 1880 Ellipsoid 2. WGS 84 Ellipsoid (GPS)

Rotation about 3 axes In East Africa differences of up to 300m between GPS and map

A point has different coordinates in different systems

Shift in X Y and Z

Important practical rules

If one digitises a map: projection and reference ellipsoid must be recorded If one takes GPS observations: projection and reference ellipsoid must be recorded or chosen When entering data into a GIS, both projection and reference ellipsoid must be set to the systems at which they were recorded. They can be changed subsequently

THERE IS

NO SCALE
IN DIGITAL DATA

Resolution

resolution describes the size of the smallest piece of a

dataset = spatial resolution at digital raster data it is the pixel size compared with the reality at survey data it is the smallest unit (f.e. mm) at maps it is the dot of the print at analogue photos it is the crystal-size of the film-material at vector-data it is the minimum-unit of the point or vertex

(after Gerhard Kemper)

TYPICAL GIS QUESTIONS Where is an object? Where is it in relation to another object or position ? Does the object occur within a certain range of another object (buffering) ? How many occurrences of an object are there within a distance of another object? What is the value of function Z at position X? How large is an object (area, perimeter, inclusion count)? What is the result of intersecting various kinds of spatial data? What is the path of least cost, resistance, or distance from X to Y along pathway P? What is at points X1, X2,...? What objects have certain combinations of attributes? What happens if ?

GIS Tutorial