Data Input

Dr. Sandipan Das

Assistant Professor
Symbiosis Institute of Geoinformatics
 Introduction
• Data entry involves 60-80% of total
implementation cost.

• Majority of data entry methods require a

lot of time.
 Primary & Secondary data
Primary data
- Direct measurement of objects
- E.g. Remote sensing images, GPS, survey data

Secondary data
- Data obtained from primary source
- E.g. re-scanned images, digitizing maps, digital
elevation model.
 Analog & Digital data
Analog data

- Paper format
- E.g. Paper maps, Reports, Aerial photographs

Digital data

- Computer readable format

- E.g. remote sensing data, scanned maps, scanned
aerial photographs
 GIS Data Sources
• Conventional analog map

• Reports & Publications

• Aerial Photography

• Satellite Remote Sensing

• Field data

• Existing digital map

Free GIS Data Sources - Raster & Vector Datasets

• USGS Earth Explorer

• Sentinel Satellite Data
• Bhuvan Indian Geo-Platform of ISRO
• Diva GIS
• Natural Earth Data
• OpenStreetMap
• NASA’s Socioeconomic Data and Applications
Center (SEDAC)
• Open Topography
• NASA Earth Observations (NEO)
Free GIS Data Sources - Raster & Vector Datasets

• NOAA CLASS
• UNEP Environmental Data Explorer
• ISCGM Global Map
• JAXA’s Global ALOS 3D World
• NOAA Digital Coast
• Global Land Cover Facility (GLCF)
• DigitalGlobe
• UNAVCO Research Data
• FAO GeoNetwork
 Data input processes
1. Keyboard entry

2. Scanning

3. Digitization

4. Field data/GPS data

5. Text files with x-,y- coordinate

Data input process - Keyboard entry

• Entry data into a file

at a computer
terminal
 Data input process – Scanner

• Convert map or
document into digital
images.
 Types of scanner
1. Flat bed scanner
2. Rotating drum scanner
3. Large format feed scanner
 Data input process – Digitization

• Process of interpreting and

converting paper map or
image data to vector
digital data.
 On tablet digitization

• Digitizers are used to

capture data from
hardcopy maps.
 on screen digitization

• Digitization is done using

scanned copy of the map
on the computer
monitor screen.
 On-screen vs. on-tablet digitizing
• On-screen more comfortable for the operator

• On-screen generally more accurate ( zooming facilities )

• On-screen is faster

• On-screen – updating easy

• Digitising tablet –easier to do larger maps

• Digitising tablet –better for worn out maps

Point and stream mode digitization
 Automatic digitization
• GIS finds features from
scanned image with little or
no interaction from operator.

• e.g. Contour lines

Selecting a digitizing technique (manual or automatic)
• Depends on the quality, complexity and contents of the input
document.

• Complex images - manually digitized e.g. topographic maps

and aerial photographs

• Simple images - automatically digitized e.g. cadastral maps,

contour lines
 Field data – Survey data
• Surveying is a vital part of
infrastructure development

1. Building roads
2. Communication systems
3. Transportation networks
4. Pipelines
5. Property boundaries
 Field data – GPS data
• GPS provides location
and time information

• GPS is widely used for

surveying.
 Text files with x-,y- coordinates
• Geospatial data can be generated from a text
file that contain x-,y- coordinates
 Activity
Q1) The input data for GIS are

a. Satellite image
b. Aerial photograph
c. Maps
d. All of the above

Answer : Option D
 Activity
Q2) Which of the following methods may be used
to input paper maps into a GIS?

a. Automatic digitizing
b. Manual digitizing
c. Scanning
d. Keyboard entry

Answer : Option A, B & C

 Activity
Q3) In point mode digitising points are added
automatically at set time or distance intervals as
the user moves the cursor across the map.

a. True
b. False

Answer : False
 Activity
Q4) What is ‘Metadata’ ?

a) It is ‘ data about data’

b) It is ‘meteorological data’
c) It is ‘oceanic data’
d) It is ‘contour data’

Answer : Option A
 Activity
Q5) Information in GIS is entered and stored as

a) panels
b) layers
c) single panel
d) dual-panel

Answer : Option B
 Activity
Q6) Keyboard entry is no longer used in GIS projects.

a. True
b. False

Answer : False
 Activity
Q7) The GPS System was developed by

a. FBI
b. US Department of Defense
c. CIA
d. FBI

Answer : Option B
 Activity
Q8) GPS measurement provides

a. Latitude, longitude and elevation

b. Latitude and longitude
c. Distance between objects
d. Latitude, longitude, elevation and bearing

Answer : Option A
Thank You