APPLICATIONS OF GIS

1. ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ANALYSIS:

Data gathered via GIS applications is vital for conserving natural

resources and protecting the environment. Impact statements assess
the magnitude of human impact on the environment, which GIS
integration helps indicate.The main aim of doing environment analysis is
to accumulate information pertaining to the environment and to
understand the environmental processes and linkages The main
objective is to gather information pertaining to environmental
phenomena and processes and also to gain understanding and insight
Environmental impact statements are required to contain specific
information on the magnitude and characteristics of environmental
impact. The EIA can be carried out efficiently by integrating various GIS
layers and assessment of natural features can be performed.
Environmental data can almost always be geo referenced and therefore
GIS serves as an ample tool for environmental analysis GIS for
environmental analysis is used to explore the spatial relationships,
patterns and process of geographic, biological and physical phenomena
Geospatial analysis offers insight about the environment and reveals
management options through surface interpolation, temporal analysis
and 3D analysis.

2. COMMERCIAL :

This type of land is designated for businesses, warehouses, shops and

any other infrastructures related to commerce. This type of land is
commonly used for office buildings, restaurants, shops and other
businesses. And while commercial land usually doesn’t take up much
space, it’s critical to the economy of a community.

3. AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS:

GIS data helps create more efficient farming techniques, alongside

analyzing soil data in an advanced fashion. This can increase food
production in different parts of the world.GIS based mapping application
can help to identify location of crops growing across the country and to
adapt different variables, monitor the health of individual crops, estimate
yields from a given field, and maximize crop production.Using data
collected from remote sensors, and from sensors mounted directly on
farm machinery, farmers have improved decision-making capabilities
for planning their cultivation to maximize yields. Previous crop yields,
terrain specifics, organic matter content, pH, moisture, and nutrient
levels of the soil all aid in proper preparation for precise farming.
Combine harvesters equipped with GPS tracking units can measure
crop yields along with crop quality values like plant water content and
chlorophyll levels in real time and at the exact location in the field from
which they are harvested.

4. WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT:

The applications of Geographic information system (GIS) and remote

sensing (RS) technologies in groundwater hydrology have received
cursor treatment. A good understanding of the geographical space and
related spatial information like water sources, watershed, terrain
surface, land use, land cover, rainfall, temperature, humidity, soil
condition and composition, geology, conditions on the atmosphere,
human activities, environmental data, etc. are important for water
management. Geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing
(RS) technologies also describe the problems, significance, and
sustainable management of groundwater and freshwater. The integration
of geographic information systems and remote sensing techniques has
enabled assessments of aquatic vegetation growth, salt marsh quality
and floodplain disturbances over time and provided careful
consideration is given to source materials and database construction .

AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS:

GIS can be used to provide a visual interpretation of data. Google Maps

is an excellent example of a web-based GIS mapping solution that
people use for everyday navigation purposes. Surveyors use GIS to
manage the entire planning aspect of a surveying project. GIS provides
the tools necessary to research, develop, implement, and monitor the
progress of a project and manage site location, environmental impact
mitigation, economic analysis, and other critical facets.Aerial Survey is a
form of collection of geographical information using airborne vehicles.
The collection of information can be made using different technologies
such as aerial photography, radar, laser or from remote sensing imagery
using other bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as infrared,
gamma, or ultraviolet. For the information collected to be useful this
information needs to be georeferenced. The georeferencing of
information is usually done using GNSS with similar techniques as the
techniques used for dynamic land surveying.

6. DISASTER MANAGEMENT:

In the planning stage, GIS can be used to identify future hazards in the
event of a natural disaster such as a potential flood zone. With
this information, the rest of the emergency planning process can begin to
solidify.

Earthquakes:
There is a need to have knowledge regarding the trends in earthquake
occurrence worldwide. A GIS based user interface system for querying
an earthquake catalogue will be of great help to the earthquake
engineers and seismologists in understanding the behaviour pattern of
earthquakes .

Volcanoes:
Potential volcanic hazard zones can be recognised by the characteristic
historical records of volcanic activities, it can incorporate with GIS.

Forest Fires:
Forest fires caused extensive damage to our communities and
environmental resource base. GIS can effectively help to capture real
time monitoring of fire prone areas. This is achieved by the help of GNSS
and satellite Remote Sensing.
Road Safety Analysis:
GIS can be used as a key tool to minimise accident hazard on roads, by
identifying the accident locations and providing remedial measures.

Coastal Management:

The coastal zone represents a varied and highly productive ecosystem

such as mangrove, coral reefs, see grasses and
sand dunes. GIS could be generating data required for macro and micro
level planning of coastal zone management and in creating a baseline
inventory of mapping and monitoring coastal resources, selecting sites
for brackish water aquaculture, studying coastal landforms.

7. TELECOM AND NETWORK SERVICES:

GIS can be a great planning and decision making tool for telecom
industries. GIS DATA enables wireless telecommunication organizations
to incorporate geographic data into the complex network design,
planning, optimization, maintenance and activities. This technology
allows telecom to enhance a variety of applications like engineering
application, customer relationship management and location based
services.

8. REMOTE SENSING:

Remote sensing technologies are used to gather information about the

surface of the earth from a distant platform, usually a satellite or
airborne sensor. Most remotely sensed data used for mapping and
spatial analysis is collected as reflected electromagnetic radiation, which
is processed into a digital image that can be overlaid with other spatial
data.

9. FIRE MANAGEMENT:

The effect of fire on forest resources is another important management

concern. Management activities include fire prevention, wildlife control,
prescribed burning, and post fire recovery actions. The modelling
capabilities of GIS have been quite effective in this context. Forest fire
managers have used GIS for fuel mapping, weather condition mapping,
and fire danger rating. Forest fires have an important influence on the
vegetation cover, animals, plants, soil, stream flow, air quality,
microclimate, and even general climate . The loss of timber is obvious
and so is the damage to life and property. The loss of recreation value of
the forest and the destruction of wildlife habitat are also consequences
of forest fires.

10. SOIL MAPPING :

Soil mapping provides resource information about an area. It helps in

understanding soil suitability for various land use activities. It is essential
for preventing environmental deterioration associated with misuse of
land. GIS Helps to identify soil types in an area and to delineate soil
boundaries. It is used for the identification and classification of soil. Soil
map is widely used by the farmers in developed countries to retain soil
nutrients and earn maximum yield.
 CASE STUDY
ON
APPLICATION OF
GIS IN
HEALTHCARE

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INTRODUCTION :
This case study focuses on GIS application to the field of Healthcare.
The specific interest here is Malaria and people being at risk. In Africa,
Malaria is still a great threat to people’s living. The distribution of
Malaria can be geographically explained by outbreak potentials
attributed to climatic and social-economic conditions. The Malaria
preventive action shows its effect considerably in some parts of the
world; however in Africa mortality rate due to Malaria is still relatively
high .This phenomenon derives from the natural environment of Africa
that is favorable to Malaria transmission and also from the lack of
implementation the systematic approach of preventive plans.
OBJECTIVE :
To study and analyze the application of GIS in healthcare facilities. It
aims to study the spread and vulnerability of malaria in Africa.

AREA :
Swaziland, Africa

MATERIALS AND METHODS :

The study has been carried out by “SWAZILAND: THE STUDY ON
DIGITAL MAPPING PROJECT FOR THE SMOOTH
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN
SWAZILAND”, which started on June 1999 and finished in 25 months,
produced the digital orthophoto maps (1/10,000) of the whole country.

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DATA:

The areas where Malaria is likely to occur were evaluated by

geographical conditions and cited. Also the distribution of population
under the Malaria risk was estimated, and the final map. By comparing
this indicator map and the location of the existing medical facilities, the
areas where need to enhance medical facilities and control plans were
cited for the future planning.

METHODOLOGY :

The methodology was done by using digital image processing of

malaria risk map, population density map, medical facility location
map, malaria probability indicators in the region of Africa.

ANALYSIS:
This case study focused on temperature, rainfall, and distance to rivers
as the factors of Malaria outbreaks. The Malaria outbreak and stable
transmission requires the environment with temperature above 22
degree, monthly rainfall above 80mm, and proximity to rivers. In
assessing the area in urgent need of medical facilities and services to
fight against Malaria, the probability of outbreaks based solely on
natural conditions is not sufficient but social-economic factors, such as
population distribution, should also be included. The mortality rate of
infants and children below 10 years old is reported to be higher once
they are infected by Malaria. Therefore the medical treatment and
preventive controls should be emphasized in those populated areas.

CONCLUSION:

GIS can be applied in the fields of healthcare to overcome and control

the spread of disease in any area. In order to improve the model, other
natural and social factors should be included and statistical validation
should be applied. Also analysis results should be examined and fed
back to the model so that it would perform better.