gis(geographic information system)

Introduction to gis
What is a GIS?
There is no clear-cut definition for GIS. Different scholar's defined GIS
according to capability and purpose for which it is applied.
However GIS can be defined more commonly as:

“GIS is computerized information storage, processing and retrieval

systems. that have hardware and software specially designed to cope
with geographically referenced data and corresponding attribute
information (tables, charts and statistics).” or
“GIS is an organized collection of computer Hardware, Software, Data and
Analyst to effectively capture, store, manipulate, analyze and retrieve all
types of spatial and non-spatial information.”
 GIS comprises of four components.
The Hardware: used to store, process and display.
The Software: used to control and perform operations.
The Data: on which GIS operations are performed (Spatial, non-spatial)
People: to manipulate or operate the soft ware.
An integration of five basic components
 Capabilities of GIS
A GIS is a computer-based system that provides four sets of capabilities to
handle geo referenced data.
Data inputs:- The function of data input to convert data from their existing form
into one that can be used by GIS. Geo referenced data are commonly provided
as proper maps, table of attributes and associated attribute data, aerial photos
and satellite imagery.
Data management (data storage and retrieval) :-The data storage and
management are the functions of database management system of GIS. They
are concerned with the way the data is structured, handled, accessed and
perceived by the user of the system.
Effective data management includes all related aspect like data security, data
integrity, data filling and accessibility and data maintenance abilities.
Manipulation and analysis; Data conversion is only part of the input phase of
GIS. Spatial analysis tools are used to model, make predictions and reach
conclusion about the problem of interest.
Output:- Display and conversion operations produce graphic output and
reports such as maps and color display drawn on a graphic terminal as well as
formulated reports of tabular information, where geographic entities are
represented as a series of points, lines and symbols.
GIS functions
Capturing data

Hardcopy maps

Coordinates
Storing data

Vector formats
Discrete representations of reality

Raster formats
Use square cells to model reality

Reality
(Road networks)
Query
•Identify specific features

Identify features based on conditions

An African country with a population greater than 300,000
Analysis
Display

Graphs

Reports
 Output
Internet

Paper map

GIS
Data

Image Document
Uganda.mxd

Africa.bil
 GIS DATA TYPES

There are two types of data in GIS

Spatial data:
Describes the absolute and relative location of geographic
features.
Attribute data (non spatial )
Describes characteristics of the spatial features. These
characteristics can be quantitative and/or qualitative in nature.

Attribute data is often referred to as tabular data.

 SPATIAL DATA MODELS
Traditionally spatial data has been stored and presented in
the form of a map.
Three basic types of spatial data models have evolved for
storing geographic data digitally. These are referred to as:
Vector
Raster
Image
Representing features in vector data
•Real-world entities are abstracted into three basic shapes.
 ATTRIBUTE DATA MODELS

A separate data model is used to store and maintain attribute data for GIS
software.
These data models may exist internally within the GIS software, or may be
reflected in external commercial Database Management Software (DBMS).
A variety of different data models exist for the storage and management of
attribute data. The most common are:
Tabular
Hierarchical
Network
Relational
Object Oriented
Map scale

•Map scale determines the size and shape of features

Components of geographic data
•Three general components to geographic information

Each feature corresponds to a record in the attribute table

Some of the GIS Applications

Mapping locations
Mapping quantities
Mapping densities
Finding distances

Mapping and monitoring change

 GIS Data Sources

The GIS efficiently stores, retrieves ,manipulates ,analyzes

and displays these data according to user defined
specifications.
Data for a GIS comes from different sources mainly
characterized by the type of data, which include:
 Satellite images
 Map data,
 Aerial photographs,
 Tabular data and
 survey and records
 Primary and secondary data sources
Based on their source, geographic data are classified into two kinds:
– primary data and
– Secondary data.
PRIMARY DATA SOURCES:-
 Primary data are direct measurements
Ground Surveys
Ground surveys are a good source of accurate vector data such as property

boundaries and street centred lines .

GPS
A global positioning system (GPS) is a technology for determining the
coordinates of locations on the earth’s surface in real time.
It consists of:
- satellites: send signals to the earth
- receivers: receive signals from satellites
- control stations: operate and manage satellites
Aerial Photographs
Aerial photographs are photographs taken by air borne cameras.
-While ground surveys and GPS are designed mainly for vector data collection,
-Aerial photographs and satellite images are sources of raster data.
Satellite Images
-Satellite images are images taken by sensors mounted on artificial satellites.
Secondary data may be available which is entirely appropriate and wholly
adequate to draw conclusions and answer the question or solve the problem.
It is far cheaper to collect secondary data than to obtain primary data
SOURCES of SECONDARY DATA
Digitizing...it is a process of converting data from the analogue to digital
There are two kinds of digitizing:
Table digitizing, in which one fixes a paper map on a digitizing table and traces
each cartographic object using a digitizing puck.

heads-up or on-screen digitizing, in which one sees a scanned map on a

computer screen and traces each cartographic object using a mouse.
Digitizing Tablate
 Representing Geographic Features

Topology describes the spatial relationships between the objects and to

carryout the measurements. (Length and Area).
It includes point topology, Line topology, and Polygon Topology
All geographic features on the earth's surface can be characterized and
defined as one of three basic feature types. These are points, lines, and
areas.
Point data exists when a feature is associated with a single location in
space. (eg. social center, school, healthy center,….
Linear data exists when a feature's location is described by a string of
spatial coordinates.(eg. River ,contour , road ,electric line…..
Aerial data( polygon ) exists when a feature is described by a closed
string of spatial coordinates.(eg. land use, lake…….