Geospatial Information Sytems

What is GIS?

Overview

A Geographic or Geospatial Information System has 5 components:

0. Networks

• client-server (thick and thin clients)

1. Software

user interfaces:

• command line
• graphical user interface (GUI)

2. Hardware

• processors
• memory
• monitor screens
• devices - digitises, scanners, plotters

3. People

Users - It takes people to plan, implement, and operate the system.

4. Processes - Spatial Analytics

Spatial Transformation:

• changing projections, entity types
• mapping, querying, modelling

5. Data - Spatial & Attribute data, and data management:

Spatial Data:

• coordinates (e.g. lat/long or x,y)
• vector or raster data models
• topologies
• networks
• projections

Non-Spatial Data:

• attributes

Data Management:

• storage, organisation and retrieval of data in a DBMS.

Further Reading

Heywood, I., Cornelius, S. & Carver, S. (2011). “Chapter 1: What is GIS?”, An Introduction to Geographical Information Systems, 4th Ed. N.Y.: Prentice Hall.

Longley, P. A. et al. (2011). “Chapter 1: Geographic Information: Science, Systems and Society”, Geographic Information Systems & Science, 3rd Ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

QED

© Adam Heinz

17 June 2024