GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

SYSTEM
 WHAT IS A GIS ?
GEOGRAPHIC implies that locations of the data items are known, or can
be calculated, in terms of Geographic coordinates (Latitude, Longitude)

INFORMATION implies that the data in a GIS are organized to yield

useful knowledge, often as coloured maps and images, but also as
statistical graphics, tables, and various on-screen responses to
interactive queries.

SYSTEM implies that a GIS is made up from several inter-related and

linked components with different functions. Thus, GIS have functional
capabilities for data capture, input, manipulation, transformation,
visualization, combinations, query, analysis, modelling and output.
 Definition of GIS

An organized collection of computer hardware, software,

Geographical data and personnel designed to efficiently capture,
store, update, manipulate, analyze & display all forms of
Geographically referenced information is called GIS.
 WHY GIS ?
• To invent and monitor resources
• To test the sensitivity of our analysis
assumptions
• To simulate potential impacts of
management alternatives
 Uses of a GIS
• Mapping geographical characteristics for
analysis
• Modeling alternative processes
for management plans
• Managing a utility’s assets
• Monitoring changes in environmental
factors
 Application areas of GIS

• Agricultural applications
• Forestry applications
• Water resources applications
• Urban and regional planning applications
• Wetland mapping
• Land use/ Land cover mapping
• Geologic and soil mapping
• Wildlife ecology applications
• Archaeological applications
• Environmental assessment, monitoring and management
 GIS Architecture

REPORTING/ DATA INPUT/

OUTPUT DATA CAPTURE

G
SUBSYSTEMS SUBSYSTEM

DATA
I DATA

S
MANIPULATION STORAGE
AND ANLYSIS AND
SUBSYSTEM RETRIEVAL
SUBSYSTEM
 Key board entry
DATA INPUT/DATA
CAPTURE Manual Digitizing
SUBSYSTEM Scanning and automatic digitizing

DATA STORAGE AND DBMS

RETRIEVAL SUBSYSTEM

Format conversion
Spatial measurements
DATA MANIPULATION
AND ANLYSIS
Reclassification
SUBSYSTEM Buffering
Overlay
Modelling surfaces

REPORTING/ OUTPUT
SUBSYSTEMS
Maps
Graphical outputs
 ACTIVITIES

MEASUREMENT MONITORING

LULC
CADASTRAL
AGRICULTURE
4 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESMENT
DRAINAGE NETWORK MODEL
TERRAIN MODELS DTM

M’s
HYDROLOGY

MAPPING MODELLING
 Contribution Disciplines

Geography Mathematics

Cartography
G Surveying

I
CAD, CAC Photogrametry
Computer Software
Digital

S
Automated Photogrametry
Cartography
Remote Sensing
Statistics Technology
TRANSFORMATION BASED VIEW OF THE GIS

DATA MANIPULATION AND ANLYSIS

REAL RAW DATA

WORLD DATA MODEL T3

T1 T2
DATA COLLECTION DATA INPUT
T4
DATA OUTPUT

OUTPUT
DATA
 KEY COMPONENTS OF GIS

Hardware&Software
Capture, Storage,
COMPUTER processing
Analysis, Display etc.,
SYSTEM

GEOSPATIAL USERS
DATA

Maps, Aerial photographs, Satellite Design of Standards, Updating,

Images, Statistic Tables etc, Analysis and Implementations
HARDWARE COMPONENTS
GIS Software...
•Arc/Info

•ArcView

•SpansGIS

•PAMAP GIS

•GENA GIS

•INTERGRAPH

•NIC ATLAS
 Data Capture Sources

• Digitizing from paper maps

• Scanning
• Traditional surveying techniques
• Paper records & field notes
• Photogrammetry
• Remote sensing
• GPS
 Raster
SPATIAL DATA
Vector

DATA MODEL AND STRUCTURE

RASTER MODEL VECTOR MODEL

 ATTRIBUTE DATA

•Attributes are the characteristics of the map features

and holding of the descriptive information about the
geographic features.
•Attributes are non spatial data….color

Attributes can be numeric or alphaanumeric data

that is assigned to a point, line or area spatial
features
Example Attributes…
Stand ID, Compartment no,Vegetation type,
Name of the Forest Block,Type of Road,VSS
code etc.,
 FEATURES OF A COVERAGE

TIC
1 2
NODE

3
LABEL POINT

POND 4 ARC

ANNOTATION

5 6 POLYGON
 Point Features

Spatially distributed entities, activities or

events
• Points have a single geographic coordinate
such as:
– Tree
– Traffic accident
– Lamp post
 Line Features

Spatially distributed entities, activities or

events
• Lines (Arcs) are a series of geographic
coordinates joined to form a line such as:
– Road
– Stream
– Railway
 Area Features
Spatially distributed entities, activities or
events
• Areas (Polygons) are a series of geographic
coordinates joined together to form a
boundary such as:
– Lake
– Soil types
 TOPOLOGY

 Topology - mathematical representation of

geographic features(arcs, nodes, polygons and
points)

 When topology is built, it creates spatial

relationship among the features

 Topology can be very important for certain types of

analysis.
 GIS Data and Structures

RASTER DATA
SPATIAL DATA
VECTOR DATA

NONSPATIAL DATA / ATTRIBUTE DATA

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPATIAL DATA AND

NON-SPATIAL DATA IS TOPOLOGY
 GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION OF SPATIAL DATA

RASTER DATA VECTOR DATA

REPRESENTATION REPRESENTATION
Image processing includes …..

• RADIOMETRIC CORRECTIONS
• GEOMETRIC CORRECTIONS
• ENHANCEMENTS
• MERGING
• CLASSIFICATION
• CHANGE ANALYSIS
• VECTORISATION