GIS
From LIS 460 Summer 2007
Contents |
Definition
A GIS (Graphic Information System) is a computer system that allows users to digitally capture, collect, store, manage, analyze, and display spatially referenced information and associated data. Output of information is usually in map form.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ “MassGIS -- Municipal GIS Resources -- Applications for GIS” page has a helpful definition of a GIS. It states,
"A GIS is not simply a computer system for creating maps. In fact, a map is simply the most common way of reporting information from a GIS database. A GIS is an “information system”. These systems are not just the software and hardware, but also, and most importantly, the collection of information (the database) about where geographic features (roads, buildings, fire hydrants, pipes, crime incidents, ponds, streams, etc.) are located in your community. Building this database involves compiling the information from maps and aerial photos, card files, people’s personal experience, or existing computer databases. A GIS database integrates all this information so that it can be used together and is accessible through a single computer, typically a personal computer (PC)."
History
According to the GIS Lounge’s “What is GIS” web page, what is now the field of GIS had its start around 1960 when it was discovered that maps could be programmed with simple code and stored in a computer. This later developed into the idea of superimposing different mapped features to be able to better uncover and analyze patterns, trends, and causes of spatial phenomenon. With further development, it has increasingly been used as a planning and research tool in various disciplines. To view a timeline of influential events in the development of GIS throughout history, visit GIS.com’s GIS Timeline.
GIS Day
November 14, 2007 is GIS Day. According to the GIS Day web site, “GIS Day provides an international forum for users of geographic information systems (GIS) technology to demonstrate real-world applications that are making a difference in our society.” (To find out more about GIS Day, visit the GIS Day’s “About GIS Day” web page.)
GIS Components
A GIS is a computer system comprised of computer hardware, software, and geographical data usually stored in relational databases. Some consider the personnel who operate the GIS equipment part of the GIS system. More detail on the components of a GIS can be found on GIS Lounge’s “What is GIS” web page under the heading “Components of GIS.”
Applications
GIS is applicable to a number of disciplines. A unit on GIS made available through the University of British Columbia's Department of Geography website lists the following under contributing disciplines and technologies: geography, cartography, remote sensing, photogrammery, surveying, geodesy, statistics, operations research, computer science, mathematics and civil engineering. Moreover, unit states that, "GIS is a convergence of technological fields and traditional disciplines" and that "GIS has been called an 'enabling technology' because of the potential it offers for the wide variety of disciplines which must deal with spatial data." The unit lists four major areas of practical application for GIS:
1/ Street network-based
* address matching - finding locations given street addresses * vehicle routing and scheduling * location analysis, site selection * development of evacuation plans
2/ Natural resource-based
* management of wild and scenic rivers, recreation resources, floodplains, wetlands, agricultural lands, aquifers, forests, wildlife * Environmental impact analysis (EIA) * viewshed analysis * hazardous or toxic facility siting * groundwater modeling and contamination tracking * wildlife habitat analysis, migration routes planning
3/ Land parcel-based
* zoning, subdivision plan review * land acquisition * environmental impact statements * water quality management * maintenance of ownership
4/ Facilities management
* locating underground pipes, cables * balancing loads in electrical networks * planning facility maintenance * tracking energy use
GIS is the technology behind GPS (Global Positional Systems) that are found in such things as watches, handheld devices, and in cars, as well as online mapping services like Google Earth and MapQuest. (For links to more online mapping sites, visit ESRI’s “Online Mapping Sites” web page.)
Using GIS in the School Environment
Applications for Teachers From a teaching perspective, GIS and mapping software have several uses within the school environment. Although the use of GIS is especially applicable in physical and social sciences, GIS can also be helpful in mathematics and even art/design. GIS is also helpful in teaching critical thinking, spatial thinking, computer literacy and problem solving, as well as can be used to develop students' communication and presentation skills. Below are some examples of how teachers can use GIS in teaching:
- To explore the fundamental principals of geography. E.g., A geography teacher could give a lesson on the different types of geographic landforms and get students to use GIS to find out what types of landforms exist in a particular region and present their findings to the class.
- To figure out where something is and how long it would take to get there. E.g., A math teacher could get students to find the nearest location to a particular retail store and estimate the approximate length of time it would take to get to the store by car if they were driving X miles per hour with no traffic but having to stop at X stoplights that last X amount of time.
- Discover relationship, patterns, and trends or conduct analysis for particular areas. E.g. A teacher could get a student to find out how the population of a particular area has changed over time or after a particular event in terms of growth, demographics, etc.
- To map information. E.g. A teacher could ask students to create a virtual road map of the route from their house to their school and illustrate route with recognizable landmarks along the way.
For other examples of GIS-related activities and lesson plans, visit the Lesson Plan Resources Page on the [http://www.gis2gps.com/ GIS 2 GPS portal.
Applications for School Administrations
GIS can also be used for school administration. The ESRI "GIS for Schools" main page states, "GIS in school administration improves planning and decision making in areas including demographic mapping, student transportation, school safety, and community information access."
Online Resources for Using GIS in the School Environment
There are many online resources that offer additional educational information and ideas for lesson plans using GIS. The Virginia Department of Education’s Geospatial Technology Portal – Instructional Resources (Web sites) web page is an excellent place to start.
Software for Using GIS in the School Environment
ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.) GIS software, My World GIS from the Geographic Data in Education Initiative (GEODE) at Northwestern University
(voted one of the top Earth science software applications for high schools in
eSchool News’ 2005 Readers’ Choice Awards) are a couple of popular GIS software packages used in the school environment.
Further Questions
Is there open GIS software that schools can use?
KidsGIS.org is a geospatial portal for kids based on open source software, open exchange formats, and industry standard data models put together by GIS professionals from the state of Oregon.
Open Source GIS attemps to create a comprehensive index of Open Source / Free GIS related software projects.
The Key Indicator Data Systems (KIDS) is a GIS software framework available open source.
References / Resources / Related Links
“Geological Information Systems Poster.” USGS’s Eastern Geographic Science Center. 22 February 2007. U.S. Department of the Interior – U.S. Geological Survey. Last accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/gis_poster/.
“Geographic information system.” Wikipedia. 24 Jul 2007. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Last accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIS.
“GIS Day 2007.” GIS Day. 10 Jul 2007. ESRI. Last accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://www.gisday.com/index.html.
“GIS for Kids” GIS Lounge. 28 Apr 2007. GIS Lounge and DM Geographics, LLC. Last accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://gislounge.com/features/aa062701a.shtml.
“GIS For Kids” gis4kids.com. 2006. GIS4KIDS. Last accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://www.gis4kids.com/default.htm.
“GIS for Schools Main Page.” ESRI – The GIS Software Leader. 19 Jul 2007. ESRI. Last accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://www.esri.com/industries/k-12/index.html.
“GIS Kids: Slideshow / Activities / and More!” School District of Palm Beach County. 2000? School District of Palm Beach County. Last accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/maps/gis/GISKIDS.HTM.
“Home.” KidsGIS.org. 2007. KidsGIS.org. Last accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://www.kidsgis.org/Home.html.
“K-12 education.” GIS Lounge. GIS Lounge and DM Geographics, LLC. Las accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://gislounge.com/ll/k12education.shtml.
“Kids GIS Portal.” OSGeo. 29 Mar 2007. Open Source Geospatial Foundation. Last accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://wiki.osgeo.org/index.php/Kids_GIS_Portal.
“MassGIS -- Municipal GIS Resources -- Applications for GIS.” Mass.Gov. 24 Jul 2000. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 24 Jul 2007 http://www.mass.gov/mgis/muniapps.htm.
“My World GIS.” My World GIS. 15 Mar 2007. Geographic Data in Education Initiative (GEODE) at Northwestern University. Last accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://www.myworldgis.org/.
"Open Source GIS." OpenSourceGIS.org 27 Mar 2007. Last accessed 27 May 2007 http://opensourcegis.org/. “Related Learning Links.” GIS.com. 23 Oct 2006. ESRI. Last accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://www.gis.com/whatisgis/related_links.html. (Links to GIS Timeline)
“Students create 'biomaps' using sophisticated GIS software.” eSchoolNews Online. 1 Feb 2000. eSchool News. Last accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstory.cfm?ArticleID=291.
“Student GIS Software Fulfills NRC Recommendations.” Newswise Science News. 7 Feb 2006. Newswise. 24 Jul 2007 Newswise http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/517857/. Source: Northwestern University
Klinkenberg, Brian. "Unit 1 - What is GIS?" Department of Geography - University of British Columbia. Last accessed 27 Jul 2007 http://www.geog.ubc.ca/courses/klink/gis.notes/ncgia/u01.html#SEC1.3.1.
“What is GIS?” GIS Lounge. GIS Lounge and DM Geographics, LLC. Last accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://gislounge.com/library/introgis.shtml.
“What is GIS?” ESRI – The GIS Software Leader. 19 Jul 2007. ESRI. Last accessed 24 Jul 2007 http://www.esri.com/industries/k-12/education/what_is.html.
