LectureNotes

Topics

• What is GIS?
• Spatial data
• Spatial data modelling
• Database management
• Data input and editing
• Data analysis
• Analytical modelling in GIS
• Output: from new maps to enhanced decisions
• The development of computer methods for handling spatial data
• Data quality issues
• Human and organizational issues
• GIS project design and management
• The future of GIS

What is GIS?

• Introduction
• GIS definition
• Generic types of questions GIS can answer
• GIS components
  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Data
  • Procedures (‘orgware’)
  • People
• Case studies
  • Example: Happy Valley
  • Example: nuclear waste disposal site search
  • Example: land use planning in Zdarske Vrchy
  • Example: house hunting
• Application areas of GIS

Spatial data

• Introduction
• Types of data model
• Data sources
• Maps and their influence on the character of spatial data
• Purpose
• Scale
• Spatial entities
• Generalization

---

• Projections
• Spatial referencing
• Geographic coordinate systems
• Rectangular coordinate systems
• Non-coordinate systems
• Topology
• Thematic characteristics of spatial data
• Entity types

---

• Scales of measurement
• Sources of spatial data
• Maps
• Census and survey data
• Aerial photographs
• Satellite imagery
• Field survey and GPS
• Data issues

---

• Data quality
• Data standards
• Spatial data modelling
• Introduction
• Entity definition
• Points, lines and areas
• Surfaces
• Networks

Spatial data models

• Raster
• Simple raster
• Quadtrees
• Vector
• Spatial data structures
• Raster
• Vector
• Modelling surfaces
• Raster DTMs
• TINs
• Modelling networks
• Building computer worlds
• Layer-based models
• Object-oriented models
• Modelling the third dimension
• Modelling the fourth dimension

Database management

• Introduction
• Why we need to handle attribute data
• Using databases to handle attribute data
• Database management systems (DBMS)
• Database models
• Relational databases
• Creating a database
• What steps are required?
• Making the link between spatial and attribute data
• Database applications in GIS
• Feature attribute tables
• Web-based databases
• Object-oriented databases

Data input and editing

• Introduction
• The data stream
• Methods of data input
• Keyboard entry
• Manual digitizing
• Automatic digitizing
• Electronic data transfer

Data editing

• Detecting and correcting errors
• Attribute and spatial data checking
• Re-projection, transformation and generalization
• Edge matching and rubber sheeting
• Developing an integrated database

Data analysis

• Introduction
• Analytical functionality in GIS
• The Happy Valley example
• Measurement
• Length (distance)
• Perimeter
• Area
• Queries
• Reclassification
• Boolean operators
• Buffering and neighbourhood functions
• Map overlay
• Vector
• Point-in-polygon
• Union, erase and intersect
• Raster
• Cartographic modelling
• The nuclear waste disposal site search example
• Problems and issues in overlay
• Spatial interpolation
• Deriving continuous surfaces from discrete point data
• Classification of interpolation methods
• Analysis of surfaces
• Slope and aspect
• Visibility
• Network analysis
• Shortest path
• Travelling salesperson
• Location-allocation modelling
• Route tracing
• Quantitative spatial analysis

Analytical modelling in GIS

• Introduction
• Reminder about models
• Process models
• Model types: natural/scale, conceptual, mathematical, process
• Example: Happy Valley snow cover model
• Linking models to GIS
• Modelling physical and environmental processes
• Modelling human process
• Decision making with GIS
• Multi-criteria evaluation (MCE)
• Public participation GIS (PPGIS)
• Problems with modelling

Output: from new maps to enhanced decisions

• Introduction
• The range of GIS outputs
• Maps as the principal form of GIS output
• Cartographic rules
• Choropleth mapping
• Alternative forms of cartographic output
• Non-cartographic output
• Multimedia
• Serving maps on the web
• VRGIS
• Decision support as a form of output
• Maps as decision tools
• Example: Zdarske Vrchy
• Example: nuclear waste disposal
• The development of computer methods for handling spatial data
• Introduction
• Pre-GIS: handling spatial data manually
• The advent of the computer
• Graphics
• Data access and storage
• Data input
• The development of computer methods for handling spatial data
• Systems approach
• Computer cartography
• Spatial statistics
• AM/FM and CAD
• Web and mobile GIS

The development of GIS

• 1970s
• 1980s
• 1990s
• 2000s
• Case studies in GIS development
• CGIS: example of early GIS
• ESRI: example of market leader
• CORINE: example of GIS project
• The diffusion of GIS

Data quality issues

• Introduction
• The language of data quality
• The importance of quality control
• Describing quality
• Accuracy
• Precision
• Error
• Uncertainty
• Bias
• Completeness, compatibility, consistency and applicability
• Sources of error in GIS
• Understanding and modelling reality
• Source data
• Encoding errors
• Digitizing error
• Data editing and conversion
• Rasterization errors
• Vectorization errors
• Processing and analysis errors
• Output errors
• Finding and modelling errors
• Error checking
• Error modelling
• Managing error

The future of GIS

• Introduction
• Where next for GIS?
• Applications
• Technology
• Information
• People
• Exploring the future for GIS
• Natural disasters
• Daddy, what does lost mean?
• The ad man’s dream