Intro to GIS Ch. 1

Exercise Objectives

  • Explore ArcGIS® Online

    • Sign in and join an organization

    • Explore a public map

    • Configure the map symbology

    • Configure map pop-up windows

    • Save a map

What is a GIS?

  • Geographic Information System (GIS) is a complex system composed of five key components:

    • Hardware: Computers, smartphones, tablets

    • Software: Applications used for mapping

    • Data: Represents information in points, lines, and polygons on maps

    • Procedures: Methods for managing and processing GIS data

    • People: Users who collect data and create maps.

  • GIS allows users to capture, store, manage, visualize, and analyze geographic data, helping to understand relationships, patterns and influence decisions in various fields.

Importance of Spatial Data

  • Spatial data represents physical locations and relationships between features, often using coordinates and projections.

  • Combining spatial data with attribute data (info about the spatial data) makes GIS especially powerful.

    • Example: Hospital's location (spatial data) and details like name, capacity, and services (attribute data).

Spatial Analysis

  • Allows for comparisons and insights, answering critical questions such as:

    • What are average wait times at hospitals?

    • Does capacity meet local demographics?

    • How can resources be better allocated?

  • Example: Integrating spatial analysis in children's hospitals for resource planning.

GIS Applications in Cultural Heritage

  • Example: The study of the ancient city of Petra using GIS for monitoring historical sites and land management.

Evolution of GIS

  • Since the 1960s, GIS has been utilized for various purposes, improving operations from emergency response to environmental analysis.

  • Increased access to data from connected networks allows for real-time analysis and collaboration.

  • Examples of current GIS applications include monitoring emergencies and simplifying map creation for users.

Public Data Access and Open Data Movement

  • Governments are increasingly sharing data, facilitating initiatives like ArcGIS Open Data for public engagement.

Case Study: Fire Prevention

  • Surrey Fire Service used GIS to identify fire risk areas and implement education strategies to reduce home fires.

Basic GIS Principles

  • Data in GIS can be visualized in layers using symbols (points, lines, polygons).

  • Allows representation of various features and natural phenomena through maps.

  • Different types of data analysis, such as querying and spatial processing, provide insights into patterns within datasets.

The ArcGIS Platform

  • ArcGIS Pro allows for the analysis and visualization of geographic data in a systematic, collaborative environment.

  • Integration with online resources and data enhances the capability of GIS professionals.

  • Features customizable tools for spatial analysis, various mapping capabilities, and data sharing options.