Lecture 1- Intro to GIS

Introduction to GIS

  • Instructor: Joe Devoy

  • Course: Social Sciences 101A

History of Mapping

  • Ancient Mapping Techniques:

    • Maps essential for world exploration.

    • Created using primitive survey methods.

    • very impressive what they were able to do with little utensils.

  • Evolution of Maps:

    • Critical in international relations.

    • Example: Post-war map (1848) between the U.S. and Mexico determined borders and ownership.

The Role of Maps in Understanding the World

  • Maps represent features of countries such as:

    • Roads

    • Rivers

    • Mountains

    • Vegetation

    • Cities

    • Railways

    • Volcanoes

    • Mines

    • Oil Wells

  • USGS Map of Yosemite as a case study.

History of GIS

  • Napoleon's Invasion of Russia:

    • Carte Figurative: Displays military movement and loss of soldiers during the 1812 campaign.

    • Visual representation of troop numbers using width of zones.

    • Example by Charles Minard:

    • Illustrates the retreat from Moscow, showing troop numbers and geographic context, highlighting significant losses due to engagements and environmental factors.

Early Applications of GIS in Health

  • Cholera Outbreak in Paris (1832):

    • Heat map showing outbreaks by arrondissement.

    • Demonstrates the use of GIS in public health to identify impacted areas and inform response.

Modern Uses of GIS

  • Cultural Integration:

    • Uber: A prime example of GIS technology influencing modern transport and urban mobility solutions.

Maps and Politics

  • Political Boundaries:

    • Maps shape national borders and influence wars and governance.

    • Includes districts for states, counties, cities, and congressional representation.

    • Gerrymandering: Manipulation of district boundaries for political advantage.

Managing Infrastructure with GIS

  • Property Ownership:

    • Over 3,143 U.S. counties utilize GIS.

    • 30,000 cities with a population over 10,000 manage using GIS.

  • Transportation Management:

    • Encompasses roads, bridges, airports, and rail systems.

  • Energy Management:

    • Covers electric grids, oil pipelines, and renewable energy resources.

Essential Infrastructure Components

  • Water Systems:

    • GIS helps manage reservoirs, treatment plants, and water distribution.

  • Safety and Resilience:

    • GIS informs sewage treatment, food supply chains, and natural disaster response.

  • Information Technology:

    • GIS supports high-speed internet, cell towers, and broadcast systems.

GIS for Environmental Support

  • Environmental Monitoring:

    • Track pollution, endangered species, and animal populations.

    • Analyze groundwater and maintain river water quality.

  • Remediation Assistance:

    • Assistance in cleaning contaminated areas.

ESRI Overview

  • Founding of ESRI:

    • Established in 1969 by Jack Dangermond in Redlands, California.

    • Early projects included mapping routes for nuclear weapon transport to enhance safety.

  • ArcGIS:

    • Flagship product and global standard in GIS technology.

    • Widely used by government agencies at all levels.

Data Types in GIS

  • Project Files:

    • Unique formats such as .APRX containing map layouts but no data.

  • GIS Data Files:

    • Formats include shapefiles and geodatabases (preferred by ESRI).

Additional Data Formats

  • Images:

    • Georeferenced aerials (jpg, tif) and general images.

  • CAD Files:

    • Including extensions like .dgn, .dwg, .dxf for design layouts.

  • Tables:

    • Data in various formats like .txt, .xls, .csv, .dbf.

Types of GIS Features

  • Vector Data Types:

    • Three basic feature types:

    • Points: Represented by (x, y) coordinates.

    • Lines: Connected points that define linear features.

    • Polygons: Closed lines that form area boundaries, defining spatial extent.