What is GIS?
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The document provides definitions and examples of what a Geographic Information System (GIS) is. It discusses how GIS involves tools to collect, manage, use, share and interpret spatial data to understand relationships and patterns. A GIS allows users to visualize, analyze and draw conclusions from geographical data. While GIS often involves computer software and hardware, it does not necessarily require technology, as paper maps and mental maps can also serve as GIS.
![definition 3
“A GIS is a software for organizing and presenting georeferenced
alphanumeric data. […] ”
HELL NO!!
A software, if present, is only a part of a GIS!](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/whatisgis-140826144303-phpapp02/85/What-is-GIS-17-320.jpg)
![definition 5 – collection of misdefinitions
“In the strictest sense, a GIS is a computer system […]”
“A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool […]”
“GIS is an integrated system of computer hardware, software, and
trained personnel […]”
Internet apparently likes the way that GIS automatically involves
computers …](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/whatisgis-140826144303-phpapp02/85/What-is-GIS-19-320.jpg)
What is GIS?
- 1. What is GIS ? Definitions Daniel Demonceau 08 / 21 / 2014
- 2. “A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a set of tools to collect, manage, use, share and interpret spatial information, to understand relationships, patterns, and trends” Daniel Demonceau, themagiscian.com
- 3. Elements of definition Tools to perform the collect, manage, use, share and interpret spatial information, can be: ∙ The same to perform all the operation ∙ Different for each task ∙ Materialized – eg: computers (hard- and software), gps ∙ Dematerialized (often NOT considered: GIS DO NOT always involve software and hardware…) – eg: a paper map, a mindmap GIS implies people and methods for running the whole system … let’s dissect the tasks in the following slides
- 4. collect Geographical data ∙ Latitudes, Longitudes, Altitude ∙ X, Y, h ∙ Postal Addresses ∙ Devices: GPS device, Total station, digitizing a map from a reference, People’s experience, mental map, etc. Attribute (data linked to geographic’s) ∙ Type of data: tree, road border, a position, etc. ∙ Details of the data: height, width, age, etc. ∙ Metadata: contact information, date, etc.
- 5. manage Store ∙ Hard drive, flash disk, network drive, database, file based, the human brain!, paper map in a folder on a shelf, sticky note (relative data), tabular data (both numeric or paper), etc. ∙ Set up a coherent data structure ∙ Retrieve the data: index data, add metadata, index the folders on the shelf, ask a colleague who disposes data, etc. Enhance the added-value of the data ∙ Add/Update/Remove data (geometry and attribute) ∙ Validate data quality (precision, accuracy, completion, etc.) ∙ Change storage type (from file-based to database)
- 6. use ∙ Open data in a viewer software, unwind paper maps ∙ Measure distances, surfaces, calculate new coordinates, etc. ∙ Perform Analysis: points dispersion analysis, concentration of phenomena, buffers, clip the data to keep a subpart, attribute and spatial join, make a Demographic Analysis, a Define Risky Zones in Case Of A Nuclear Accident Analysis, etc. ∙ See the results of the analysis
- 7. share Share knowledge ∙ Provide the url to a Webmap via email, a website, social network ∙ Give the network location of data ∙ Give a paper map to somebody, or indicate where it is ∙ Show your friends on a paper map where you were on vacation ∙ Give a stranger in the street the direction to the place he wants/needs to go ∙ The GPS telling you the way to follow to reach your destination
- 8. interpret data Draw your conclusions ∙ Define risky zones after a Landslide Risk Analysis ∙ Forecast the way a storm could follow based on past information ∙ Decide whether or not to trust the instructions given by the GPS voice while driving a car (if the voice indicates you to go in a one-way street, a closed street, etc) For the same data and the same outputs, interpretation may differ depending on people! ∙ The results of a Disease Propagation Analysis can drive ones to shout for RED ALERT DANGER while for others the dissemination is negligible ∙ A sporty person may find that walking 3 km to see a church in town is not a big deal while others would take the bus/tram/underground instead
- 9. some examples of GISs – example 1 Locate new stores ∙ Collect: location of existing stores, catchment area info (population, customer behavior, road network) ∙ Manage: database–stored data (from an ERP), geospatial database/file, check level of quality, interoperability ∙ Use: locate stores on a map, calculate isochrone for cathment area, combine with customer behavior for attraction potential analysis, outline the « holes » on your map which indicates potential sites for your new stores ∙ Share: show/present your results to your manager ∙ Interpret: the « store-desert » will probably be retained for new site
- 10. some examples of GISs – example 2 A surveyor measuring a site ∙ Collect: Total Station, GPS ∙ Manage: database/file based after import from device, index data, check quality ∙ Use: create the blueprint of the future construction ∙ Share: send the map to the foreman, architect (CAD file, paper map) ∙ Interpret: the indications given on the map are needed for workers, masons, etc.
- 11. some examples of GISs – example 3 In the street, a stranger asks you how to go by foot to a museum ∙ Collect: your mental map built over the years ∙ Manage: data stored in your brain and continuously updated as « things change in town » (streets are temporary closed as works are done, streets become one-way, etc.) ∙ Use: query your mental map to retrieve the way to the museum ∙ Share: tell the direction to the museum ∙ Interpret: the stranger imagine that it can be far away and is considering going there by bus (and so, will ask you the bus lines)
- 12. some examples of GISs – example 4 Captains of boats trading between Europe and Asia did make use of complete GIS! ∙ Collect: paper maps for navigation done by great explorers (Henry the Navigator, Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama, etc.). Devices: sextant, surveying tool, paper, pen ∙ Manage: paper maps used onboard, quality of maps checks, multi-scale maps ∙ Use: while onboard, navigation directions and distances can be retrieved ∙ Share: information shared among the managing crew, rowers, sailor ∙ Interpret: before the journey: estimation of food to take onboard for the long trip, crew size, how much merchandise can be taken back. During the journey: adapt the route when storm, need to accost in emergency
- 13. misdefinitions Several definitions found on internet do NOT enter in my personal definition of GIS See the definition I DO NOT agree with (The sources of the following definitions are not displayed to avoid blame)
- 14. definition 1 “A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyse, manage, and present all types of geographical data.” Why I DON’T agree It is not necessary a computer system! ∙ The 5 mains functions of GIS can be executed without computers! Software and hardware are tools that can be used (they are mainly used now, that’s true) ∙ Remember that GISs existed far before the invention of computers ∙ This definition should include the ability to Share
- 15. GIS exists since mankind locate « things » in space ∙ Cavemen had their mental maps and did know where to go to hunt wild boars ∙ Bees as well have their GIS! They collect data about food location, interpret them and tell the other bees where to go there! See HERE how they share this information with their Waggle Dance ∙ What about the blueprint for the construction of the pyramids? Navigation maps drawn by Magellan? http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nautical_chart
- 16. definition 2 “GIS is a system of hardware and software used for storage, retrieval, mapping, and analysis of geographic data.” Why I DON’T agree GIS is NOT a system of hardware and software for the same reasons as for Definition 1 This definition does not take into account COLLECTING data, MANAGING, and SHARING
- 17. definition 3 “A GIS is a software for organizing and presenting georeferenced alphanumeric data. […] ” HELL NO!! A software, if present, is only a part of a GIS!
- 18. definition 4 “GIS: A computer application used to store, view, and analyze geographical information, especially maps.” Why I DON’T agree An application (=software) : NO!
- 19. definition 5 – collection of misdefinitions “In the strictest sense, a GIS is a computer system […]” “A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool […]” “GIS is an integrated system of computer hardware, software, and trained personnel […]” Internet apparently likes the way that GIS automatically involves computers …
- 20. good definitions Some definitions found in internet DOES (partially) enter in my personal definition of GIS See the definition I DO agree with
- 21. definition 1 “GIS is a general term that refers to any scientific effort integrate data to help researchers visualize, analyze, and explore geographically referenced information.” Source: http://gps.about.com/ What I DO agree on ∙ ‘any scientific effort’ is a general term that does not take part in a particular tool ∙ Focus is put on the final purpose of GIS ∙ It has Data as inputs and Information as output What I DO partially agree on ∙ The purpose of GIS is too narrowed with ‘help researchers’. The public is much more broader than that! ∙ It only focuses on the use of GIS and not on data collection, manage and share
- 22. definition 2 “A geographic information system is a special case of information systems where the database consists of observations on spatially distributed features, activities or events, which are definable in space as points, lines, or areas. A geographic information system manipulates data about these points, lines, and areas to retrieve data for ad hoc queries and analyses.” Source: Kenneth Dueker, Portland State University, 1979 What I DO agree on ∙ GIS is an IS ∙ This definition does not take part in a mean for managing in the general sense spatial data ∙ It also talks about ‘event’ and not only tangible things Enhancement to bring to this definition ∙ Add the notion of capturing data, and sharing What I DO NOT agree on ∙ The definition is focused on vector data. But data can include Raster Data, relative data (address-based), non-geographic data which can be linked to geographic data.
- 23. definition 3 “Short for Geographic Information Systems, tools used to gather, transform, manipulate, analyze, and produce information related to the surface of the Earth. This data may exist as maps, 3D virtual models, tables, and/or lists. GISs can be as complex as whole systems that use dedicated databases and workstations hooked up to a network, or as simple as "off-the-shelf" desktop software.” Source: http://www.webopedia.com/ What I DO agree on ∙ ‘Tools’ is use in a general way ∙ ‘information related to the surface of the Earth’ is a good way to describe the output of GIS (a best way would be to include “everything localisable on Earth” (eg: geological layers, underground phenomena) ∙ Focus is on level of complexity Enhancement to bring to this definition ∙ The is no notion of sharing information What I DO NOT agree on ∙ There is no word about the purpose of the GIS
- 24. definition 4 “A geographic information system is a complex arrangement of associated or connected things or objects, whose purpose is to communicate knowledge about features on the surface of the earth. We can expand the definition of this to include features above and below the surface of the earth.” Source: http://www.washington.edu/ What I DO agree on ∙ The output information includes EVERYTHING on the surface and below ∙ Does not take part in a particular tool or manner the GIS is made of Enhancement to bring to this definition ∙ Features are not the only output of GIS (there are maps, satellite data, etc.) What I DO NOT like ∙ Focused on: ‘Communicate knowledge’, and not on what the GIS do before it (eg: capturing data, managing, using) ∙ No word about the purpose of GIS except “Communicating knowledge”
- 25. definition 5 “A geographic information system (GIS) lets us visualize, question, analyze, and interpret data to understand relationships, patterns, and trends.” Source: http://www.esri.com/ What I DO agree on ∙ Does not focus on computer-based tools ∙ Includes the purpose of GIS Enhancement to bring to this definition ∙ Add the GIS capabilities to collect, manage and share data What I DO NOT like ∙ The definition is too large and should contain some elements linked to ‘Geography’ (‘Data’ should be changed to ‘Geographical Data’) ∙ The definition rather looks like to be the definition of the word ‘database’
- 26. conclusion ∙ Have a broader definition of what a GIS is instead of reducing it to hardware and software ∙ Don’t forget the people running the whole system!
- 27. thank you! Daniel Demonceau, themagiscian.com