CHAPTER SEVEN

Introduction to GIS

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7.0 Introduction
• The acronym GIS Stands for Geographical information
system.

G- Geographical

I- Information

S- System

• GIS is an organized collection of computer Hardware,

Software, Data and Analyst to effectively capture,
store, manipulate, analyze and retrieve all types of
spatial and non-spatial information.

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• The technology of GIS has developed so fast over
the past one decade that it is now accepted as an
essential tool for the effective use of geographic
information.

• GIS has capability of collection, compilation,

storage, retrieval, analysis, manipulation, display
and integration of environmental, economic and
social data in a single system.

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Components of GIS

GIS comprises of the following components.

• Hardware: used to store, process and display.

• Software: used to control and perform operations.

• Data: on which GIS operations are performed

(Spatial and non-spatial).

• Expertise: the human element required to drive

the system to meet needs.
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7.1 GIS Data Sources and Classifications

• Data is information represented in the format of

digit, letter and symbol.

• It is used to describe status, behavior and their

consequence of geographical object.

• GIS stores the data from which we can draw a

desired view to suit a particular purpose.

• There are two types of data in GIS;

Spatial data
Attribute data

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Major GIS Data Sources

• Maps
• Drawings (sketch or engineering)
• Surveyed coordinates (Cadastre and GPS data)
• Remotely sensed imagery
• Non-digital paper maps
• Aerial Photographs
• Documents in registers and files (gov’t archives)
• Paper records and documents

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• Based on their source, geographic data are
classified into two:

I. Primary data and

[Link] data

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Primary data

• First-Hand (Primary) data are those collected directly

in digital format specifically for GIS use.

• Some of the data in a spatial database may have been

measured directly, by field sampling, GPS or remote
sensing.

• Some sources of primary data include: Satellite

Imagery, GPS data, Survey data (ground) and Aerial
photographs.

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Secondary Data Sources

• Second-Hand (Secondary) data: They are digital

and analogue datasets that were originally
captured in another format.

• Secondary data are data derived by processing

primary data or other secondary data.

• It is far cheaper to collect secondary data than to

obtain primary data.

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Secondary Data Sources
• Some sources of Secondary data are
Digitized Paper Map,

Interpolated Surfaces Scanned data and

Processed Images

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7.2 Spatial Data

• Spatial Information: information about a

particular location called spatial data.

E.g. land use, soil, slope, drainage, road, and etc.

• Spatial Models are important in that way in which

information is represented, affects the type of
analysis performed and types of graphic display
that can be obtained.

• The two data models common in GIS are Vector

data model and Raster data Model.

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Basic Concepts:

 All geographic data can be represented by three

basic entities:

• Point

• Line

• Area or Polygon plus a label saying what is it

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Examples

• An oil well could be represented by a single point

consisting of X, Y coordinates.

• Road – represented by a series of X, Y coordinates

• Forest – represented by a set of X, Y coordinates

plus the label forest. The label could be actual
name or a special symbol.

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 Layers and Coverage’s
• GIS organize spatial data into layers or
coverage’s.

• Typical layers represent information belonging to

particular class. E.g. Roads, Rivers, Vegetation
types are different layers.

• All the layers or coverage’s pertaining to an area

are referenced to a common projection system.

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• The layers can be combined with each other in
various ways to create new layers that are
functions of individual layers.
Land use

Settlement

Drainage

Road

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 Data Model

• In order to represent the spatial information and

their attributes, a Data Model – a set of logical
definitions or rules for characterizing the
geographical data is adopted.

• The Data Model represents the linkages between

the real world domain of geographical data and
the computer and GIS representation of these
features.

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• Data Models in GIS

The two data models common in GIS are

Vector data model and

Raster data Model

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Vector Based Model:

• A vector based GIS is defined by the vectorial

representation of its geographic data.

• According with the characteristics of this data

model, geographic objects are explicitly
represented and, within the spatial characteristics,
the thematic aspects are associated.

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• The geographical phenomena are represented by
three basic entities along with their attributes.

• Point – City – population, no. of school, no. of

houses etc.

• Line – Road – Type of road, road name etc.

• Area – Land use – class, soil type etc.

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Raster Based Model:
• Raster based spatial models regard space as a
tessellation (resembled mosaic) of cells, each of
which is associated with a record of classification
or identity of the phenomena that occupies it.

• The raster model represents the 2D location of

phenomena as a matrix of grid cell. Each cell is
known as pixel (Short form of Picture Element).

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7.3 Non-spatial Data
• Non-spatial Information: Description of spatial
data in the form of table or statistics.

Example

Rainfall data

chemical data of soil

temperature data etc.

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Group Discussion
• What are the differences between spatial and non-
spatial data types in a GIS?

• What are the advantages and disadvantage of

vector and raster data models?

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Summary
GIS data sources are GPS, Remote sensing, Aerial
photographs, Scanned map, processed image,
Interpolated Surfaces Scanned etc.

Primary and Secondary data source in GIS.

• Primary (First hand)

GPS, Remote sensing, Aerial photographs etc.

• Secondary data source

Scanned map, processed image, Interpolated
Surfaces Scanned etc.

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Spatial and non-spatial data

Spatial data: Location of a particular feature E.g:

Land use, Road, oil well etc.

Attribute data: information about features. E.g.

name of roads, forest type etc.

• GIS integrates the two data types and allows the

users to derive new data for planning.

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7.4 GIS Analytical Functions
• Most GIS's provide the capability to build complex
models by combining analytical functions.

• Four categories of GIS analysis functions. These

are:

• Retrieval, Reclassification, and Generalization;

• Topological Overlay Techniques;

• Neighborhood Operations; and

• Connectivity Functions

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7.5 GIS Applications
The Major Uses of GIS in Civil Engineering
• Managing Visualizing and Integrating Data

• Infrastructure Management

• Critical Infrastructure Protection

• Land Fill Site Assortment

• Urban Development and Town Planning

• Site Analysis

• Watershed Management

• Better Management at a Reduced Cost and etc.

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Thanks

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