Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

What is Geographic Information Systems (GIS)?

A Geographic Information System (GIS) can be defined as a computer system that analyzes the data and displays all the geographically referenced information such as location and all the information related to that feature. It uses data that is attached to a unique location.

GIS is related to the connection between data to a map, integrating location data with all types of descriptive information. GIS can show many different kinds of data on one map, such as streets, buildings, and vegetation.

Geographic information systems are certainly utilized in multiple technologies, processes, techniques and methods. They are attached to various operations and numerous applications that relate to engineering, planning, management, transport/logistics, insurance, telecommunications, and business.

For this reason, GIS and location intelligence applications are at the foundation of location-enabled services that rely on geographic analysis and visualization.

GIS data layer

The 3 main components of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are:

1. Data

GIS stores location data as thematic layers. Each data set has an attribute table that stores information about the feature. The two main types of GIS data are raster and vector.

raster, vector, real world GIS

2. Hardware

Hardware runs GIS software. It could be anything from powerful servers, mobile phones or a personal GIS workstation. The CPU is your machine and data processing is the name of the game.

Dual monitors, extra storage, and crisp graphic processing cards are must-haves too in GIS.

list of required GIS hardwares

3. Software

ArcGIS and QGIS are the leaders in GIS software. GIS software specializes in spatial analysis by using math in maps. It blends geography with modern technology to measure, quantify and understand our world.

list of GIS softwares

Stage of Development	The Formative Years	Maturing Technology	GIS Infrastructure
Time Frame	1960 – 1980	1980 – Mid 1990	Mid 1990 – present
Technical Environment	Mainframes and minicomputers. Proprietary software. Proprietary data structure. Mainly raster-based	Mainframes and minicomputers. Geo-relational data structures. Graphical users interface. New data acquisition technologies like GPS & remote sensing	Workstation and PCs. Network/internet. Open system design. Multimedia. Data integration. Enterprise computing. Object-relational data model
Major Users	Government, universities & military	Government, universities, military, utilities & business	Government, universities, military, utilities, business, school & general public
Major Application Areas	Land and resources management, census, surveying and mapping	Land and resources management, census, surveying and mapping, facilities management & market analysis	Land and resources management, census, surveying and mapping, facilities management, market analysis, utilities & geographic data browsing

Applications of Geographic Information System (GIS)

Applications of the GIS are listed below:

Navigation (Routing and Scheduling): Web-based navigation maps encourage safe navigation in waterways. Ferry paths and shipping routes are identified for better routing.

ArcGIS supports a safe navigation system and provides accurate topographic and hydrographic data.
Surveying: Surveying is the measurement of the location of objects on the earth’s surfaces. A land survey is measuring the distance and angles between different points on the earth's surface.

An increasing number of national governments and regional organizations are using GNSS measurements. GNSS is used for topographic surveys where a centimetre level accuracy is provided.

These data can be incorporated into the GIS system. GIS tools can be used to estimate area and also, digital maps can be prepared.
GIS Applications in Geology: Geologists use GIS in various applications.

The GIS is used to study geologic features, analyze soils and strata, assess seismic information, and or create three dimensional (3D) displays of geographic features. GIS can be also used to analyze rock information characteristics and identify the best dam site location.
GIS for Planning and Community Development: GIS helps us to better understand our world so we can meet global challenges. Today GIS technology is advancing rapidly, providing many new capabilities and innovations in planning.

Applying known parts of science and GIS to solve unknown parts, helps to enhance the quality of life and achieve a better future.

Creating and applying GIS tools and knowledge allow us to integrate geographic intelligence into how we think and behave.
Tourism Information System: GIS provides a valuable toolbox of techniques and technologies of wide applicability to the achievement of sustainable tourism development.

They will get all the information on click, measure distance, find hotels, restaurant and even navigate to their respective links.

Information plays a vital role to tourists in planning their travel from one place to another, and the success of the tourism industry.

This can bring many advantages for both tourists and the tourism department.
Worldwide Earthquake Information System: One of the most frightening and destructive phenomena of nature is the occurrence of an earthquake.

There is a need to have knowledge regarding the trends in earthquake occurrence worldwide.

A GIS-based user interface system for querying on earthquake catalogue will be of great help to earthquake engineers and seismologists in understanding the behaviour pattern of earthquakes in the spatial and temporal domains.
Energy Use Tracking and Planning: GIS is a valuable tool that helps in the planning organizing and subsequent growth in the energy and utility industries.

The effective management of energy systems is a complex challenge. GIS has enormous potential for planning, design and maintenance of facilities. Also, it provides improved services and that too cost-effectively.
GIS for Fisheries and Ocean Industries: GIS tools add value and the capability to ocean data. ArcGIS is used to determine the spatial data for a fisheries assessment and management system.

It is extensively used in the ocean industry area and we get accurate information regarding various commercial activities. To enhance minimizing costs for the fishing industry.

Also, it can determine the location of illegal fishing operations.
Traffic Density Studies: GIS can effectively use for the management of traffic problems. Today’s population along with the road traffic is increasing exponentially.

The advantage of GIS makes it an attractive option to be used to face emerging traffic problems.

Creating an extensive database that has all the traffic information such as speed data, road geometry, traffic flow and other spatial data and processing this information will provide us with a graphical bigger picture for traffic management.
Space Utilization: GIS helps managers to organize and spatially visualize space and how it can best be used.

Operational costs can be decreased by more efficiently using space including managing the moves of personnel and assets as well as the storage materials.

The 3D visualization in GIS platforms helps planers to create a feeling of experience like a virtual walking inside the building and rooms before construction.
Development of Public Infrastructure Facilities: GIS has many uses and advantages in the field of facility management. GIS can be used by facility managers for space management, visualization and planning, emergency and disaster planning and response.

It can be used throughout the life cycle of a facility from deciding where to build to space planning. Also, it provides facilitate better planning and analysis.
Location Identification: This technique is used to find a location for a new retail outlet. It helps to find out what exists at a particular location.

A location can be described in many ways, using, for instance, the name of the place, postcode, or geographic references such as longitude or latitude or X/Y.
River Crossing Site Selection for Bridges: The important geotechnical consideration is the stability of the slope leading down to and up from the water crossing.

It is advisable to collect historical data on erosion and sedimentation.

On the basis of this information asses the amount of river channel contraction, degree of curvature of the river bend, nature of bed and bank materials including the flood flow and the flow depth, all these can be done in GIS within an estimated time and accurately.

This information has been often used for river crossing site selection for bridges.
Regional Planning: Every day, planners use Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to research, develop, implement, and monitor the progress of their plans.

GIS provides planners, surveyors, and engineers with the tools they need to design and map their neighbourhoods and cities.

Planners have the technical expertise, political savvy, and fiscal understanding to transform a vision of tomorrow into a strategic action plan for today, and they use GIS to facilitate the decision-making process. (ESRI, GIS Solutions for Urban and Regional Planning).
Municipal Infrastructure: Centre-line drawings for streets, water and sewer utilities linked to databases for integrated planning, construction, and maintenance management.
Regional Planning: Maps, land records, highways, redevelopment plans analyzed for regional impact.
Tax Management: Property maps, tax records, assessment for tax collection and planning.
Emergency Services: Responding to fire, explosions, hazardous material spills, and other unpredictable events.
Oil Spill Impacts: Remote sensing and surface-based evaluation for tanker spills, war disasters, and real-time management of emergency operations.
Wastewater Management: integrated planning system including sewers, catch basins, ditches, and waterways for planning storm impacts.
Water Quality Management: Modeling soil, land use, and watershed characteristics to evaluate alternative scenarios.
Air Emissions: Modeling and display of dispersal and risk from air toxics on regions surrounding industrial facilities.
Hazard Analysis: Linking drawings and databases to conduct hazardous operations analysis for chemical operations.
Forestry Management: Imaging and digital elevation modelling to evaluate the damage to forests from the effects of fire, logging, pesticides, and acid rain and to describe trends in forest resources.
Population Planning: Spatial distribution and mapping overpopulation and slums in underdeveloped countries using satellite imagery.
Habit Characterization: Analysis of population and migration patterns to support the preservation of endangered species.
Urban Development Planning: Modeling diffusion of development processes to predict real estate growth patterns.
The government uses: The ability to relate information on activities and resources to a spatial location and to monitor or predict changes over time is fundamental to modern society.

In this respect, the importance of socio-economic data, such as that produced by national censuses, cannot be overstressed.

International, national, regional and local governments use GIS for a host of applications from defence and policing activities through regional planning, strategic studies for renewable energy resources, environmental management and risk avoidance through urban and rural policy decisions to day-to-day operational activities such as land registration, property taxation or routing of traffic.
Industrial & Commercial use: Industry and commerce use GIS in many ways. Utility companies (power, gas, water, and telephone) are major investors in digital GIS technology for managing and monitoring their supply networks, often on an international basis.
Business purposes: Businesses use GIS together with other economic information to determine optimal delivery routes, the location of potential markets or the site of outlets or factories.

Constructors of major infrastructure (roads, railways, and bridges) use GI to estimate the amounts and costs of material needed.
Agricultural purposes: In sectors such as agriculture, forestry, water resources or mining, GIS is used to assess yields and management strategies.
Service purposes: In service industries, GIS is used by consultants to advise on how to improve business efficiency, or to provide services for tourism and transport.
Social purposes: In social investigations, GIS is used to help analyze spatially varying attributes of the population such as income, crime, health or the quality of housing.
Environmental uses: GIS is used in a wide range of practical environmental issues from global warming and sea-level rise to erosion, flooding and soil, air and water pollution.