Geographical Information System free essay sample

A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer based tool for mapping and analyzing spatial data(it is the data or information that identifies the geographic location of features and boundaries on Earth, such as natural or constructed features, oceans, and more) . GIS technology integrates common database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic analysis benefits offered by maps. These abilities distinguish GIS from other information systems and make it valuable to a wide range of public and private enterprises for explaining events, predicting outcomes, and planning strategies. Hardware Software (arcview) ? Data ? People ? Methods ? ? GIS performs six basic tasks and these are 1. Input of data 2. Map making 3. Manipulation of data 4. File management 5. Query and analysis(How far is it between two places? †¢ How is this particular parcel of land being used? †¢ What is the dominant soil type for oak forest? †¢ Where are all the sites suitable for relocating an endangered species? †¢ Where are all of the sites possessing certain characteristics? †¢ If I build a new highway here, how will animals in the area be affected) 6. We will write a custom essay sample on Geographical Information System or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Visualization of results Databases GIS Spatial data †¢ At a simple level a GIS may just form the graphical interface to a database †¢ The majority of GIS applications follow this example MapInfo Linked database table SQL Query Manager The benefits of GIS include: Better information management ? Higher quality analysis ? Ability to carry out â€Å"what if? † scenarios ? Improve project efficiency ? 7 ? Facilities management(electricity, gas, water and cable communication companies ) ? ? ? ? ? Marketing and retailing(: these applications tend towards targeting customers and identifying potential markets for customers) Environmental (Forestry management, impact analysis, resource management, coastal zone mapping, geophysical geotechnical surveys. ) Transport/vehicle routing Health(Disease mapping as well as epidemiology) Insurance( risk distribution analysis, catastrophe planning, customer service analysis) 8 Whitebox GAT – Open source and transparent GIS software Kalypso (software) – Kalypso is an Open Source GIS (Java, GML3) and focuses mainly on numerical simulations in water management. TerraView – GIS desktop that handles vector and raster data stored in a relational or geo-relational database, i. e. a frontend for TerraLib. Capaware – Capaware is also an Open Source GIS, a C++ 3D GIS Framework with a multiple plugin architecture for geographic graphical analysis and visualization. FalconView – FalconView is a mapping system created by the Georgia Tech Research Institute for the Windows family of operating systems. A free, open source version is available. ? http://www. westminster. edu/staff/athrock/GI S/GIS. pdf ? neil. [emailprotected] ma. us GIS Applications Facilities management: Utilities such as electricity, gas, water and cable communication companies all use GIS systems to store, retrieve and analyse their plant and materials. Areas such as customer responses, demand forecasting, fault analysis, network assessment analysis, site planning, strategic planning and market analysis can be generated by the GIS. Marketing and retailing: these applications tend towards targeting customers and identifying potential markets for customers. The extensive datasets generated from the use of loyalty cards can also be used in conjunction with GIS. Other applications may include: media planning, territory allocation and prospect analysis. Environmental: Forestry management, impact analysis, resource management, coastal zone mapping, geophysical geotechnical surveys. Transport/vehicle routing: this is an example of ‘real-time’ GIS and is used particularly by vehicle routing companies and the emergency services who need to know where there vehicles are located at any given time. Vehicle routing can also be assessed in terms of least cost or efficiency. In addition GIS may also be used for; dispatch, scheduling, franchise planning as well as route planning. Health: Disease mapping as well as epidemiology, facility planning, provider purchaser planning, expenditure monitoring and patient analysis can all be carried out using GIS. Insurance: risk distribution analysis, catastrophe planning, customer service analysis, hazard prediction analysis and underwriting