What is GIS? Presented by: Donna Chesnut, June 24, 2014

What is GIS?
Presented by: Donna Chesnut, June 24, 2014

What is GIS?

    Geographic

     Information

    System

Definition of GIS
A geographic information                  Hardware
system (GIS) is an organized
collection of computer hardware,      Software
software, geographic data, and
personnel to efficiently capture,           Data
store, update, manipulate, analyze,
and display all forms of              People
geographically referenced
information.

GIS is more then just a map

The maps have tables of data (attributes) behind
them, and the data is displayed in layers.

Think of GIS like this…
             Remember those overlay
             “maps” of the human body
             from grade school…

Think of GIS like this…
               …A GIS is similar, layering
               mapped information in a
               computer to help us view
               our world as a system

GIS is Unique
                ƒ   Multidisciplinary
                ƒ   Identify features
                ƒ   See patterns
                ƒ   Perform queries
                ƒ   Statistical Analysis
                ƒ   Predictive Modeling
                ƒ   Turn data on/off
                ƒ   Tell a story

Using Maps to Analyze Data Isn’t
New

Early Spatial Analysis
One of the most
famous early
examples of spatial
analysis can be
traced back to
London in the year
1854 when Dr. John
Snow was able to
predict the           Original map by John Snow showing
                      the clusters of cholera cases in the
occurrence of         London epidemic of 1854. The pump
                      is located at the intersection of Broad
cholera outbreak.     Street and Cambridge Street.

The Birth of GIS
The first modern GIS    “The Father of GIS”
“computerized
mapping system”
was created by Dr.
Roger Tomlinson
and then introduced
in the early 1960s in
Canada.

                         Dr. Roger Tomlinson
                             (1933-2014)

What Can You Do with GIS?

                Map     Map Where
               Change   Things Are

      Find What’s                Map
        Nearby                 Quantities

                Find
                          Map
               What’s
                        Densities
               Inside

Chances are you are already
using GIS!
ƒGIS has already affected most of us in
 some way without us even realizing it.
ƒIf you have ever used an Internet mapping
 program to find directions, congratulations,
 you’ve personally used GIS.
ƒThe new supermarket chain on the corner
 was probably located using GIS to
 determine the most effective place to meet
 customer demand.

Top Five Benefits of GIS
                    Cost Savings &
                      Increased
                      Efficiency

     Managing                        Better Decision
   Geographically                        Making

            Better              Improved
         Recordkeeping        Communication

Cost Savings and Increased
Efficiency
GIS is widely used to optimize maintenance
schedules and daily fleet movements.
Typical implementations can result in a
savings of 10 to 30 percent in operational
expenses through reduction in fuel use and
staff time, improved customer service, and
more efficient scheduling.

Better Decision Making
GIS is the go-to technology for making better
decisions about location. Common examples
include real estate site selection,
route/corridor selection, evacuation
planning, conservation, natural resource
extraction, etc. Making correct decisions
about location is critical to the success of an
organization.

Improved Communication
GIS-based maps and visualizations greatly
assist in understanding situations and in
storytelling. They are a type of language
that improves communication between
different teams, departments, disciplines,
professional fields, organizations, and the
public.

Better Recordkeeping
Many organizations have a primary
responsibility of maintaining authoritative
records about the status and change of
geography. GIS provides a strong framework
for managing these types of records with full
transaction support and reporting tools.

Managing Geographically
GIS is becoming essential to understanding
what is happening—and what will happen—
in geographic space. Once we understand,
we can prescribe action. This new approach
to management—managing
geographically—is transforming the way that
organizations operate.

Who Uses GIS
Aid and Development         Defense and Intelligence
ƒ Humanitarian Aid          ƒ Military Operations
ƒ Sustainable Development   ƒ Intelligence
                            ƒ Installations and
Business                      Environment
ƒ Insurance                 ƒ The Geospatially Enabled
ƒ Retail                      Enterprise
ƒ Manufacturing
ƒ Real Estate               Education
ƒ Banking                   ƒ Libraries and Museums
ƒ Marketing                 ƒ Schools (K–12)
ƒ Media                     ƒ Universities and
                              Community Colleges

Who Uses GIS
Government                      Health and Human
ƒ Federal, State, Local         Services
ƒ Resilient Communities         ƒ Public Health
ƒ Architecture, Engineering,    ƒ Human Services
  and Construction              ƒ Hospital and Health
ƒ Economic Development            Systems
ƒ Elections and Redistricting   ƒ Managed Care
ƒ Facilities                    ƒ Academic Programs and
ƒ Land Administration             Research
ƒ Public Works
ƒ Surveying                     Mapping and Charting
ƒ Urban and Regional            ƒ Aeronautical
  Planning                      ƒ Cartographic
                                ƒ Nautical
                                ƒ Topographic

Who Uses GIS
Natural Resources   Public Safety
ƒ Agriculture       ƒ Emergency Call Taking and
ƒ Climate Change      Dispatch
ƒ Conservation      ƒ Emergency/Disaster
ƒ Environmental       Management
  Management        ƒ Fire, Rescue, and EMS
ƒ Forestry          ƒ Homeland/National Security
ƒ Mining            ƒ Law Enforcement
ƒ Oceans            ƒ Wildland Fire Management
ƒ Petroleum
ƒ Water Resources

Who Uses GIS
Transportation         Utilities and Communications
ƒ Aviation             ƒ Electric
ƒ Highways             ƒ Gas
ƒ Logistics            ƒ Location-Based Services
ƒ Railways             ƒ Pipeline
ƒ Ports and Maritime   ƒ Telecommunications
ƒ Public Transit       ƒ Water/Wastewater

Examples of GIS Maps

Weather Prediction

Mapping
Disease
Patterns

Unemployment Rate

Population Change

Relationship of Population Change to
Unemployment Rate

Crime Mapping

Election Results

 Electoral Vote, Presidential Election 2012

Questions ???