© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

Introduction-Overview

• Why use a GIS?

• What can a GIS do?

• How does a GIS work?

• GIS definitions_

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

Why use a GIS?

• An extension of the paper map, but much more than a map, as you will see.

• GIS uses the analytical power of the computer to complete complex tasks.

• Computer's storage power to manage large data sets.

• Integration of many different types of data from many different sources.

• GIS maps a variety of different data to the same coordinate space (combination).

• More media stable than paper media, and easier to distribute via the net. • Faster and easier update. • Creation and use of "one-time" maps. • Tailor-made maps.

• Elimination of some user bias.

• GIS brings new tools for thinking differently about geographic data._

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

What can a GIS do?

• Locate geographic features based on properties.

• Identify and analyze properties of geographic features based on location.

• Estimate economic effects of land-use regulation.

• Determine the optimal locations of new businesses.

• Generate optimal routing and scheduling delivery and repair services.

• Determine the ground area covered by a new cellular phone network.

• Delineate watershed boundaries.

• Predict vegetation types based on elevation, slope, and aspect.

• Predict landslide hazard for harvest units.

• Epidemeology.

• Locate natural areas that need protection.

• Make colorful and interesting maps._

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

Examples of what a GIS can do

• Example 1: Where is a given feature or set of features? Where are forest stands greater than 100 years of age?

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

Examples of what a GIS can do

• Example 2: What features are at a given location?

• What is the age of the forest near the 1050 Road?

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

Examples of what a GIS can do

• Example 3: Where are areas that meet a given complex set of criteria? What parts of the forest are located:

• on > 30% slope?

• closer than 100 ft to a stream, and• farther than 50 ft from a road,

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

Examples of what a GIS can do

• Example 4: How can operation costs be calculated with a GIS?

• What is the average yarding distance for each stand in the forest?

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

Examples of what a GIS can do

• Example 5: How can watershed analysis data be generated within a GIS?

area length density

forest 6.67 mi2

roads 54 mi 8.13 mi / mi2

streams 31 mi 4.62 mi / mi2

• What are the road and stream densities (mi / sq. mi) for the forest area?

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

Examples of GIS maps

topographic mapping

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

Examples of GIS maps

orthophoto image maps

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

Examples of GIS maps

surface drapes & 3-D modeling

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

Examples of GIS maps

classified thematic mapping

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

Examples of GIS maps

research documentation

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

How does GIS work?

tabular data

• Combination of

and

coordinate data

each feature has a record

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2000

CFR 250/590 Introduction to GIS

intro_overview.ppt

GIS definitions

• "A system of hardware, software, and procedures designed to support the capture, management, manipulation, analysis, modeling and display of spatially-referenced data for solving complex planning and management problems."

• A working GIS integrates five key components:

• methods

• people, and

• data,

• software,

• hardware,