What’s all the fuss…
Spatial Technologies
• GIS - geographic information systems• Remote sensing - satellite and aircraft• GPS - global positioning systems• digital photogrammetry • IT - information technologies and
computer systems
• Almost all information has a geographic component
• The 3 “W’s” of geography:– What is where?
• “Geographic”? Or simply “spatial”?– Why is it there?– Why do I care?
Why GIS?Q: What is this?
A: A tooth! Not all GIS has to be about land.
Why GIS?
• GIS provides potential for– Visualization (2- and 3-D)– Communication– Analysis
Visualize…
• Percentage of children ages 5 to 17 out of 1990 population.
Communicate…
The City of San Jose’son-line Planning and
Permit page.
High Priority
Low Priority
Minimum Riparian Corridor
Priority Ranking
Analyze…
Relative priority of wetlands for restoration and conservation