Geographic Information Systems: Tools for Exploring Spatial Phenomena

1. Geographic Information Systems:Tools for Exploring Spatial Phenomena Darren Ruddell School of Geographical Sciences Arizona State University

2. Introduction • Third-year PhD student in the School of Geographical Sciences • Specializing in GIS and Sustainability • Completing GIS certificate program • BA in Political Science from San Diego St. • MS in Global Technology & Development from ASU • Peace Corps Volunteer, Cameroon 2000-02

3. Geographic Information Science What is GIS? How do we use GIS?

4. GIS is a technology used for handling, processing, and analyzing geographic data. GIS is a research tool: Explore spatial data Produce digital maps Estimate trends Planning/resource management GIS: A type of Informatics

5. Why GIS Matters • Almost everything happens somewhere • Knowing where some things happen is critically important • Position of boundaries • Location of hospitals • Routing delivery vehicles • Management of forest stands • Allocation of funds for environmental concerns

6. Why is Geographic Information Special? • Multidimensional, need 2 coordinates GIS databases store spatial attributes • Examples?

7. Understanding GIS: key terms • Data: observations or measurements recorded from real world objects. Data are transmitted through signals. • Information: the intelligent interpretation of data. Must know the rules. • Knowledge: the body of information collected over time.

8. Example Signal:. . . - - - . . . (3 short, 3 long, 3 short tones) Data:If the syntax of Morse code is known, the signal can be translated into data: SOS Information: This message only makes sense after the receiver interprets (decodes) it, i.e. after it becomes information: 'Save Our Souls' What is the most common method for converting data to information?

9. The current role of computer science in society • worldwide fast communication (e.g. internet services) • large changes in job requirements (e.g. from the typewriter to the word processor) • data as a tool of power, problems of data protection • computer criminality

10. BC number systems of the Sumerians, Egyptians, Romans; abacus used for calculations; Greek mathematicians PYTHAGORAS (- 500), EUCLID (-300), ARCHIMEDES (-250) among others, lay the foundations of geometry and algebra ~ 500Indian-Arabian decimal system with the number 0 1524Adam RIESE writes a computation book according to the decimal system 1623SCHICKARD constructs the first mechanical computing machine for Kepler with 2 basic computational (+, -) forms 1818reliable mechanical computation machines are mass-produced 1838BABBAGE designs the 'analytical engine', steered by a program written on punched cards; he was not able to technically materialize his design; his assistant ADA writes the first "program" 1886HOLLERITH builds an electric counting machine for the punched cards 1941ZUSE builds the first electronic programmable machine Z3(2000 relays);1 multiplication takes 4 seconds 1944AIKEN at IBM builds the programmable machine MARK1(length 15m, 80 km wires);1 multiplication takes 3 seconds 1950 VON NEUMANN, TURING, among others, develop the principal of the modern computer: single processor; program and data in the same memory 1954In the USA, ENIAC is developed as the first electronic computer (18,000 electron pipes, 20 tons); 1 multiplication takes 3 milliseconds 1964FORTRAN becomes a widely distributed programming language, especially in the natural sciences 1973UNIX developed as an operating system for workstations 1976WOZNIAK & JOB build the first personal computer (Apple) in the USA. CRAY builds the first supercomputer 1979MS-DOS for PCs is developed 1983First PC-XT (extended) from IBM arrives on the market >> nowHardware becomes increasingly powerful and more affordable; software becomes more efficient but requires more hardware resources History of Computer Science

11. Definition of Computer Science The science concerned with the systematic and automatic processing of data and information with the help of computers.

12. Geographic Information Science the science concerned with the systematic and automatic processing of spatial data and information with the help of computers. Spatial component of information:The spatial reference informs geoscientific questions. Geoscientists are interested in special features (attributes) of spatial objects, also calledgeographic objects.

13. Task 2: "Look for all locations of home fires in Phoenix and the distance they are from a fire station." This task can only be completed with the help of a geographic information system (GIS), which has special capabilities allowing it to analyze the relationship betweengeographic objects(home fires and fire stations). Spatial is Special Task 1: "Look for all locations of home fires in Phoenix."This task can be completed with the help of a normal information system (database).

14. GISystems • Use of hardware, software, tools GIScience • Theory behind how to solve spatial problems with computers

15. Dissecting a common landscape GIS combines data at a single location to provide a better understanding of that place. GIS merges and analyzes various databases

16. Dissecting a common landscape • Representation: • Points • Lines • Polygons

17. Points, Lines, and Polygons • Exercise: • Your dorm, house, or apartment? • Your commute to school? • This classroom? • The intersection of two streets?

18. The GIS pipeline Data gathering (input) Data storage and specification Data use and analysis Data output

19. So what? Applications

20. Examples of GIS use • GIS questions: 1. Locations - What is at….? Who owns the lot at 3233 E. College Ave and what is its zoning? parcel no. 565-23a area 118,245 sq. ft. owner Triangle Development address 500 Water St., Pittsburgh zoning R-3 assessment $950,000

21. Examples of GIS use • GIS questions: 2. Objects - Where is…? parcel no. 565-23a area 118,245 sq. ft. owner Triangle Development address 500 Water St., Pittsburgh zoning R-3 assessment $950,000 Where are houses located you might consider buying?

22. Examples of GIS use • GIS questions: 3. Patterns - Which things are related…? Where have traffic accidents occurred over the past year at intersections without a traffic light?

23. Examples of GIS use • GIS questions: 4. Models - What if…? What would happen to traffic patterns if a new Wal-Mart were built here?

24. Examples of GIS use • GIS questions: 5. Trends - What has changed since…? How has land cover changed since 1950?

25. Examples of GIS use… Summary • Wide range of applications:engineering mining natural resource management agriculture planning (all gov’t levels) etc...

26. Examples of GIS use… Summary • Natural Resource Management • Forest & Wildlife • Hydrological • Minerals • Urban and Regional Management • Public Works • Landuse Planning • Emergency Response • Commercial • Site Selection • Market Area Analysis • Routing • Agricultural Management • Animal Management • Field Records • Climate Change / Human Impact

27. What do I need to know to havea career in GIS? • Theory and concepts (GIScience) • How to think spatially • How to ask questions spatially • Software training (GISystems) • How computers store spatial information • How to answer spatial questions

28. Getting started • Read • Experiment with the software • Talk to GIS users • Talk with me • Talk to each other • Pay attention • Take a GIS course

29. Questions??