Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - with a focus on localizing the MDGs Carmelle J. Terborgh, Ph.D. ESRI www.esri.com
Dec 30, 2015
Introduction to Geographic Information
Systems (GIS)- with a focus on
localizing the MDGs
Carmelle J. Terborgh, Ph.D.ESRI
www.esri.com
We Live in Two WorldsWe Live in Two Worlds
Self-Regulating Managed
Natural World Constructed World
. . . These Are Increasingly In Conflict
• Watersheds• Communities• Neighborhoods• Districts
Context and ContentContext and Content
• Patterns• Linkages• Trends
Seeing the Whole Managing Places
What is GIS?
• A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based system including software, hardware, people, and geographic information
• A GIS can: create, edit, query, analyze, and display
map information on the computer
Geographic Information SystemGeographic Information System
• Geographic – 80% of government data collected is associated with some location in space
• Information - attributes, or thecharacteristics (data), can be used to symbolize and provide further insight into a given location
• System – a seamless operation linking the information to the geography – which requires hardware, networks, software, data, and operational procedures
…not just software! …not just for making maps!
Who uses GIS?Who uses GIS?• International organizations
UN HABITAT, The World Bank, UNEP, FAO, WHO, etc.
• Private industry Transport, Real Estate, Insurance, etc.
• Government Ministries of Environment, Housing, Agriculture,
etc. Local Authorities, Cities, Municipalities, etc. Provincial Agencies for Planning, Parks,
Transportation, etc.
• Non-profit organizations/NGO’s World Resources Institute, ICMA, etc.
• Academic and Research Institutions Smithsonian Institution, CIESIN, etc.
• The possibilities are unlimited… Environmental impact assessment Resource management Land use planning Tax Mapping Water and Sanitation Mapping Transportation routing and more ...
What can you do with a GIS?What can you do with a GIS?
How does a GIS work?How does a GIS work?
• GIS data has a spatial/geographic reference
This might be a reference that describes a feature on the earth using:
• a latitude & longitude• a national coordinate system• an address• a district• a wetland identifier• a road name
• A GIS stores information about the world as a collection of thematic layers that can be linked together by geography
Polygon 3 Scrub 17 Very high Clay
Geography and DatabasesGeography and Databases
GIS providesGIS provides Data Integration Data Integration
VectorsVectors
TopologyTopology
NetworksNetworks
TerrainTerrain
SurveysSurveys
ImagesImages
CADCADDrawingsDrawings
AnnotationAnnotation
AddressesAddresses
27 Main St.27 Main St.
AttributesAttributes
ABCABC
107’107’
3D Objects3D Objects
DimensionsDimensions
• Roads• Land Parcels• Population• Utilities• Land Mines• Hospitals• Refugee Camps• Wells• Sanitation
Two fundamental types of Two fundamental types of datadata
• Vector A series of x,y coordinates For discrete data represented as points, lines,
polygons
• Raster Grid and cells For continuous data such as elevation, slope,
surfaces
• A Desktop GIS should be able to handle both types of data effectively!
Other features of a GISOther features of a GIS
• Produce good cartographic products (translation = maps)
• Generate and maintain metadata• Use and share geoprocessing
models• Managing data in a geodatabase
using data models for each sector
Hint – having GIS software does Hint – having GIS software does not a cartographer make!not a cartographer make!
• Good to know something about these issues when creating a map and doing spatial analysis… Scale/Resolution Projection Basic cartographic principles
regarding design, generalization, etc.
GIS is (rapidly) evolvingGIS is (rapidly) evolving
Projects Systems Networks
Integrated Coordinated Cooperative
Societal
Collaborative
Problem Statement – ?????*
Formulate the question
Mitigate and change Seek solutions
Observe, acquire data
Analyze
Diagram courtesy of Michael Goodchild, UCSB
Geospatialdata
Socio-Economic
data
Ground-BaseddataOther
Ancillarydata
* Added
GIS as part of your GIS as part of your decision making process…decision making process…
Spatial Data InfrastructureSpatial Data Infrastructure(SDI)(SDI)
• Definition - the technology, policies, standards, human resources, and related activities necessary to acquire, process, distribute, use, maintain, and preserve spatial data
• Part of many nation’s e-Gov strategy
• www.GSDI.org
World Summit on World Summit on Sustainable Development Sustainable Development
20022002
““Promote the development and Promote the development and wider use of earth observation wider use of earth observation technologies, including satellite technologies, including satellite remote sensing, global mapping remote sensing, global mapping and and geographic information geographic information systemssystems, to collect quality data on , to collect quality data on environmental impacts, land use environmental impacts, land use and land use changes.”and land use changes.”
A Tale of Two Cities
The formal and the informal
Both deserve GIS… complexity is not an accuse!
GIS for planning underdeveloped areasGIS for planning underdeveloped areas
Source: Rosario Giusti de Perez
The lack of public open space.Barrios have a percentage of public space between 5% and 10%. In the average city total space constitute over 30% of the total space.
Urban poverty measured in terms of quantity and quality of public space.
The absence of adequate infrastructure,Urban furniture and maintenance which combined produces unhealthy and insecure conditions.
GIS for planning underdeveloped areasGIS for planning underdeveloped areas
Source: Rosario Giusti de Perez
DEALING WITH A COMPLEX MORPHOLOGY REQUIERES: Understanding the existing physical order
Identifying the social order conformed by community ties and with no physical evidence
Transformation capacity is determined through a detailed review of the built form
GIS for planning underdeveloped areasGIS for planning underdeveloped areas
Source: Rosario Giusti de Perez
Sustainability is preserving the small social groups
Analysis of the social network and community ties
The social network is topology related.
GIS for planning underdeveloped areasGIS for planning underdeveloped areas
Source: Rosario Giusti de Perez
……working together!working together!
Achieving the MDGs Achieving the MDGs requires all of us…requires all of us…
Thank You!Thank [email protected]@esri.com