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Geographic Information Systems

Course Code: CE 710
Instructor In-charge: Dr. RAAJ Ramsankaran
Lecture - I
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Objectives
To provide good foundation in theory as
well as practical application of GIS in Water
Resources Management Studies.

To provide exposure to a Remote sensing
Image Processing and GIS software
through lab assignments.

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GIS Topics to be covered in this
course
Overview of GIS
GIS Application domains
GIS Data
Data acquisition for GIS
Spatial data models
Spatial Data Analysis
Potential Applications and Case studies

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Outline of Todays Lecture
What is GIS?
What are the applications of GIS?
What are the characteristics of GIS?
What analysis can GIS perform ?
Where I can find more info about GIS and
allied subjects ?
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What is an Information System ?
An Information System is a set of
processes, executed on raw data to
produce information which will be useful
when making decisions.

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What is a Geographic Information
System (GIS)?

A GIS is a particular form of Information
System applied to geographical data.


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Some Popular Definitions of GIS
Rhind(1989): GIS is a computer system that can hold
and use data describing places on the Earth.

Burrough (1986): A set of tools for collecting, storing,
retrieving at will, transforming, and displaying spatial
data from the real world for a particular set of purposes.

Department of Environment UK (1987): A system for
capturing, storing, checking, manipulating, analyzing,
displaying data which are spatially referenced to earth


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Definition of GIS contd.,

ESRI (1990): A GIS is an organized
collection of computer hardware, software,
geographic data, and personnel to
efficiently capture, store, update,
manipulate, analyze, and display all forms
of geographically referenced information.

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Why we need a GIS?
Choosing a site, targeting a market,
planning a distribution network, zoning a
neighbourhood, allocating resources, and
responding to emergencies-all these
problems involve questions of geography.

It has the power to answer questions on
'where?', 'why?', 'what?', 'when?' and
'how?' quickly and accurately, all with the
location information on hand.
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Why we need a GIS? Contd
For instance, with a GIS, you can:
Display geographic information in the form of maps,
charts and tables.
Design simple to sophisticated "what-ifs" in the form of
database and map queries.
Investigate patterns, relationships, and details about
places at different scales and in different map
projections.
Perform statistical analysis and database functions.
Create your own geographic areas for mapping and
analysis
Lay out and print a map, chart, table and graphic images

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Capture
Data
Flow of GIS Process
Register
Map Base
Interpret
Data
Convert Data
to Digital
Format
Store Data
in Computer
Process
Data
Display
Results
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Components of GIS System
Hardware
Analysis Methods
Software
Personnel
Data
GIS
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Major Hardware Components
Disk Drive
Plotter
Printer
Scanner
Digitizer
Mouse
Keyboard
V.D U
C.P.U
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Software Component
GIS software provides the functions and tools
needed to store, analyze, and display
geographic information. Key software
components are

a database management system (DBMS)
tools for the input and manipulation of
geographic information
tools that support geographic query, analysis,
and visualization
a graphical user interface (GUI) for easy access
to tools
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Data Component
Maybe the most important component of a
GIS is the data. Geographic data and
related tabular data can be collected in-
house or bought from a commercial data
provider. Most GISs employ a DBMS to
create and maintain a database to help
organize and manage data
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Methods Component
A successful GIS operates according to a
well-designed plan and business rules,
which are the models and operating
practices unique to each organization.
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People Operating GIS
GIS technology is of limited value without
the people who manage the system and to
develop plans for applying it. GIS users
range from technical specialists who design
and maintain the system to those who use it
to help them do their everyday work.
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CAD and GIS- A comparison
GIS features
(Spatially geo reference exists)

Topology exists
(Query and Analysis of data is
possible)

Each feature has individual layers

Automated mapping and spatial
analysis

Applicable to large areas

CAD Objects
(No spatial reference)

Topology does not exist
(No relation between features)

All line features may be in single
layer (roads, sewer lines,
etc..)

Automated mapping

Limited to small area application

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GIS Application Areas
(not limited to)
Civil Engineering
Urban planning
Network Analysis
Forestry
Environmental Monitoring & Management
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Flood/drought analysis
Natural resource management
Geology
Health management
Crime mapping
Military
Mining
Hydrology and Water Resource Management
Etc

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Case study examples
Site selection for new housing complex in IIT B

Site selection for locating Rainwater Harvesting
tanks in IIT B Campus

Distributed Hydrological Modelling

Hazards Risk Modelling

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What does Water Resources
Management (WRM) mean?
Different people have different ideas, since
they may have different water problems.

Too much : Flood
Too limited: Drought
Too dirty: Pollution
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WRM contd.,
Understanding from different people

To people in arid countries
To people in wet countries
To the water engineer
To the environmentalist
To the lawyer
To the economist
To the politicians
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GIS Applications in Water
Resources Management Studies
Water Resources Assessment

Water Resources Development

Water Resources Planning

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)



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Peer Reviewed Journals on GIS and
Remote sensing

Computers and Geosciences
Geoinformatica
International Journal of Geographical Information
Science
ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
International Journal of Remote Sensing
IEEE Transactions in Geoscience and Remote sensing
Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sesning
Photonirvachak Official Journal of Indian Society of
Remote sensing
Remote of Environment
Transactions in GIS


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Peer Reviewed Journals on Hydrology
and Water Resources

Journal of Hydrology
Hydrological Sciences
Hydrological Processes
Catena
Water Resources Research
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS)
Environmental Modelling and Software
Water Resources Management
ASCE Journal of Hydrologic Engineering


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Reference books

Reference Books:

R1: Thomas M Lillesand, and Ralph W Kiefer; Remote sensing and Image
Interpretation, John Wiley & Sons, 1994, 3
rd
ed.

R2: DeMers, M.N., Fundamentals of Geographical Information Systems, John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., 2000. 2
nd
ed..

R3: Burrogh, P and R. McDonnell, Principal of Geographical Information Systems,
Oxford University Press, 1998.

R4: Chandra A.M and Ghosh S.K., Remote Sensing & Geographical Information
System, Narosa Publishing House, 2006, 1
st
ed.

Chen, Y., Takara, K., Cluckie, I. and Smedt, F.H. (Eds.), GIS and Remote sensing in
Hydrology, Water resource and Environment, IAHS Publication 289, IAHS press.
2004.

Qihao Weng, Remote Sensing and GIS Integration: Theories, Methods, and
Applications, McGraw Hill Publishers, 2009, 1
st
ed.



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Free Online Data Sources
Google earth - For high resolution maps
www.esri.com/data/free-data/index.html
http://www.mapcruzin.com/download-free-
arcgis-shapefiles.htm
http://data.geocomm.com/
http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/index.shtml

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Topics to be covered in next session
GIS data types, data sources

Different means of data collection

GIS and HIS
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